Young Greens (Ireland)
Young Greens (Irish: Óige Ghlas) is a youth political organisation in Ireland that acts as the youth branch of the Green Party and the Green Party in Northern Ireland. The Young Greens believe in social and economic justice for all as well as environmental sustainability for the future. As a youth party they focus on issues that disproportionately affect young people including education, housing, drug use and reproductive rights.[1]
Young Greens Óige Ghlas | |
---|---|
Chairperson | Gavin Nugent |
Secretary | Dan Hatter |
Founded | 2002 |
Headquarters | 16–17 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, Ireland |
Ideology | Green politics Social progressivism |
Mother party | Green Party |
European affiliation | Federation of Young European Greens |
Website | younggreensireland.ie/ |
History
The Young Greens were formed in March 2002, as a group of students from the four main college campuses, which focused on the environment and social justice. It soon branched out to other college campuses and other themes, like opposition to the Iraq War and support for the Kyoto Protocol and Fairtrade. It campaigns for protection of the environment, human rights and more funding for education. The Young Greens conduct campaigns on a local as well as national level.[2]
Member groups
The Young Greens currently have member groups throughout Ireland, most of which operate within third level institutions. The member groups include;
- UCD Young Greens[3] is based in University College Dublin
- UCC Greens Society[4] is based in University College Cork
- Young Greens NUIG[5] is based in NUI Galway
- NUIM Young Greens is based in Maynooth University
- QUB Young Greens is based in Queen's University Belfast
- Trinity Young Greens[6] is the branch that operates in Trinity College, Dublin.
- Rural Young Greens
- Northern Ireland Young Greens[7] are based in Northern Ireland and are affiliated to the Green Party of Northern Ireland.
- Kildare Young Greens[8] are based in County Kildare.
- Carlow/Kilkenny Young Greens[9] are based in the Carlow/Kilkenny Dáil constituency.
- Mná Glasa Óga
Organisation
The Young Greens operate as defined in "Young Greens – Óige Ghlas Constitution". The current constitution was adopted in 2017.
Membership is open to students engaged in second or third level education and all residents of Ireland between the ages of 16 and 30. Young Greens operate autonomously of the Green Party and membership of Young Greens does not confer Membership of the Green Party (Ireland).
All Member Groups of the Young Greens meet at least once a year at the National Convention, it is here that the Executive Committee is elected, the annual budget is approved and the constitution is amended. The meeting place of the National Convention is rotated between Member Groups.
The Young Greens are ran by an Executive Committee, elected annually at the National Convention. The Committee meets at least six times a year. Any Member Group not represented in any Executive Position may elect an Ordinary Member to the Committee to act as a delegate with full voting rights. A member of the Young Greens Executive Committee is elected by the Committee to be the representative of Young Greens at the Green Party (Ireland) National Executive Committee.
The Chairperson of the Executive Committee acts as the chief public representative of the Young Greens.[10]
Elected Young Greens
There are currently 6 elected Young Greens councillors in Ireland, all of whom are councillors elected in the 2019 Irish local elections. They are:
- Eva Dowling
- Lorna Bogue
- Lawrence Hemmings
- Séafra Ó Faoláin
- Una Power
- Daniel Whooley
References
- "What We Do". Young Greens. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- Jarvis, Chris (12 April 2020). "Young Greens launch 'unprecedented programme of political education' - UK Green news round up issue 55 | Chris Jarvis". Bright Green. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- "UCD Óige Ghlas/ Young Greens Society". Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via Facebook.
- "UCC Greens Facebook". Retrieved 27 October 2017 – via Facebook.
- "Young Greens NUIG Facebook". Retrieved 27 October 2017 – via Facebook.
- "Trinity Young Greens Facebook". Retrieved 27 October 2017 – via Facebook.
- "Young Greens NI". younggreensni.org.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- "Kildare Young Greens Twitter". twitter.com/oigeghlas_ke. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- "Carlow/Kilkenny Young Greens Facebook". facebook.com/CKKYGs/. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- "Taoisigh-in-waiting? Meet the next generation of Ireland's young politicians – Independent.ie". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2017.