Conference Motions Passed 2007

Issued : Thursday 1 November, 2007

EDUCATION

Primary Education Commission

Conference notes:
The unwillingness of the present Government to act in a non partisan manner and the reluctance of the Minister for Education and Science to heed the calls of the Labour Party in relation to primary education;

Conference further notes:
The tradition of the Labour Party as a campaigning party of reform, and the need for the party to assert this role in the future;

Conference therefore calls on:
The Labour Party Spokesperson on Education and Science to establish a National Primary Education Commission whose role it shall be to consider and discuss the future of Primary Education needs in this country, in particular the way in which school needs are identified and addressed, with a view to reporting in advance of the academic year 2008/2009 on its recommendations for future school building.

Conference further calls upon:
The Spokesperson to take every measure to ensure that the Commission is independent, with an independent Chairperson and has representation from all stakeholders in Irish primary education, including teachers, parents, students and managers, as well as from all parties represented in Dáil Éireann.

Finally, Conference recommends:
That the Commission shall not be bound by Labour Party policy in its deliberations, nor should its recommendations be bound to become Labour Party policy.

Student Grant Information Campaign

Conference Notes:
- That the continuing inaccessibility of information about Student Maintenance Grants for third-level students means many students are not aware of their entitlement to a Maintenance Grant.
- The inconsistencies in the delivery of Student grants and the delays associated with Local Authorities providing the Maintenance Grant to students.
- The high levels of red tape and bureaucracy students must navigate to avail of the student grant means many will never get a grant they are entitled to

Conference Applauds:
- Labour Youth's Grants Campaign successes in the past in calling for a centralised grants system.

Conference Calls For:
- The production of Labour Youth literature outlining Students Rights to the Maintenance Grant; including how to apply and where to apply.

Conference Mandates:
- Labour Youth Campaigns Officer to launch a Grants Information campaign similar to "Know Your Rights" Workers Rights leaflet and to aim this campaign in particular at Fresher's Week Recruitment.
Access to the Legal Profession

Conference notes
That to enter the legal profession in Ireland, one must overcome many financial and social obstacles.

Conference further notes
That these obstacles mean that the majority undertaking a career in law are those who can afford it and who have pre-existing ties to the legal profession

Conference notes with distress that these obstacles include

- Exceptionally high costs for postgraduate study in the King's Inns, with a one year degree course costing €12,000. This course is also run during the day (as opposed to the evening diploma course) so people cannot work full time simultaneously.
- Barristers in their first year of practice must be able to afford to work for free during their year's apprenticeship, also known as 'devilling'. The apprenticeship must also take place in Dublin, thus increasing costs for candidates even further if forced to live away from home.
- At many junctures during the course of becoming a solicitor, candidates are asked to provide personal character references from solicitors known to them for several years who cannot be former lecturers, thus reinforcing closed shop practices already in place.
-
Conference believes
That while the free fees initiative has delivered good progress in increasing access to education for people of all social backgrounds, more must be done to ensure that these artificial barriers to real educational equality of opportunity in certain professions are removed.

Conference affirms its belief that
No profession should be the sole preserve of the wealthy and socially connected.

Conference mandates
The Education and Development Officer to include a comprehensive section on access to the legal profession based on this motion in the next update or print run of the Labour Youth policy on education.

Student Grant Universal Provision

Conference Notes:
- The current Low levels of grant monies provided to students on the Maintenance Grant.
- The inequality in the Grants system by presuming that parental income transfers to their children in 3rd level education
- The inappropriate setting of 23 years of age as a cut off point before which a parent's income is included as a student's in calculating income thresholds for the Maintenance Grant.
- Mean-testing of the Maintenance Grant increases its inaccessibility to students

Conference Calls for:
- The introduction of a Centralised Grants system
- Universal access to a basic Maintenance Grant for all students regardless of their parents' income. This would serve to discourage students working while in full-time Education and help to remove any associated stigma of the Maintenance Grant.
- Universal provision of a Basic Maintenance Grant for all, with increasing grades of provision for those on lower incomes, those that have dependents or those that avail of the Back To Education Allowance.
- That this Universal Grant will be funded by progressive taxation
- Grant payments to be provided on a weekly or fortnightly basis instead of three annual instalments

Conference Mandates:
- Labour Youth to call for a grant system based on the principle of universality and to develop a new grants campaign to this effect in cooperation with Labour Youth Branches in universities in particular.

