CONFERENCE AGENDA

70TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY

2ND, 3RD & 4TH NOVEMBER 2018

BALLSBRIDGE HOTEL, DUBLIN

3 HEALTH:

1. That this conference recognises the selfless work of hundreds of thousands of carers in Ireland, without whose input in terms of caring and providing, the health service would collapse, and who save the State in excess of €4 billion, resolves to campaign for:-

- The full implementation of the Carer’s Strategy - The abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance where the carer has been medically assessed and qualifies for the allowance from a medical perspective as requiring full time care and attention - The introduction of a Carer’s Need Assessment Bill to ensure that the requirements and needs of carers are legislatively underpinned.

Castletown-Geoghegan/Ballinagore Branch, Longford Westmeath

2. Conference strongly supports the all-party Sláintecare initiative and demands that the government: • Ceases to delay the project implementation schedule, and, • Immediately commits to allocate the resources necessary to progress this essential project.

Donabate Branch, Dublin Fingal

3. Conference condemns the inaction of the government on the escalating GP crisis across the country and calls on the Minister for Health to ensure a new sustainable GP contract is negotiated and put in place as soon as possible and that an ambitious plan for provision of GPs across the country as part of Sláintecare plan is put in place. Portroe Branch, Tipperary

4. Conference resolves that, if the Labour Party goes into negotiations with other parties on participating in or supporting a government, it should insist on a schedule to be drawn up for the early introduction of free primary health care at the point of access. Thomond Branch, Limerick City

5. Conference notes:

- the recent success of All-Party talks around Sláintecare and welcomes the Labour Party’s contribution to these talks; - it is important for people with disabilities to get access to a medical card to help with the cost of disability and that the loss of a medical card on top of other supports is a huge barrier to accessing employment.

Conference calls on the Labour Party to adopt the policy of “Disability First” which will distinguish it from other parties and commit to providing GP visit cards and medical cards as a priority to people with a recognized disability and not on the basis of age.

Conference further notes the negative effect of constant assessing of people with disabilities has on mental health and dignity.

Conference calls on the government to treat people with dignity and save money by reducing the amount of repeat assessment that people with disabilities face. Labour Disability

4 6. Conference supports the aims of the cross-party ‘Still Waiting’ movement for health care including the development of a single tier health service where access is based on need and not on ability to pay. Conference calls on the government to urgently take action to reduce waiting lists by increasing the number of hospital beds and by empowering the GP and community based health care sector to deal with non-critical issues. Greenhills “Willie Cremins” Branch, Dublin South West

7. Conference calls on the Government to ensure that the extra resources promised by government for mental health services are put in place immediately. Clonmel Branch, Tipperary

8. Conference notes that material circumstances can have an impact on our mental health. Conference calls on the Government to avoid creating environments which lead to mental health issues, particularly in this housing crisis, with many being condemned to living in hotels and other short term accommodation, denying them the opportunities for access to school, societal engagement and friendships, etc. As well as doing everything in their power to provide housing, Conference further calls on the government to support the growing community of health and social care workers, academics, policy makers and planners to work together to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable in our society.

Moycullen-Oughterard Branch, Galway West

9. Conference calls on the government to initiate a policy to tackle the scourge of gambling. Initially we need a large public information campaign. When we see what was achieved by such campaigns in fighting smoking, drink driving and plastic bags, it’s the very least that we can do. The whole country needs to be engaged in the fight against this scourge. Clondalkin/Rathcoole Branch, Dublin Mid-West

10. Conference welcomes the recent overwhelming referendum result repealing the 8th Amendment. Conference note that thousands of women have travelled to access abortion services abroad or accessed illegal abortions here in Ireland since the referendum was passed.

Conference call on government to implement legislation along the lines recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee as a matter of urgency .

Conference acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our elected representatives and members who opposed the amendment for over three decades and contributed to the campaign for repeal.

Conference believe in a truly pro-choice Ireland which not only ensures access to safe and legal abortion services for all who require them but supports women completely in their reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

Conference believes that there should be comprehensive access to appropriate and accurate sexuality and relationship information in schools. Conference further believes access to contraceptive and sexual health services should not be dependent on geographic location or financial means.

Conference believes that comprehensive childcare supports and employment rights should be available to all parents living within the state. Labour Women

5 11. Conference calls on the Government in an effort to stop the spread of HIV in Ireland to make PrEP freely available to those who need it, and to ensure a comprehensive public education campaign on the use of PrEP is rolled out and provide information to medical professionals on the use and availability of PrEP in Ireland. Labour LGBT

CHILDREN AND YOUTH AFFAIRS:

12. Conference calls for the introduction of legislation to ensure adopted persons have full access to their files concerning their adoption. Castleknock Branch, Dublin West

13. Conference notes that high child-care fees are bad for both families and the economy. Conference further notes that, for couples early childhood education and care in Ireland the second most expensive of all OECD countries, while, for single parents it is the highest. Conference demands that the State increase funding for child-care provision. Navan Road Branch, Dublin Central

14. Conference recognises that early years’ provision should be of the highest quality and affordable for parents but this cannot be on the back of low salaries for early years educators. While a recent ESRI Report highlights the fact that parents are being kept out of the workforce by the high cost of childcare, we must recognise that highly qualified, experienced early year educators are being forced out of the sector as a result of low salaries and 38-40 week contracts.

More and more demands are being placed on educators to up-skill themselves, however this is not being rewarded and their higher qualifications and professionalism is not being recognised with appropriate salaries.

Conference calls on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to properly value workers by regulating the sector and ensuring that this important and professional work is rewarded with decent salaries.

Tallaght South Branch, Dublin South West

15. Conference notes and commends the important role that childcare workers play in supporting our children, parents, and our economy.

Conference further notes with concern the ongoing challenges faced by those working in the sector, where low wages and insecure working conditions are the norm. Further, Conference notes the calls by those working in the sector for government action to ensure a high-quality, accessible, and affordable service, which provides quality working conditions.

Conference endorses these calls, and calls on the policy unit to explore:

o Short-term actions the party can take to support workers in this sector; and, o Comprehensive proposals for state-led, quality childcare provision which will support children, their parents, and the workers who care for them.

Galway Oranmore Branch, Galway West

6 16. Conference calls on the government to extend the ECCE scheme from 3 hours a day to 5 hours a day for working parents including lone parents and guardians. Nenagh Branch, Tipperary

17. Conference laments the continued backlogs and waiting lists for families to access special needs and disability supports, and that families are being forced to choose to pay for private care in order to receive these supports in a timely manner.

Conference calls on the government to invest in the early intervention network to ensure that every child has the best possible chance to overcome the challenges they face through disability or special needs.

Templeogue Branch, Dublin South West

EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION:

18. Recognising the reduction of opportunity for community engagement and input to the operation of community employment schemes on the transfer of these schemes to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the damaging impact this has had on such schemes.

Conference calls for a Community Advisory Forum to be established within that Department to enable the realities of the operation of the scheme and the needs of workers and communities to be more understood by the Department. Donnybrook Branch, Dublin Bay South

19. Conference calls on the Government to reinstate payments which were cut on CE schemes during the economic downturn, especially for people on disability and single parent families.

