FF must reinvent itself for a world far removed from parish politics

FIANNA Fáil’s enemies should draw no false comfort from reports last week that the party’s membership is less than might have previously been thought.

The recent report from the party’s organisation committee, chaired by deputy leader Brian Cowen, does no more than confirm what frankly all of the party’s politicians and officials have known for a long time.

Based in part on the results of a nationwide survey of FF cumann undertaken last year, the Cowen report concludes that its active membership is dramatically less than its book membership. In a manner typical of his style, Cowen has been frank in his assessment of the party’s problems and his report is designed to serve as a wake-up call and as the leverage to initiate reform.