ieExplains: What is an Ard Fheis and why are they deemed important?
Leo Varadkar speaks at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis last year. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
Ard Fheis season is in full swing, but what exactly happens at an one? And why do political parties still see them as one of the most important events in the calendar?
The term Ard Fheis comes from the Irish meaning 'high assembly' and is now usually used by political parties to describe annual conventions.
Parties approach the Ard Fheis in different ways, with Fine Gael holding one every two years with a smaller 'National Convention' in between. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have an annual Ard Fheis.
The Labour Party holds a National Conference, while the Green Party had its annual conference in October.
The Ard Fheis is the main set piece of the year for political parties and is a chance for members to meet and discuss policy and party direction. Elections to the national executive also take place.
The national executive is essentially the leadership body, that runs the party. These votes happen every two years in the case of Fine Gael; every 18 months to two years for Fianna Fáil; and every year in the case of Sinn Féin and Labour.
As well as electing a national executive, party motions are debated and voted on. Generally, local branches put forward motions, which can relate to everything from party structure, to membership rules, to party policy.
Who gets to vote depends on the party. Sinn Féin, for example, nominate voting delegates who cast ballots on behalf of their local branch or area.
Others, including the Labour Party, have a one-member-one-vote system.
Motions can carry more weight depending on the party. For Sinn Féin, motions are binding in terms of party policy and the party must hold a special Ard Fheis if it wants to change a particular policy in between the regular convention. This happened ahead of the vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment.
Anyone who is a member of a political party can attend that party's Ard Fheis. The media also attend and various organisations sometimes take stands out to engage with elected representatives and grassroots members.