CE schemes play a vital role in training, educating and up skilling some of the most disadvantaged people in our society and the cuts to single parents in particular make it almost impossible for them to participate in community employment programmes because of transport, childcare costs etc.

Galway City Central Branch, Galway West

20. Conference recognises that, upon its founding, the Labour Party was instrumental in giving voice to the most disadvantaged members of society at that time. Conference acknowledges that while Irish society has come a long way since then, a person’s chances to have a good quality of life are still affected by where they are from, their family situation, their health needs, or whether they are part of a marginalised group.

Conference calls on the party to make ending disadvantage and poverty wherever it exists our number one policy goal and to incorporate this as the central plank of our vision and of any future manifestos.

Dublin South West Constituency Council

21. Conference acknowledges the existence of areas of geographical disadvantage, both urban and rural, where communities face much higher barriers to availing of employment and educational opportunities.

Conference calls on the party to engage with local groups to develop a state-wide plan to revitalise disadvantaged communities through investment in community education, local services and the built environment. Tallaght Central Branch, Dublin South West

7 22. While acknowledging the merits of a universal system of child benefit payments, and given the serious inequality and unfairness that exists with regard to other state supports and services, Conference supports the policy of means testing children’s allowance at an appropriate level and with a sliding scale in order to redistribute the substantial savings to areas of greater social need. Ballymun Branch, Dublin North West

23. Recognising that the South East has a higher rate of unemployment than the national average, Conference calls on the Labour Parliamentary Party to hold the Government to promises given by various Ministers to employ state agencies such as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to redress the situation.

James Connolly Branch, Waterford

24. Conference calls on the Government to make any company whose employees are receiving welfare benefits while in full time employment and the company is in profit, should reimburse the state.

Thurles Branch, Tipperary

25. Conference notes that across the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny there is a significant dependence on the service industry. Unfortunately, the majority of these employers pay only the minimum wage to their staff. The living wage is €11.90 per hour and this is calculated on the basis of a single person with no dependents, therefore to expect working people to live on €9.55 per hour is wholly unacceptable particularly in employment where shareholders yield increases year-on-year.

Conference calls on the Government to increase the minimum wage to the living wage of €11.90 (presently) with normal criteria built in for small employments as per the Minimum Wage Act. Central Council

26. In keeping with the proud tradition of the Labour Party in defending the rights of workers across Ireland, and in recognition of the serious deficiencies in the pay, conditions and treatment of Defence Forces personnel, Conference mandates that Labour, through both parliamentary activities and external campaigns to:-

• seek a Living Wage for all members of the Defence Forces including new recruits; • demand the immediate implementation of the Working Time Directive for all Defence Forces personnel; • propose to increase the Security Duty Allowance to, at a minimum, the Living Wage for each additional hour worked and to maintain time off in lieu; • end the process wherein new recruits undergoing training have their wages deducted for food and other necessities for the duration of their training; • demand the recognition by government of the representative organisations of Defence Forces members for the purposes of collective bargaining. Central Council

TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND SPORT:

27. Conference, mindful of the consequences of Brexit call on the government to immediately upgrade our ports infrastructure; in particular to ensure that Rosslare Europort, the nearest Irish port to our continental markets is upgraded to Tier One, receives the investment to allow for Brexit readiness and to complete the motorway access to Rosslare as a national priority. Wexford Town Branch, Wexford

8 28. Conference notes that building a transport system that works depends on prioritising sustainable forms of transport, including public transport, walking and cycling.

Conference further notes:

• the success of cycling and walking infrastructure when it is implemented, such greenways and the Dublin Bikes scheme; • that the number of cyclists in Dublin has doubled over the last six years; • the current Government’s failure to implement effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in walking and cycling infrastructure; • the benefits of walking and cycling, including improved health, less congestion, and reduced emissions; • that the cost of building cycling infrastructure is much lower than other forms for transport infrastructure.

Therefore, Conference calls for:

o the allocation of ten per cent of the transport budget to active forms of transport such as walking and cycling; o the expansion of the 30 km/hr speed limit to more residential areas; o the building of a network of segregated cycle lanes throughout our cities the prioritisation of road space for sustainable transport. Oxmantown Branch, Dublin Central

29. Conference notes the importance of reducing dependence upon private cars for all transportation and a key part of that is to encourage cycling as a transport solution from a young age. The Labour Party will seek to create a cycle-to-school incentive to help alleviate costs for parents to purchase bikes for travel to and from education establishments.

Conference further notes that the use of alternative transport like cycling can only be enhanced with significant investment in cycling infrastructure and education and commits to allocate for cycling in a multi-departmental fashion. Blackrock-Mahon Branch, Cork South Central

30. Conference calls on the government to prioritise the construction of the Northern Ring Road in Cork City. Labour believes it is critical that this infrastructural project is finally completed to allow transport access from the Northside of Cork City to the port and airport. Labour believes that this will alleviate significant traffic congestion in communities across Cork’s Northside.

Conference further believes that this is a regional requirement to allow the Munster region and Cork develop as a realistic and significant counter balance to Dublin.

As we approach Brexit, Labour will seek this infrastructure completion to help attract investment to the Northside of Cork City, where we currently experience above average levels of unemployment.

Cork North Central Constituency Council

31. Conference recognises the tendering process in the taxi industry for state funded school transport is deeply flawed and lacks transparency. Conference notes that the flaws in this process create inequality of access to this form of labour and the lack of transparency only serves to preserve the status quo.

Conference calls for an independent investigation into the state-funded school transport system within the taxi industry. 9 Conference further calls for the implementation of a more open and transparent application process for individuals seeking work of this kind. North Dock-East Wall Branch, Dublin Central

32. Conference notes learner drivers are being condemned. Conference calls on Shane Ross, Minister for Transport, to reverse legislation which prosecutes learner drivers. Silvermines Branch, Tipperary

JUSTICE AND EQUALITY:

33. Conference notes the difficulties adults with severe physical or intellectual disabilities and their families encounter in having to deal with multiple agencies in order to access the care and support necessary for them to lead full lives.

Conference calls for the establishment of a single State entity to provide access to the necessary comprehensive support services for adults with severe physical or intellectual disabilities and their families to replace the current fractured and opaque system of State, commercial and voluntary services.

Dublin Rathdown Constituency Council

34. In order to achieve the end of the Direct Provision system and to make amends for those currently subject to the system, Conference calls for the granting of indefinite leave to remain to all those who remain in the Direct Provision system for longer than twelve months.

This granting of leave to remain should be followed by a normalisation and integration process which will allow those currently in the direct provision system to vindicate their rights to live independently and provide a pathway to full Irish citizenship for those who are entitled to it.

Conference is therefore asked to support this policy and to seek its implementation on a national level.

Labour Equality

Addendum:

After paragraph 3, insert new paragraph:

That in the event of search and rescue vessels operated by NGOs in the Mediterranean being de-flagged by their nations of registration, the Irish authorities should, on humanitarian grounds, offer to immediately re-register them under the Irish National Flag.