 

 

LABOUR YOUTH AFFAIRS

Pamphlets
Conference notes:
The importance of education for any Socialist organisation and the role that pamphlets, both online and in print, can play in this regard.

Conference mandates:
The incoming Education Officer to bring proposals to Labour Youth Council outlining a program for the production of pamphlets.

Conference encourages:
All members to assist in this process.

Young Candidates Fund

Conference notes:
the critical importance of young Labour candidates contesting the upcoming local elections, currently scheduled for 2009.

Conference encourages:
the participation of Labour Youth members in contesting and running campaigns at local level.

Conference mandates:
the National Youth Executive to provide the maximum level of assistance possible to young candidates.

Conference establishes:
a Young Candidates Fund, to be administered by the National Youth Executive, which will raise and distribute electoral funds to young candidates. The organisation of this fund and the criteria for the candidates involved shall be decided by the National Youth Executive, subject to the approval of Labour Youth Council.

Labour Youth Council

Conference notes that:
There are problems with the current standing orders, systems and procedures of Labour Youth Council. This can lead to Council taking considerable lengths of time on some issues, not leaving enough time for debate on other issues, an overall disconnect from the members in attendance, and a resultant lack of attendance.

To address these problems, Conference resolves to:
establish an ad-hoc Working Group to propose changes in the Standing Orders and overall procedures for Labour Youth Council. The terms of reference of this group are as follows;

- To analyse the current standing orders for LY Council with a view to streamlining any agenda items which are of a technical or logistical nature;
- To propose new standing orders with a view to encouraging maximum participation by members;
- To propose new initiatives in and around LY Council so as to encourage a larger and more diverse attendance
- To locate all proposed changes in the grassroots and democratic ethos of our organisation as laid out in the Labour Youth Constitution

This Working Group shall be comprised of all members who wish to participate and shall be chaired by the Chair of Labour Youth. It shall meet at least once prior to the first Labour Youth Council after Youth Conference, with any changes to be proposed to that Council.

 

HEALTH

Mental Health

Conference notes:
That suicide rates in Ireland are extraordinarily high, particularly among young people.

Conference further notes:
That the support services in place for those at risk of suicide are deficient and receive inadequate state funding, particularly in the area of crisis counselling.

Conference believes:
That free mental health services must be available and accessible for all members of the public in every part of the country.

Conference therefore calls for:
1. The State to substantially increase funding into support services for people at risk of suicide in Ireland.
2. Labour Youth to run an awareness campaign on suicide prevention nationwide.

 

Drug Treatment Services

Conference Notes:
- The rising rates of Heroin usage in Ireland and the unavailability of Drug Treatment facilities for those who seek them.

Conference Applauds:
- The work of the Merchants Quay Project in reducing rates of infection of drug users with HIV and Hepatitis C and in providing realistic, practical and effective solutions to treat those affected by Heroin in particular and their families.

Conference Calls for:
- The introduction of a progressive heroin treatment programme including confidential needle exchanges to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in particular.
- The introduction of state funded drug treatment centres in every major population centre in the state and also in every Local Authority Area.
- Provision of free heroin to those availing of drug counselling in these drug treatment centres.

Conference Mandates the:
- Labour Youth Education and Development Officer to develop a comprehensive policy on Heroin Treatment and Prevention of Use.
- Labour Youth Chairperson to raise the matter with the relevant Labour Party spokesperson on Drugs Treatment Provision within the Community and Prison population.
- Labour Youth to favour demand reduction over Supply reduction as a mean to reduce the usage of Heroin in Ireland.

 

 

Free Sexual Health Care for all

Conference Affirms:
- Safe Sex is of paramount importance for Youth in particular.

