YOUNG FG SUPPORTS CANNABIS LEGALISATION

A motion supporting the legalisation and regulation of cannabis was passed
by a slim majority at the Young Fine Gael party conference in Furbo, Co
Galway, at the weekend.

Legalisation of prostitution was also carried by a comfortable majority, and
a policy on abortion was approved.

The policy proposals, which will be put to the party's national conference,
include support for provision of abortion where there is a real and
substantive risk to the long-term health of the mother, including
self-injury. The abortion debate, which was chaired by Fine Gael MEP, Mrs
Mary Banotti, focused on 12 policy proposals. No motions opposing the option
were tabled, but several were voted down, including support for abortion if
there is a partial risk to the life, as distinct from health of the mother,
including suicide.

Speaking yesterday on the RTE Radio programme, This Week, the party leader,
Mr John Bruton, said he did not agree with the motion. "I think that if you
have abortion in those circumstances, you effectively have abortion on
demand.

That has been the experience in other countries."

The outcome of the vote on cannabis, which took place during motions to
conference, was welcomed by its proposer, Mr Mike Fitzpatrick, secretary of
the Dublin North-East branch of Young Fine Gael. He argued that classifying
cannabis with other illegal substances like heroine and cocaine was the main
reason that some cannabis users progressed to harder drugs. Legalisation
would remove this psychological link, he said.

Disputing the "gateway" drug theory, Mr Fitzpatrick said research supported
by the World Health Organisation indicated that alcohol caused greater
social problems. Speaking afterwards Mr Fitzpatrick welcomed the decision
and noted it had taken four party conferences to reach this stage in the
debate.

Other motions carried included improvements in rail transport; the
de-regulation of taxis; the provision of tax relief and allowances for
childcare where one or both parents are working outside the home, and the
establishment of one national authority with total responsibility for
co-ordinating childcare.

Young Fine Gael also passed motions in support of greater tolerance towards,
and assistance for, asylum seekers and refugees; the reform of teaching the
Irish language in schools; and privatisation of State-sponsored bodies.

Checked-by: Don Beck