Inis Bigil/Mayo

35. There are two paths to citizenship for people who are born outside the country. One path is citizenship by descent, where it can be claimed on the basis of parents or grandparents being citizens. This costs €278. The second path is that a migrant to Ireland can apply for naturalisation. This costs €175, plus €950 for an adult, total €1125.

10 Conference believes that from the outset, all citizens should be treated equally in our republic. Conference calls that the fees for citizenship should be applied equally to both categories of people and should not be so prohibitive as to exclude long term residents from taking up citizenship for financial reasons.

Crumlin-Kimmage/Frank Cluskey Branch, Dublin South Central

36. Conference expresses solidarity with all those who have been a victim of sexual abuse, harassment and/or violence.

Conferences expresses its disappointment that a new and updated SAVI Report has not been conducted for over 16 years and recognises its importance in understanding the needs of victims and resourcing these properly.

Conference commits to putting on a statutory footing a commitment to update the SAVI Report every five years

Dún Laoghaire Constituency Council

37. Conference resolves to tackle the scourge of motorbikes, quads and scramblers that are being used to terrorise communities across Ireland, by giving the Gardaí the power to seize what are effectively offensive weapons, without an automatic right of return, where they are causing a danger to the community.

Dublin North West Constituency Council

Addendum:

On line 4, after community, insert,

Conference calls on local authorities to develop more dedicated motocross parks in cooperation with local communities, local authorities and the Gardaí which will allow young people practice motocross in a controlled and safe environment. Oxmantown Branch, Dublin Central

EDUCATION AND SKILLS:

38. Recognising that the current waiting list for school children awaiting special needs evaluation is unacceptable, Conference calls on the Parliamentary Labour Party to prepare a Bill to guarantee a system of extra curriculum support to all children under the age of 18 years, who have been identified as requiring extra assistance. In effect this extra support requirement can be identified at entry to primary level, where action is immediately required. On moving to second level, children, will need to be evaluated again and where action is required, support given. No child should leave second level school without the required minimum abilities in the three R’s. Checks and balances should be in place to ensure this never happens. Conference further calls on the Government to set up a system of homework clubs, with professional back-up to enable students from primary level up to third level education, who are living in emergency and asylum seeker accommodation, to fully benefit from educational opportunities and thus be afforded the chance to become valued and productive members of society.

Dublin Mid-West Constituency Council

39. Conference supports the result of the 2012 Children’s Referendum when Irish people voted to enshrine the rights of children in our constitution.

11 Conference notes that it has been six years since the referendum and there are still pieces of Irish legislation that have not been updated to reflect the result of the referendum. None more so than in the education sector where pieces of legislation still place the rights of patron bodies above those of the child.

Conference proposes that the Department of Education and Skills undertakes a review of all its legislation to ensure that the vote of the people to enshrine children’s rights on our constitution is upheld and enacted by the legislation that governs how our education system operates.

Blackrock Branch, Dún Laoghaire

40. As a development of the Labour Party’s policy and in the interests of the positive impact on communities in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, in terms of business and employment opportunities, social and economic progress and increased access to university education for lower income families Conference demands practical support from the government to conclude the necessary merger between Waterford and Carlow Institutes of Education to establish a Technological University of and for the South East. Waterford Constituency Council

41. Conference decides that the only effective way to implement adequate reform of the primary education systems must include constitutional change.

Accordingly Conference directs the Parliamentary Labour Party to initiate a campaign, in conjunction with other political parties and Oireachtas members, together with civic groups and individuals, to establish a Citizens’ Assembly which would consider all views before formulating proposals to reform the system, thus making it fit for the purpose of serving a modern pluralist and democratic society.

Listowel Branch, Kerry

42. As a collective public good, Conference recognises the intrinsic value of a full and rounded education and access to lifelong learning opportunities to the wholesome development of the individual and the realisation of their talent and potential. Conference also notes that growing economic inequality and education/training costs are reducing access to educational and lifelong learning opportunities to many children, young people, workers and those seeking work. Therefore, Conference commits to a policy of ‘proper’ free (i.e. appropriately funded & resourced, no voluntary contributions, costs of books, materials & equipment covered, no registration fees etc.) primary, secondary, further education, apprenticeship and third level education and training for all, and the development of a comprehensive life-long learning programme for those in work or those seeking a change in career or new employment opportunities. Santry Kilmore Branch, Dublin Bay North

43. Conference calls on the Minister for Education to ensure that religious orders in patronage of primary and secondary schools are restricted from divesting themselves of property attached or adjacent to those schools in the private market for the purpose of commercial profit or gain.

Hugh Nevin / Ballybrack, Branch, Dún Laoghaire

44. Conference notes that history is no longer a core subject for the revised junior cycle curriculum and that the study of history is therefore optional at junior cycle level in second-level schools.

Conference believes that history promotes not only knowledge of the past but engagement with essential skills for life, such as critical thinking, independent learning and ability to judge information from a range of sources. 12 Conference further believes that knowledge of and engagement with history is crucial particularly in the light of the political upheavals in recent years, notably the power of ‘fake news’ in the era of Trump and the attempts by Donald Trump and the ‘alt right’ to undermine truth and threaten accepted democratic norms and values.

Conference further notes the recent statement by President Michael D Higgins that knowledge of history is “intrinsic to our shared citizenship…”

Conference calls upon the Labour Party to lobby for the full restoration of history as a compulsory subject at junior cycle level. Clonsilla Branch, Dublin West

45. Conference calls on the government to make mandatory the amount of PE hours at primary school to aid and combat rising obesity levels of our younger generations. This will avoid future spending on problems associated with obesity and encourage young people to participate in sport.

Tipperary Town Branch, Tipperary

FINANCE:

46. Conference recognises the need for a radical overhaul of our taxation and social insurance system so as to afford a broader, more proportionate and transparent collection of taxation and social insurance and a reduction in the use of special tax treatments as economic incentives. In particular the Conference emphasises the intrinsic link between taxation to the state and the funding of effective and well-resourced public services.

Therefore Conference calls on the Labour Party to develop a comprehensive taxation and social insurance policy that will provide the financial basis for the realisation of a fully resourced universal health system, a fully resourced universal public childcare system and the sustainable provision of public housing that provides a threshold of decency for our most vulnerable citizens.

Dublin Bay North Constituency Council

47. Conference re-iterates Labour’s commitment to campaign for the introduction of a financial transaction tax, campaign for the just and effective taxation of the banks including the ending of the situation where many banks and financial institutions will pay no corporation tax for the foreseeable future, and resolves to introduce a minimum effective corporation tax on banking and finance profits or failing that to double the bank levy and establish a permanent tax commission to address tax avoidance and evasion.