Conference Notes:
- That some Universities and Colleges have free Sexual Health Screening services available to them.
- That throughout the country this is not the case and that availing of STI screening can be expensive and logistically difficult, especially those in small towns with only one GP whom the entire Family may use.
- Increasing rates of irresponsible sexual practices involving falling rates of Condom usage and rising rates of STIs.

Conference Calls for:
- A dedicated state funded network of STI clinics throughout Ireland, free to all and confidential regardless of age
- The introduction of free over the counter provision of Condoms on request throughout the State.

 

 

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland

Conference notes with Concern:
Moves by the Fianna Fail Party to merge with our sister party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

Conference also notes:
Moves by members and individuals within the Social Democratic and Labour Party to merge with the Fianna Fail Party.

Conference Supports:
The motion to Labour Party Conference calling on the Labour Party to stand in elections in Northern Ireland.

Conference believes:
That a good working relationship with SDLP Youth should be maintained."

 

Labour in Northern Ireland

Conference supports
the Northern Ireland Labour Forum in its proposals to stand Labour Party candidates in the upcoming local elections in the North.

Conference resolves to:
offer our support to the Northern Ireland Labour Forum in proposing this as a motion to the upcoming Labour Party Conference and in contesting these elections.

SPORT

Naming Rights of the Lansdowne Road Stadium

Conference notes:

The disgraceful decision to sell the naming rights of the Lansdowne Road stadium to the highest corporate bidder.

Conference Acknowledges:

That extra funding for Irish rugby and soccer is desperately needed in order for Irish national teams to compete at international level.

Conference calls:

For Labour Youth to campaign against the proposed name change and commercialisation of the Lansdowne Road name.

TRANSPORT

Public Transport and Accessibility

Conference notes:
That according to the Report of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities 1996 that the inaccessibility of public transport in Ireland is a key barrier preventing people with physical disabilities from accessing employment.

Conference further notes:
That problems still exist in the accessibility of public transport today for people with physical disabilities.

Conference therefore calls for:
An access audit to be carried out on Irish Rail, DART, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and all other public transport systems.

Conference further calls for:
For the recommendations of this access audit to be implemented immediately thereafter.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Amendment to Constitution - Number of Councils

In Article 8.4. delete "shall meet at least 4 times a year" and replace with "shall meet at least 5 times a year"

 

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Energy
Labour Youth recognizes:
that we have a capitalist society of which corporations lie at the core. This fact has shaped almost everything about the world we live in, including the very ideologies and policies of the political parties and politicians who run most of the world's governments and global institutions. We believe that the current system of capitalism cannot go hand in hand with a sustainable environment.

Conference notes:
That the biggest source of C02 emissions in the world is the creation of electricity and the only realistic way to cut emissions from power generation is to stop burning fossil fuels and use modes of energy production that have a minimum impact on global warming.

Labour Youth believes:
that what we need in Ireland and more globally is a greater shift towards renewable energy driven by wind, wave, tidal and solar power.

Conference also notes:
The environmental damage caused by air travel.

Conference calls for:
The introduction of a green tax, incentivising companies to maximise the amount of passengers on planes and to use aero planes that are more energy efficient.

Conference insists:
That a third key area which could make a major difference in tackling climate change is energy efficiency in industry.

Conference calls on:
Governments to insist on better energy efficiency in industry with severe penalties for those firms which do not comply.

Global Warming

Conference notes:
The high levels of carbon dioxide emissions from western countries including Ireland are largely responsible for global warming today and its horrific consequences particularly for poor countries.

Conference further notes:
That Labour Youth has a role to play in tackling CO2 emissions, the root cause of global warming.

Conference therefore mandates:
The Campaigns Officer to organise a campaign to encourage members of Labour Youth and the wider public to walk, cycle, rollerblade or to avail of public transport as an alternative to private means of transport where possible.

Conference Further Mandates

The NYE to campaign for more affordable public transport, and the development of an integrated payment system based on the model of the Oyster card used in London, which greatly benefits frequent users of the public transport.

