Fine Gael ready to woo younger supporters with new social campaigns - and by dropping its Facebook forum

Simon Harris wrote that the report "has not shied away from some of the more pressing issues around Young Fine Gael for example in relation to the age of membership and gender balance."

Ellen Long (20), Ballycommon, Nenagh and Meg Molloy(24), Ballingarry, Thurles both 1st year Politics students at the University of Limerick photographed attending the Young Fine Gael Conference in the Radisson Blu hotel outside Limerick on Sunday. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22

Fine Gael is aiming to put forward at least two new candidates under the age of 30 in the next general election and move to "carbon neutral" campaigns in a bid to draw a younger support base.

A report compiled by Minister Simon Harris has recommended that membership of Young Fine Gael (YFG) be limited to those between the ages of 15 and 25, this is a dramatic change from the current membership policy which allows anyone up to the age of 35 to join the youth wing of the main government party.