Dublin West Constituency Council

48. Conference calls for the establishment of a Pilot Public Bank in the Midlands, with a view to rolling out a network of Community Public Banks in Ireland

Conference also notes that German Public Banks, called Sparkasse have been in existence for 200 years and have been key to ensuring the stable, consistent flow of credit to SMEs in Germany and would fill a gap in the financial service providers that exist in Ireland at present

An Irish Community Public Bank network would:

13

• Be municipally owned – not a nationalised bank • Not for profit and be restricted to lending to the regional economy for its business • Invest its annual surplus in Regional Development Projects • Fill the gap left by the demise of the Building Societies and enterprises formerly served by the ACC • Allow both the Post Office and Credit Unions earn additional income from selling Public Bank services across the counter in their branches • Provide a suitable vehicle for European Investment Bank to lend funds to SMEs • Complement the Existing Irish Credit Union Movement and provide Credit Unions with a Central Service Provider to meet the ever more burdensome Central Bank Regulation

Conference condemns the efforts by bureaucrats in the Department of Finance to frustrate the development of a pilot community bank and rejects the Department of Finance’s assessment of the Sparkasse Foundation’s (SBFIC) submission to the Public Banking investigation.

Conference also notes that the SBFIC, the Sparkasse Foundation for International Co-operation has done an enormous amount of work on investigation of the establishment of a Pilot Public Bank in Ireland and are willing to offer considerable technical expertise and help mentor an Irish Pilot Public Bank – even to the extent of providing training and mentoring of staff in the pilot until the Pilot Public Bank is up and running.

Conference urges that the Labour Party campaigns vigorously to establish a network of community banks to strengthen our Credit Unions, Rural Post Offices and support SMEs and Regional Development.

Longford-Westmeath Constituency Council

FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE:

49. Composite No. 1:

Conference:

• opposes the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories by Israeli forces and the unwarranted use of force and apartheid laws to maintain that occupation, in violation of international law; • calls on the Government of Ireland and Culture Ireland to institute a cultural boycott of Israel immediately; • calls on RTE to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019 if Israel proceeds with its proposals to host Eurovision in Jerusalem. This boycott must stay in place till a peace deal is agreed between Palestine and Israel.

Conference therefore joins trade unions, such as SIPTU and Mandate Trade Union in supporting calls for the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of Israeli goods and services and supports the international BDS campaign.

Proposed: Labour Youth Supported: North Clare Branch, Clare Amended: Dublin Central Constituency Council

14 Original Motions:

Conference opposes the illegal occupation on Palestinian territories by Israeli forces and the unwarranted use of force and apartheid laws to maintain that occupation, in violation of international law.

Conference therefore joins trade unions, such as SIPTU and Mandate Trade Union in supporting calls for the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of Israeli goods and services and supports the international BDS campaign. Labour Youth

Addendum:

After second paragraph, insert:

Conference calls on RTE to boycott the Eurovision song contest if Israel proceeds with its proposals to host Eurovision in Jerusalem. Dublin Central Constituency Council

Conference calls on the Government of Ireland and Culture Ireland to institute a cultural boycott of Israel immediately. This boycott will also include Ireland not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel in 2019. This boycott must stay in place till a peace deal is agreed between Palestine and Israel.

North Clare Branch, Clare

50. Conference is gravely concerned with the escalating assault in Turkey on human and democratic rights, freedom of association and freedom of speech. It deplores the failures of the Government of Turkey to abide by its obligations under the International Labour Organisation Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Noting the alarming and dangerous situation that is developing Conference expresses its solidarity with the HDP party and Turkish Civil Society. Conference recognises the importance of social peace, as the basis for the development of a sustainable, inclusive, democratic, secular and stable society and therefore resolves to call on the Turkish government to:

• Stop collective dismissals and suspensions, intimidations, and arrests without any basis of evidence/compliance with the rule of law; • Release of all the detained workers and public employees, journalists, parliamentarians, and elected mayors who are imprisoned without any clear accusation; • Immediately redress the grievances of innocent people who have been arrested or suspended during the most recent state of emergency, and reinstate them in their jobs; • Revert to normal legislation which implies the presumption of innocence, individuality of criminal responsibility and punishment, and the right to a fair, independent, and transparent trial and appeal procedures; return to respect for the rule of law, democracy, and justice; • Restore freedom of expression, speech, and the media; reopen democratic and independent media; • Cease the violation, adopt respect for and implement ILO core labour standards, Conventions 87 and 98 on trade union rights; • Restart the Kurdish-Turkish peace process that was unilaterally terminated by the government in June 2015 in order to find a peaceful and democratic solution to the “Kurdish Question”, including the release of Abdullah Ocalan. Central Council

15 51. Conference is calling for a united response based on solidarity and humanity to tackle the migratory crises both at the regional and international level. Such a response, at the EU level should be built around a genuine and coordinated migration and asylum policy given that no EU country should or can deal with the matter on its own. Conference wants a Europe of tolerance, equality and unity that welcomes all those who have the right to be here and integrates them into our societies to make our societies thrive. Our answer to the challenges posed by the enormous flows of refugees is based on a fair sharing out of responsibilities and solidarity.

Conference stands in solidarity with those who are fleeing war and persecution and we stand for solidarity with other States who are at the frontline of such crises. This has to be our answer to those who want to use any such crises to see Europe and other regional forms of co-operation throughout the world to fail, to divide our societies and to promote hate and fear.

Conference resolves to develop an ambitious set of policies to meet these challenges at national, European and International level that should include:

- ending the Direct Provision system in Ireland; - legislation to tackle all forms of racism, hate speech and xenophobia in society; - regional and International policy responses and actions to address the root causes of growing refugee crises, including the arms trade, climate change and poverty; - adopt the UN agenda for sustainable development as a framework in addressing these issues.

Furthermore Conference commits to working with our European and International social democratic and progressive organisations to combat the rise of populism through solidarity, action and an untied response to the narrative of hate and fear. Central Council

WOMEN’S HEALTH:

The Future of Women’s Health – Draft Policy Paper

HOUSING:

52. Housing in Ireland has reached crisis point. Levels of homelessness and people at risk of homelessness are increasing drastically with no sign of improvement. Labour has made progressive, costed and workable proposals in its “Affordable Housing for All” policy. This alongside ICTU’s Housing Charter, and the Take Back the City Movement we have seen realistic and workable ways with which to fix the emergency we find ourselves in.

Conference:

• re-affirms its support for an assertive vacant sites strategy to be implemented, including levies on vacant sites and compulsory purchase orders at existing use value; • supports the Take Back the City Movement; and • calls on the Government to make public land available for social and affordable housing, including schemes for affordable home ownership, but not to sell the public land.

Donaghmede Branch, Dublin Bay North

16

53. That national conference wants 80,000 social houses built over the next five years to alleviate the disgraceful situation we are in right now with regards homelessness. The ruling as regards the 2040 plan from government must be rescinded immediately to allow this plan to happen.

Newport Branch, Tipperary

54. Conference deplores the ongoing housing crisis in Ireland which continues to deny many individuals and families their opportunity to a secure home, whether purchased, rented privately or in the form of social housing.

Conference acknowledges that the root of this crisis is beyond a simple matter of supply and demand economics, extending instead into the realms of politics and ideology. This makes it a consequence of both the dominant position of the two landlord parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, and also of the privileging of private property rights above the right to a home in Bunreacht na hÉireann.