 

 

Shell to Sea Days of Action

Conference recognises:
The long term commitment of many Labour Youth activists to the Shell to Sea campaign

Conference further notes:
The need to have large numbers of people present at these "days of action" in order to achieve the aims of the Shell to Sea Campaign.

Conference also notes:
Labour Youth's belief in the significance of non-violent direct action as a peaceful method of protest.

Conference calls on:
Labour Youth to mobilise and organise for the "days of action" in support of the local community in their struggle against the Shell Corporation and its allies.

 

Seanad Éireann

Conference notes and commends:
The role of Labour Senators in promoting a progressive agenda since the foundation of Seanad Éireann.

Conference further notes:
That current Labour Senators are also promoting Labour values and policies in the Seanad and commends their work.

Conference believes however:
That the system of election to the Seanad is, at its heart, undemocratic and elitist.

Conference also believes:
That the so-called vocational system and system of Taoiseach's nomination benefits conservative politics and patronage. Conference is opposed to the franchise of graduates of two universities over all other citizens.

Conference believes that:
The political role of the Upper House is fundamentally ineffective. Conference further notes that initiatives to reform the Seanad over the past 30 years have amounted to nothing

Conference notes that:
A second chamber of parliament can provide important checks and balances and can lead to progressive and democratic politics, for example in the representation of minorities. However, Conference believes that attempts to reform the Seanad will lead only to minor changes at best.

Conference resolves that:
Seanad Éireann should be abolished and replaced with a second chamber which ensures a true system of democracy at an Oireachtas level.

Conference mandates:
The Education and Development Officer to work with the relevant working group in producing a new policy document on parliamentary reform which will outline Labour Youth's policy for the development of a new second chamber in line with this policy.

 

 

 

Strategic Development Zones

Conference recognises:
The need for proper planning regulations in Ireland, that provide for the social and developmental needs of local residents.

Conference also recognises:
The pioneering work carried out by South Dublin County Council in not only designing but also implementing the first ever Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) in Ireland.

Therefore, Conference agrees:
To support the use of SDZs in major Residential developments in Ireland to provide schools, health centers and recreational facilities before residents and home owners move in to their homes.

 

JUSTICE

Cannabis Legalisation

Conference notes:
- The War on Drugs was flawed from its conception and that the internationally accepted rate of detection of the drugs supply is approximately 10%.
- Demand for drugs is drastically high especially for soft drugs
- That both soft drugs such as cannabis and hard drugs are illegal, meaning that effectively cannabis acts as a gate way to criminality and harder drugs
- There is no regulation on who a cannabis dealer sells cannabis to, be it a minor or someone with psychological problems.
- There is no control on cannabis quality

Conference believes:
- Simply criminalising drug use is irresponsible and has the potential to criminalise vast numbers of people who by using Cannabis are of no harm to society
- All government policy should be based on causing the least possible harm to society.
- The National Drug Strategy should incorporate the views of drug users as a key part of their strategy and not be dominated by the current drug prevention lobby.
- Differentiation between hard and soft drugs is key to reducing the harm caused by drugs

Conference calls for:
- Legalisation and regulation of cannabis for personal use
- Legislation to allow for the production of a small number of Cannabis plants for personal use.
- Introduction of a licensing system for the sale of cannabis to over 18s and the control of where cannabis can legally be consumed.
- Labour Youth to be classified as pro-cannabis legalisation.

Conference mandates:
- Labour Youth Campaigns Officer to work with other pro-cannabis legalisation organisations to campaign for full Cannabis Legalisation.
- Labour Youth Education and Development Officer to develop a comprehensive policy on Cannabis Legalisation
- Labour Youth Chairperson to publicly oppose the Labour Party's regressive and harmful view of cannabis and to seek differentiation in all party statements on drugs between cannabis and hard drugs
- Labour Youth to support the November 15th Medical Marijuana Day and the World Wide Marijuana March movements on Saturday the 3rd of May.

