Fianna Fáil Ógra president Bryan Mallon has survived a vote to remove him as head of the party's young wing, amid criticism from some members over the organisation's lack of direction and divisions in the membership.
Mr Mallon had faced the impeachment motion at an emergency national council meeting on Monday night, with the results of the vote communicated to members on Tuesday.
There were 120 valid votes cast, with 74 delegates voting in favour of removing Mr Mallon from his position, some 61 per cent, several votes short of the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion. Forty-six delegates voted against the motion, and there were two spoilt votes.
Mr Mallon, from Julianstown, Co Meath, was elected head of Fianna Fáil's youth wing earlier this spring.
More than 100 delegates from the organisation’s branches discussed the motion at an emergency national council meeting via Zoom on Monday evening. It required a two-thirds majority to pass.
In response, Mr Mallon criticised the level of “toxicity” and “negativity” within the youth wing, which he said was not his fault.
William Delaney, from the Laois branch, said the move was about "business" and not personalities. Mr Delaney described the youth wing as "rudderless" and lacking in direction and unity, and criticised poor communications with members.
Addressing the meeting on Monday, Mr Mallon said he believed there had never been a motion to remove an Ógra president from the role before.
The officer board of the youth wing had set out to “form a better relationship with Government” given Fianna Fáil were in power, he told delegates. “You don’t effect positive change by screaming by the sidelines.”
Andrew McFadden, a delegate opposing the motion, described the push to remove the president as “draconian” and “heavy handed”.