In order to provide constitutional support for the radical approach that is now needed to end this desperate housing crisis, Conference proposes a referendum to remove the current text of Article 43 (Private Property) from Bunreacht na hEireann and replace it with text outlining:

- the fundamental right of citizens of the republic to a secure home; - the responsibility of the State to guarantee this right by ensuring access to a home for any who require it; - the subordinate position of other private property considerations to the right to a home.

Cork South Central Constituency Council

55. Conference calls on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to ensure that publicly owned land that is suitable for housing development is not sold off and that the Minister obliges local authorities to accumulate suitable land banks to enable them to address their need for social and affordable housing. Limerick City Constituency Council

56. Conference notes that housing and shelter are fundamental rights which should be vindicated and protected by the State.

Conference further notes that Census 2016 showed 497,000 households, or 30% in rented accommodation and noted that the number of households in private rented accommodation has increased by 67% since 2006.

Conference recognises that Irish law lacks sufficient protections for tenants in relation to areas such as security of tenure or rent stability.

Therefore Conference calls for the replacement of the Private Residential Tenancies Board with a proactive enforcement agency with the powers and resources needed to address the needs of tenants.

In particular conference calls:

- For the authorisation and appropriate funding of a proactive inspection system including inspections of places advertised for rent to; - Prevent avoidance measures and breaches of rent controls, in particular the raising of rent levels between tenancies; and

17 - Enforce minimum living standards for places made available for rent; - For the removal of the section 34(b) exception which allows landlords to terminate leases without cause, and evict tenants at the end of a part 4 lease period and the introduction of provision for indefinite tenancies; - For the amending of section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Act to improve protections for tenants against termination; - For the implementation of the tenancy deposit protection scheme envisaged in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015.

Conference directs the policy unit to monitor progress on these issues and to report back to the next party conference. Galway West Constituency Council

57. Conference calls for the development of a cost rental scheme, to meet the housing needs of people who do not qualify for the HAP scheme, who cannot afford to buy a home and subsequently face homelessness as a result. Littlepace Branch, Dublin West

58. Conference calls on the Government to declare a national emergency in relation to the current housing situation, given that the current situation is gone beyond any confidence in the Housing Minister or this government. Kildare South Constituency Council

59. Conference notes that Ireland is the third most active home-sharing market in Europe and that Airbnb has been increasingly used in such a way that many properties which would make ideal rentals for families and working people are being taken out of the rental market, compounding the already harsh realities of Ireland’s rental shortage.

Conference condemns the tardy approach of the government in regulating Airbnb.

Conference calls for the introduction of a local authority levy on owners of properties who provide accommodation for rental periods covering a period of less than 30 days, where such accommodation is not designated as a hotel or otherwise registered with Fáilte Ireland or equivalent bodies supporting tourism in Ireland. Mulhuddart Branch, Dublin West

60. Conference notes:

- the undue reliance by the present government on the private market to address the housing and homeless crisis; - certain ill-advised initiatives for landlords and developers which may exacerbate rather than improve the housing crisis; - the able articulation of a Labour preferred approach by our spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan.

Conference directs:

- that rent controls as distinct from rent pressure zones and landlord licensing which are common in other countries be researched and given due consideration including the legal or constitutional implications as an addition to our present response to the housing and homeless crisis and our approach to future housing policy. Central Council

18 61. Conference notes the complete failure of the Government to deal with the housing crisis. This Government supports the few, not the many.

Conference condemns land hoarders who leave families on the streets and in Garda stations while properties are being left to rot so speculators can earn more money.

Conference demands the following policies:

- Expanding the rent pressure zones where needed; - An immediate ban on any rent increases, including change of occupants; - A mandatory 4% rent reduction per year for the following 2 years in all rent pressure zones; - Development of ways to permanently prevent out of control rents including a mandatory living rent or rent caps; - A ban on all terminations of tenancies and evictions due to mortgage debt, to be reviewed yearly until the housing list is significantly reduced; - Fully ban Airbnb unless the property owner also lives in the property; - Maintain tenancies when properties are sold; - Improve squatters rights by reducing the period of occupation from 12 years to 5; - Increase and ring-fence funding to local authorities to build social housing on state lands; - Sanction local authorities if they don’t spend their allocation for traveller housing; - Compulsorily purchase vacant or derelict properties where necessary to fix the social housing crisis, amounts to be paid back in instalments to owners to prevent this money from needing to be borrowed; - Include student accommodation in rent pressure zones and in all these measures; - For all these to be legislated for right away and then, depending on which measure gets overturned to hold a referendum; - These policies should include the right to housing being recognised in the constitution.

Cabra and District Branch, Dublin Central

62. Conference condemns this government for its dismal failure to address the housing crisis which has left 10,000 men, women and children homeless and over 100,000 waiting on the local authority housing lists; Conference further condemns this government for its failure to provide any affordable housing thus compelling lower and middle-income workers and their families to spend up to forty per cent of disposable income on exorbitant rental accommodation; Conference commends the package of policy proposals drawn up by the Labour Party Spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan, TD.

Conference further agrees that:

• the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) role in the disposal of impaired assets should be discontinued; • NAMA should be reconfigured and re-designated as a semi-state housing authority; • this new semi-state Housing Authority be given the necessary powers to manage and regulate the housing market for the entire country; • the outstanding properties and lands within its remit be retained for residential development; • it be given access to adjacent State and Local Authority- controlled lands for the purpose of residential development; • the €4 billion profit NAMA has generated since its establishment in 2010 be retained to finance the construction of a fresh supply of social, affordable and private housing to deal with the housing and homeless crisis and meet the needs of our growing population.

Sean O’Casey Branch, Dublin Central 19 63. Conference recognises the Labour Party’s commitment to ensuring that there is an adequate provision of affordable homes for workers throughout Ireland

Conference notes that the provision of such housing has been woefully inadequate during both terms of the current Fine Gael-led government.

Conference therefore seeks the commitment of the Labour Party to vigorously champion the provision of affordable housing to allow working families to be able to provide a home for their families.

Conference further seeks the commitment of the Labour Party to work to establish a state-owned building agency to oversee the building of affordable houses on public lands, with strict rules to ensure that the pricing of such houses is based on the public good and not on the basis of turning a profit for private construction. Ayrfield / Edenmore Branch, Dublin Bay North

64. In the face of the current housing crisis, the Labour Party will actively campaign at all levels of government for the establishment of an Urban Infrastructure Fund to ensure that key utility and waste treatment projects are fully funded from central government expenditure to avoid Dublin City and other Urban Authorities having to sell off key housing land sites to private developers to fund upgrades of long neglected infrastructure projects in our towns and cities. Rathmines Branch, Dublin Bay South

65. Conference mandates the Parliamentary Party to introduce a Private Members’ Bill in this Oireachtas session to regulate for a process to allow those made homeless to exit penalty free from household utility contracts (excepting those who transfer to a new residence and are able to transfer said contracts). Furthermore, should such legislation fail to pass the Oireachtas as a Private Members’ Bill, it should be named as a key legislative priority of the Party in any future involvement as part of a government or part of any confidence and supply style arrangement the Party may enter into post-election.

