A major overhaul of the internal party structures within Fianna Fail is recommended in a document to be discussed by the party's parliamentary members when they meet today and tomorrow in Galway.
The document, which was prepared by Fianna Fail's 21st Century Committee, proposes the creation of a new membership strand which would be outside the traditional cumann (local branch) network.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, notes that its recommendations were intended "to reinvigorate Fianna Fail from the cumann to the ardfheis". He observes: "These proposals, if implemented, will guarantee the greatest efficiency of every unit of the organisation."
The document criticised "paper cumainn" which served "only the interests of a power bloc within a constituency organisation. `Paper cumainn' are an offence to strong, hard-working cumainn and their existence is very disillusioning to ordinary cumann members." It says the present system can be a bar to people joining Fianna Fail.
The committee makes seven proposals. They include having only one cumann per polling station within every constituency; in urban areas each cumann would exist for a maximum of 5,000 voters; and a requirement for each cumann to hold at least four public meetings every year. The committee is also proposing the creation of a new "registered supporter" mechanism to allow for membership of the party without the need to join a local cumann. It also recommends maintaining a database of members at party headquarters.
This is one of a series of proposals which would increase the power of Fianna Fail headquarters over the local party organisation. It recommends the creation of a director of organisation for each constituency.
The document notes that in a postal vote of national executive members, 71 per cent were against replacing the ardfheis with regional conferences. A number of changes to the voting procedures at ardfheiseanna are proposed. There is also an attempt to limit officer positions at constituency level for a period of more than four consecutive years.
It is also recommends that Fianna Fail undertake a feasibility study into setting up an Eamon de Valera institute for the party's archive and to promote academic study.
The document will be discussed at the party's special two-day "think-in" in Galway. Should it be accepted it would have to be passed by a vote at the Fianna Fail Ardfheis in March next year.