Fine Gael will review its general election performance and make plans for the new Dáil term when TDs and Senators meet in Galway today for the party's annual "think-in".
Party leader Enda Kenny will outline to the parliamentary party how he plans to "do the job we set out to do and to replace Fianna Fáil as the main party in government", a spokesman said yesterday.
One of the sessions during the two-day conference will be a presentation by marketing expert Mark Mortell of the party's performance in the May election which saw it increase its number of Dáil seats from 32 to 51. The review was drawn up by the director of elections Frank Flannery.
The guest speakers for the "think-in" will be Dr Alan Ahearne, economics lecturer in NUI Galway, and Prof Colum Kenny from the school of communications in DCU, who will look at the economic and social landscape over coming years.
Dr Ahearne will spell out the changes he forecasts in the Irish economy while Prof Kenny will be talking about issues confronting Irish society and how we should deal with them. There will also be a workshop on the new Dáil and the issues that are likely to dominate in its first year.
Despite the party's disappointment at failing to get into government with Labour by a shortfall of a few seats in May, a spokesman said last night that emphasis will be placed on the fact that the parliamentary party is significantly bigger since the election, with 51 TDs and 14 Senators. "There is a lot of new and younger blood in the party now and we will grow on that," he added.
Fine Gael has the youngest age profile of the parties with three TDs in their 20s and 14 aged under 40. The party increased its representation in Dublin significantly in May.
"We are looking forward to a review and will be looking at the good and the bad. The election outcome was disappointing but we have the basis to move forward and to grow with the local and European elections ahead," the spokesman said.
Mr Kenny will launch Young Fine Gael's new logo and college recruitment campaign in Galway before the start of the conference today. The campaign, with the theme "Be the life and soul of our party", is aimed at re-affirming Young Fine Gael's position as the largest political youth wing and expanding its membership.
The youth wing said the new logo would significantly "modernise the Young Fine Gael brand".
Fianna Fáil will have its two-day "think-in" in Wicklow next Monday and Tuesday.