Clare Constituency Council

66. Conference notes the dire situation of Ireland’s housing crisis.

Conference applauds Jan O’Sullivan and the Policy Unit on Labour’s housing policy “Affordable Housing for All”.

Conference recognises that Airbnb is exacerbating the housing crisis by effectively removing many adequate homes from the market and offering them exclusively to short tern letting.

Conference calls on the Labour Party to specifically address regulating Airbnb in an election manifesto.

Kilmacanogue Branch, Wicklow

67. Conscious of the seriously weak local government system in Ireland, which is very much out of kilter with the rest of the European Union and runs contrary to the principles of subsidiarity as stated in the Nice Treaty.

Conference notes: - that there are many areas where local authorities are prevented from running cities or counties effectively because of the lack of local government powers; - that local authorities are prevented from carrying out normal functions in the interest of cities and counties’ wellbeing;

20 - the disproportionate dependence of local government on central government and the frequent role of the Courts to adjudicate on issues that should be within the normal power of the Council to resolve; - with regret the decision of the last Government not to proceed with the directly-elected mayor for Dublin; - that the Government of the day is over-burdened with their own agenda, and nothing has been done is response to several requests to amend legislation to empower local authorities; - that areas lacking powers include noise prevention, estate management, traffic management, and setting a bed night tax.

Conference calls on the Labour Party to initiate and promote a process to advance the genuine reform of local government powers, including asking the Seanad to take a lead role in this process. Central Council

68. Conference calls for the restoration of proper planning. The current national planning framework has totally ignored the real development need of nearly one third of the country focusing instead on the East and the South of the country. Sligo/Leitrim Constituency Council

69. Labour calls on government to commission a short information film explaining voting procedure from start to finish. This to be shown on RTÉ, in cinemas etc. before every election. Because of literacy and other difficulties., many people in the country are missing out on their democratic right to vote, through fear of doing the wrong thing and lack of practical demonstration of something that is so much taken for granted by many of us. Jack Fitzgerald Branch, Dún Laoghaire

70. Composite No. 2:

Conference notes with concern the lack of representation on a local level.

Conference further notes with great regret that the Labour Party did not oppose the decision in 2014 to abolish Town Councils.

In line with similar motions in 2017 Conference, Conference acknowledges that the decision to abolish Town Councils should be reversed.

Conference agrees to continue working to re-establish Town Councils.

Conference calls on the Government to immediately establish a Town Councils Commission to examine measures on reinstating Town Councils by 2024. Proposed: Bray Connolly Branch, Wicklow Supported: Carrick-on-Suir Branch, Tipperary Original Motions:

Conference notes with great regret that the Labour Party did not oppose the decision in 2014 to abolish Town Councils.

In line with similar motions in 2017 Conference, Conference acknowledge that the decision to abolish Town Councils should be reversed. Conference calls on the government to immediately establish a town councils commission to examine measures on reinstating Town Councils by 2024

Bray Connolly Branch, Wicklow

21 Conference notes with concern the lack of representation on a local level. Conference agrees to continue working to re-establish Town Councils. Carrick on Suir Branch, Tipperary

71. Conference welcomes the recently introduced bill to re-establish Town Councils throughout the State as a hugely significant and positive initiative by our party and Party Leader.

Conference, as a follow up to the introduction of our bill and given the importance of it to our country and to the future of our party, calls on the Parliamentary Party to use every means at its disposal to progress this bill successfully through the Oireachtas in time to have Town Councils in place for the local elections next summer. Central Council

72. Conference notes that derelict sites continue to scourge our cities. Conference further notes that it unacceptable that these sites are not put to productive use, particularly given massive shortage in housing.

Conference call for the introduction of legislation to:

• make it easier for local authorities to carry out a compulsory purchase order when property owners fail to carry out remedial work or where the property owner cannot be identified.

Furthermore, Conferences calls for changes to the vacant site levy to include smaller properties than is currently legislated for. Dublin Central Constituency Council

73. Conference notes that the Irish people have concerns about the future of Irish Water. Conference supports the holding of a referendum to retain Irish Water services in public hands, whereby it cannot be privatised in the future without the consent of the country. Conference recommends that this be part of the new election manifesto. Ross Connolly/Greystones Branch, Wicklow

COMMUNICATIONS, CLIMATE ACTION AND ENVIRONMENT:

74. Conference, aware of the urgent need for affordable high speed broadband across all of Ireland, recognising the work done on the national broadband plan by Alex White in government, deplores the undermining of this plan by the former Minister Denis Naughton; demands a clear pathway to accessible high speed broadband be set out to ensure the future sustainability of rural Ireland.

Wexford Constituency Council

75. Conference notes the recent report by the Climate Change Advisory Council which has stated that Ireland is set to miss its EU 2020 commitments in reducing carbon emissions; and is likely to struggle to decarbonise the economy by 2050.

Conference notes with concern the apparent lack of urgency from the current government in reaching these targets and tackling climate change in general.

Conference therefore calls for:

22 • The establishment of a commission to calculate the potential for new job creation from the introduction of a green and social transition to a zero carbon economy in Ireland; • The report should contain the potential for job creation and losses in the following sectors: energy, transport, buildings, farming, forestry and food; and reuse, repair and recycling; • The report should contain a detailed implementation strategy, at all times prioritising environmental and social outcomes; • The report should also contain costings for implementation, over a reasonable timeframe; • The establishment of a strategic fund to invest in Ireland’s transition to a zero carbon economy.

Rathfarnham Branch, Dublin South West

76. Given that human-induced climate change is the major environmental challenge facing us, and the government is failing badly in its targets for mitigation, being adjudged second worst preforming State in the EU by the climate action network, Conference calls for an urgent overhaul of Irelands climate migration plans, set firmly in the context of sustainable development goals and for immediate strong actions to minimise the production of hothouse gases, including:

- Immediately end the use of peat and coal for electricity generation; - Drastically reduce prices on public transport and increase fleet size to enhance the attractiveness of public transport versus private cars; - Accelerate the adoption of electric and where necessary hybrid vehicles for public transport; - Do more to promote the early adoption of electric vehicles by individuals and firms by, for example, increasing the availability and distribution of charging points, and - Significantly increase spending on cycling infrastructure to encourage safe commuting by bicycle.

Galway City East Branch, Galway West

PARTY AFFAIRS:

77. Conference calls on the Executive Board and the Party Leadership, in view of the growth of populism on the right and extreme left internationally, to consider an approach to likeminded parties and individuals, prior to the next General Election, with a view to reaching agreement on a limited number of common policy objectives.

These could include the following:

• Enhanced social/affordable housing provision; • Implementation of Sláintecare; • Deliver a national childcare plan; • Elimination of all financial barriers to ‘free’ education at primary and secondary levels; • Implementation of specific measures to ensure that we meet our ‘climate change’ targets.

Such an agreement would not comprise the freedom of each political party to campaign on their own comprehensive party policy platforms. Fingal Constituency Council

23 Amendment:

In paragraph 1, line 2, delete the words, and extreme left.