 

The entitlement of asylum seekers to their human rights

Conference notes:
That applying for refugee status in Ireland is a lengthy process, which can fail to recognise the particular circumstances of the person seeking asylum and overall lacks transparency and fairness.

Conference further notes:
That asylum seekers are living in very poor conditions and that barriers exist in relation to asylum seekers participating in Irish society.

Conference therefore calls for:
1. (a) The Office of the Refugee Application Commissioner to be replaced by an independent human rights body to ensure that individuals are assessed on the grounds of international human rights laws which have been ratified by the Irish government.
(b) Extra resources to be put in place to ensure that cases are examined in a shorter time frame.
(c) Asylum seekers to be entitled to proficient translators during interviews.

2. (a) Asylum seekers to be given the opportunity to participate in paid employment.
(b) Payment of €19.10 a week to be increased to a more realistic sum to ensure a sufficient standard of living.
(c) The living conditions of asylum seekers, particularly in relation to overcrowding in accommodation and the poor quality of food, to be improved.
(d) Greater provision of activities for asylum seekers.
(e) Research to be carried out into child poverty among asylum seekers and for the State to ensure asylum seeking children have the same rights and entitlements as Irish children.
(f) The State to increase its funding to SPIRASI, a voluntary organisation that works with asylum seekers who have survived torture.

 

Anti-trafficking

Conference notes,
That the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is a serious and rapidly growing worldwide phenomenon, earning several billion euro a year at the expense of innocent lives.

Conference further notes,
That it is estimated that more than 120,000 women and girls are trafficked into western European countries eachyear.

Conference notes with concern,
That Ireland has not yet transposed into law the 2002 EU Council framework decision on combating trafficking in human beings, despite the deadline for such action being in 2004.

Conference further notes,
That the Criminal Law Human Trafficking Bill currently before the Dáil does not go far enough in either preventing the practice of trafficking or protecting the victims involved. The new legislation does not contain detailed provisions to support and protect victims, apart from guaranteeing the right to anonymity for those who testify in court against the trafficker.

Conference notes with concern:
That the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has said it will still not be possible to guarantee immunity for victims of the crime from prosecution for other misdemeanors, such as entering the country illegally, and that such matters will be at the discretion of the DPP.

Conference believes:
That this will discourage victims of trafficking from coming forward and thus undermine any serious effort to prevent the trafficking of women worldwide.

Conference affirms:
Its rejection of the trafficking of women and Labour Youth's commitment to campaigning to end this abhorrent practice.

Conference therefore mandates,
The National Chairperson to contact the National Women's Council of Ireland with a view to involving Labour Youth in their Anti-Trafficking Campaign, and to ask formally the Party Spokespersons in the areas of Justice and Equality/ Law Reform to raise the issues outlined in this motion in Dáil Eireann.

 

Sex Trafficking into Ireland

Conference notes:
The growing numbers of women and girls who are being trafficked into Ireland for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Conference further notes:
The absence of protections for the victims of sex trafficking in the Trafficking and Sexual Offences Bill 2006.

Conference therefore calls for:
1. The Trafficking and Sexual Offences Bill 2006 to be amended so that:

(a) It is based on European and international standards
(b) Effective protection and support is provided to victims of trafficking including housing, counselling and medical care.
(c) A specialised unit within the Gardaí Siochána is established to identify and support victims of trafficking
(d) The victim has a right to seek asylum
(e) The victim has the right to work and access to training/education.
(f) The victim has the right to access social welfare benefits where necessary.
(g) Protection measures are put in place for victims and witnesses during legal proceedings.

2. Labour Youth, through the Equality Working Group, to run an information campaign on human trafficking into and within Ireland.

ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT

Rights of Migrant Workers

Conference notes
The increase in the number of migrant women working in Ireland in gender segregated and unregulated sectors of the economy as child minders, nannies and/or domestic workers.

Conference notes with concern
That official government policy is to not grant work permits to nursery/crèche workers, child minders, nannies and domestic workers.