Jim Kemmy/UCC Branch, Cork South Central

Motion to amend Party Constitution:

78. That in section 8 of Article 9 (“The Party Leader”) of the Party Constitution, the sentence “Only members of Dáil Éireann are eligible for election” be deleted and be substituted by “Only persons who are members of Dáil Éireann or of Seanad Éireann are eligible for election”. UCC Jim Kemmy Branch

Explanatory Note Article 9, section 8 currently provides that only TDs are eligible to stand for election to the Party Leadership. The section goes on to provide that a candidate must be nominated either by at least 2 members of the PLP (including both TDs and Senators), or by at least 5 Constituency Councils whose members constitute at least 10% of the total constituency party membership. The effect of the amendment, if passed, would be to enable Labour Party Senators, for the first time, to contest and be elected to the office of Party Leader. It should be noted that Article 17 of the Constitution, which deals with transitional matters, provides for a review of all the new constitutional arrangements passed by the Wexford Conference in April 2017. That review is due to take place at our 2019 Party Conference. However, Article 17 also makes it clear that the Constitution may continue to be amended in the ordinary way during this two year transitional period. The Standing Orders Committee has accordingly decided that this motion to amend the Party Constitution is in order.

79. Conference resolves that in the event of no party, or group, commanding a majority after the next general election, the Labour Party shall offer support for the formation of a stable administration on the basis of the negotiation of a programme for government, conditional on the inclusion of a number of minimum “Red Line measures” to promote economic equality and social progress.

Newbridge Branch, Kildare South

Amendment:

On line 2, after the word support, insert the words, on a confidence and supply basis only

On line 2, after the word administration, insert the word, and.

Clondalkin/Rathcoole Branch, Dublin Mid-West

80. Bearing in mind the fundamental importance of our conference decisions, Conference now requests the Central Council to report to each Party Conference on the motions passed at the preceding Party Conference (i.e. how they were progressed or if they were set aside or ignored, and to give reasons for

24 those decisions) commencing with a report at the next conference on the motions passed at Conference 2018. Lucan and Palmerstown Branch, Dublin Mid-West

81. Conference acknowledges its role as a primary driver of policy and campaigns for the Labour Party throughout the year. Conference regrets that there is little opportunity throughout the year for members to take part in a review of how motions passed have been progressed.

Conference therefore mandates all party spokespersons to write a report for submission to Conference detailing what, within their respective portfolios, has been done to further the motions voted on by members, or to offer an explanation as to why they were not actionable during the year.

Trinity Branch, Dublin Bay South

82. Conference calls upon the Labour Party to engage fully and properly with rural Ireland, something which has not been the case until now. The Party is being seen solely anchored to urban areas with little or no relevance to rural communities. Donegal Constituency Council

83. Conference instructs the Executive Board to take actions to address the perception that the Irish Labour Party is in fact the Dublin Labour Party.

Sligo Branch, Sligo-Leitrim

84. Conference calls on the Labour Party to engage in a campaign of remembrance for those who did not experience freedom, who were left behind when the Irish State was established. The mothers and babies in the mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries; the LGBT community who had to live in hiding in their own country; the children incarcerated in industrial and reformatory schools; and those with mental health difficulties locked into asylums. As part of this campaign that places of remembrance such as Gardens, sculptures or other suitable initiatives be promoted nationally, lest we ever forget to honour those from whose suffering and isolation a New Ireland and a new concept of freedom has arisen.

Finglas Branch Dublin, North West

85. Conference requests that additional effort be made by the Labour Party to ensure that Party policies receive coverage at least proportionate to our parliamentary and local authority membership.

Drumcondra-Glasnevin Branch, Dublin Central

RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

86. Conference calls on this government to ensure that post office closures are restricted in all areas until broadband and other forms of communication are at an acceptable level. Templemore Branch, Tipperary

25 87. Recent issues surrounding the Post Office network and ongoing difficulty in rolling out the National Broadband Plan highlight the need for long term joined up thinking when it comes to smaller communities. The sustainability of towns and villages must be made a priority for government in order to prevent a decline in rural Ireland at the expense of growing cities and large towns. The plan should establish a path to self-sustainability that would help grow these communities into the future.

Kells Branch, Meath West

88. Conference notes the demographic changes in Ireland and instructs the Party to take serious consideration of the moves in the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries whereby villages and hamlets are being built as suitable living spaces and services for older people and as an alternative to nursing homes and hospital beds. While so much of land is in the hands of the public sector, the Party will prioritise the plans to advance such facilities in opposition or as part of a future government. Ennis Branch, Clare

​

CULTURE, HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT:

89. Conference calls on the Minister to purchase the portion of the lands of the Luggala estate which have traditionally been open to the public in order to continue to secure public access to its mountains, rivers, valleys, woods and lakes. Dublin South Central Constituency Council

90. Aithníonn Páirtí an Lucht Oibre an dul chun cinn suntasach atá déanta chun ah Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa bhliain stairiúil seo, Bliain na Gaeilge. Tréaslaímid go háirithe le Chonradh na Gaeilge as ucht 125 Bliain ar an saol a cheiliúradh agus as an obair iontach atá déanta acu chun an seoid-teanga atá againn a chosaint agus a chaomhnú.

Aithnímid chomh maith na fadhbanna suntasacha ós chomhair an teanga go fóill le laghdú beag san líon cainteoirí sa Ghaeltacht, na dúshláin a bhainfidh le pleananna teacnga a chur chun cinn sa Ghaletacht uafásacha , na srianta éágóireacha atá curhta ag aan stáit roimh fás na Galescolaíochta lasmuigh den nGaletacht, thuaidh agus theas agus na bearnaí uafásacha ó thaobh seirbhísí poiblí atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge.

Plean infheistíochta: Tacaíonn Páirtí an Lucht Oibre le Plean Infheistíochta na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta aontaithe ag breis is 90 grúpa a mhaoiniú láithreach bonn. Chruthódh cur i bhfeidhm an phlean seo breis is 1,100 post, go háirithe sa Ghaeltacht, agus chuirfeadh sé i bhfad níos mó deiseanna Gaeilge a úsáid ar fáil don phobal trí chéile

Oideachas: Aithníonn Páirtí an Lucht Oibre an fiúntas sa pholasaí oideachas Gaeltachta foilsithe ag an Rialtas agus atá á chur i bhfeidhm le dhá bhliain anuas. Éilítear, áfach, an maoiniú cuí leis an bplean a chur i bhfeidhm ina iomlan. Moltar gur chóir a mhacasamhail de polasaí a fhorbairt do mhúineadh na Gaeilge trí chéile, le fothpholasaí faoi leith don ghaeloideachas ann

Gaeltacht: Aithníonn Páirtí an Lucht Oibre an buille tubaisteach a bheidh i gceist leis an bplean atá ag An Post chun 14 oifig poist a dhúnadh sa Ghaeltacht. Éilítear ar Rialtas na hÉireann gan ligint do seo tarlúint, go háirithe mar go dtagann seo trasna ar an bpleanáil teanga atá ag dul ar aghaidh ag na pobail Gaeltachta faoi láthair.

26 Tuaisceart: Tacaíonn Páirtí an Lucht Oibre leis an bhfeachtas chun Acht Gaeilge a bhaint amach ó thuaidh sula chuirfear an Tionól ar bun arís. Tacaíonn 5 pháirtí ó thuaidh agus 50 as an 90 ball den Tionól leis an seasamh seo. Aithnítear ar lean go raibh 3 chomhairliúchán poiblí ar an cheist seo ó bhí 2007 ann agus i ngach ceann acu léiríodh tromlach ar son Achta, le 94.7% de 13,000+ freagróir in 2015 ag tacú le hAcht Gaeilge agus stádas oifigiúil. Tacaíonn Comhairle na hEorpa, na Náisiúin Aontaithe, an Coimisiún Cearta Daonna agus Rialtas na hÉireann le hAcht Gaeilge chomh maith.

Geallaimid chomh maith go ndéánfaimid gach iarracht an teanga a chur chun cinn ag leibhéal rialtas áitiúil leis an sprioc go mbedh teacht ar gach seirbhís i nGaeilge i ngach Comhairle áitiúil.

Translation Conference recognises the tremendous achievements and progress made to promote the Irish language as we celebrate Bliain na Gaeilge. We particularly congratulate Conradh na Gaeilge who celebrate their 125th anniversary this year on the wonderful work they have done to protect and preserve our national language.

Conference also recognises the substantial challenges which still remain for the language with the recent small drop in the number of speakers of the language in Gaeltacht areas, the challenges in language planning for our smaller Gaeltacht areas, the unfair limitations placed by the state on the growth of Irish medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, both North and South and the huge gaps in the provision of basic public services through the medium of Irish.

Conference supports an investment plan for the Irish language and Gaeltacht areas, which has been agreed by more than 90 local and national organisations. This plan would support the creation of more than 1,100 jobs, particularly in the Gaeltacht and would create many more opportunities for the active use of the language in our communities.

Conference recognises the huge value of the Gaeltacht Education Policy recently published by Government. We demand that the plan be fully implemented and resourced and also demand that a similar plan be introduced for Irish language teaching outside of the Gaeltacht.

Conference also recognises the damage which will be caused by the disastrous decision to close 14 post offices in Gaeltacht areas. We demand the Government ensures that this not happen, particularly as it runs contrary to the language planning currently taking place in Gaeltacht areas.

Conference fully supports the campaign for an Irish Language Act in the North of Ireland. Five of the political parties in the North and 90 assembly members support this Act as do the Council of Europe, the United Nations, the Human Rights Commission and the Irish Government. We strongly support our sister party, the SDLP, in its forthright support for Acht na Gaeilge.

Finally, Conference commits to supporting the maximum possible efforts to promote the Irish language in local communities with a commitment to fight for the provision of all local services through the medium of Irish in every local authority area and an active support for local community facilities for Irish language speakers, based on the Culturlann model in the North of Ireland and the example of Áras Chrónáin in Clondalkin to create a Teanga Beo.

Carlow/Kilkenny Constituency Council.

27 BREXIT:

91. Conference notes the UK’s determination to leave the European Union by any means after its contentious referendum in June 2016.

Those in Britain who are advocating Brexit have no regard for the impact it will have for ordinary people,​ not just in their own country, but also in Ireland where the current economic and political relationship with the UK largely depends on both countries being members of the EU.

Conference notes that the actions of the British government has the potential to have serious consequences for the economy and jobs of the Republic of Ireland, especially if a hard border is implemented. Twenty- eight per cent of the Republic’s exports currently cross the border to Northern Ireland whilst imports from the North amount to thirty-four per cent of its exports. The Republic also faces a threat to trade with Britain across the Irish Sea with its exports currently valued at £21.8bn, having risen for each of the last five successive years. Ireland imports £34bn worth of British goods and services.

Conference also notes the lack of clarity about how the Common Travel Area will continue to operate to allow the freedom of movement of people from the Republic to Northern Ireland and the British mainland.

Conference further notes how membership of the EU has been one of the main underpinning elements of the Good Friday Agreement securing peace in Northern Ireland.

Conference recognises this high degree of uncertainty has to be resolved by March 2019 but those in Britain negotiating the UK’s withdrawal are divided, leading many to believe that they are incapable of delivering a Brexit that will work for the ordinary people in the UK and Ireland. This only makes the prospect of a hard, no deal, and Brexit look ever more likely.

Conference calls on the Labour Party to pressure the Irish Government to ensure that it blocks any agreement between the UK and the EU which doesn’t legally bind the parties to no hard border in the island of Ireland and the continuation of free movement of people between Ireland and Britain.

Central Council

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION:

92. Conference resolves that the Labour Party will campaign to enshrine a fundamental right to collective bargaining in Bunreacht na hÉireann, (the Constitution of Ireland). To this end, Conference further resolves that this should be a key priority in the Party’s manifesto for the next general election and should form the basis of any agreement on a programme for government.

Wicklow Constituency Council

93. Conference calls on government to bring forward legislation to enshrine the right to collective bargaining for all workers and the mandatory union recognition by all employers. Sandyford Branch, Dublin Rathdown

94. Conference acknowledges the significant contribution and sacrifice workers make in society. These burdens include long commutes, poor working conditions, low pay, long hours and reduced time to spend with family, friends and as part of their community.

28 Conference recognises the associated negative effects of stress on physical and mental health with a long working day. Conference accepts that workers are at their most productive in their first six hours of work with deteriorating productivity thereafter.

Conference therefore calls on the Government to reduce the working day to six hours (or 30 hours a week) for all workers, with workers receiving the same pay/salary as if working an eight hour working day. Should a worker wish to extend their working hours to a total of nine hours per day, they must express this in written consent to their employer in advance of the day.

NUI Galway Branch, Galway West

95. Conference welcomes the significant work already undertaken by the Labour Party in the area of improving employment legislation as well as its special relationship with the trade union movement. Conference recommends that the party reiterate their policy priorities of economic justice, social equality and the strengthening of industrial relations mechanisms and labour protections for all workers. These should be contained within Labour’s core principles and prioritised in all forthcoming election manifestoes. Specifically, Conference recommends that we in the Labour Party will:

• restate our commitment to and collaboration with the trade union movement to achieve the common objectives of economic equality, social justice and decent living standards for all citizens; • vigorously pursue and campaign with the trade union movement, for the improvement of industrial relations laws, in particular trade union recognition and access to representation and collective bargaining; • and to seek to implement the core pledges contained within the Workers’ Republic document which would go a significant way towards establishing a decent standard of living for all which includes access to:

o decent work o decent wages o decent social protection systems o decent and social dialogue Labour Trade Union Section

96. Conference calls on the Labour Party to develop a regional jobs policy to utilise the following resources:

• Universities technological universities and institutes of technology • EU supports and north south co operation • Broadband infrastructure including 5G network • Expansion of Credit Union role in job creation

Gralton/Leitrim Branch, Sligo/Leitrim

29 NOTES

30