Conference believes
That as people working in these areas are not part of the regulated labour market, they have no legal social rights and are thus more open to exploitation and unacceptable work practices, as is underlined by the many case studies that have come to light in recent years.

Conference notes with concern
That these women are further exploited by an increasing number of 'language schools' which operate by bringing women to Ireland under the pretence of teaching them English. These schools take payment in return for finding them domestic work, as foreign students here are legally allowed to work 20 hours per week.

Conference further notes
That a recent report by the Immigrant Council of Ireland states that these schools 'are schools in name only, and have poor facilities.' The same report gives an example of an au pair earning €70 for a 35 hour week.

Conference believes
That this situation is unacceptable and an attack on workers' rights.

Conference therefore mandates
The National Chairperson, together with the NYE, to campaign on the issue of migrant workers' rights in this regard in the coming year.

 

Shannon Heathrow service

Conference Recognises:
The need for economic development in Northern Ireland.

However Conference also recognises:
The need for economic development in the West of Ireland

Therefore Conference recommends that:
Aer Lingus re-instates a service to Heathrow Airport from Shannon Airport.

Conference firmly believes that:
This recent conflict in Aer Lingus along with the industrial unrest is solely brought about by the privatisation of our national airline.

Conference condemns:
The pro privatisation agenda of the Irish Government.

Conference demands:
That Aer Lingus be renationalised immediately.

Conference mandates:
The NYE to campaign for the renationalisation of Aer Lingus and to oppose any moves by the Government to privatise any more of our public services."

Workers Right to Organise

Conference recognises:
The essential position of Trade Unions in the struggle for workers rights.

Conference notes with disgust:
The recent treatment of the Eye Cinema workers in Galway City upon their attempt to organize.

Conference mandates:
The NYE to forge stronger links with the Trade Union movement and to campaign for Union recognition in the workplace as a right and not a privilege.

Workers Rights

Conference Notes
The Shameful exploitation of workers both indigenous and migrant within the unskilled sector.

Conference Also Notes
That Ireland has one of the highest rates of ''working poor'' in Europe.

Conference Notes
- That the current level of minimum wage is not conducive to a lifestyle without serious financial pressure.
- The successful Living Wage campaign, calling on Dublin City Council to pay all workers employed by the council a ''living wage''

Conference Notes with concern
That many migrant workers in the agricultural sector are paid per piece particularly those employed by indigenous mushroom farmers. This situation forces them to work daily shifts of up to 12 hours in order to make a production quota.

Conference Notes
The success of the Supersize My Pay campaign launched by the Council of Trade Unions in New Zealand.

Conference Affirms
-That the minimum wage should reflect the true cost of living.
- That exemptions from the minimum wage based on age or experience should be abolished.

Conference Calls for
- An Increase in the minimum wage to at least €11.50 per hour.
- An abolition of the Pay per Piece system for agricultural workers, replacing it with an hourly rate, and an 8 hour working day.
- An Increase in the statutory fine for non compliance with minimum wage legislation to at least €5000.
- All Labour groups within Local Authorities to submit a living wage motion to their respective city or county council.

Conference Also Calls for
Labour in Conjunction with the Trade Unions and other progressive groups to launch a Supersize My Pay campaign outlining the demands made above.

INTERNATIONAL

EU Treaty

Conference notes:
The Labour Youth position, taken after a special conference, against the EU constitutional treaty.

Conference mandates:
The incoming Executive to organise a Special Conference to decide Labour Youth's position on the EU "Reform Treaty".

China

Conference notes
That the next Olympic Games are due to be held in Beijing, China in the Summer of 2008.

Conference expresses concern regarding:
China's human rights record-its brutal suppression of Falun Gong practitioners; its economic support to Sudan in contravention to UN General Assembly rulings in relation to Darfur; its occupation of Tibet; its support for the ruling Junta in Burma; its exploitation of workers including children.

Conference also notes
That much of the paraphernalia for the Olympic Games has been manufactured by exploited labour.

Conference notes with disgust:
That the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic games coincides with the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre where Trade Unionists, student movements and various social movements were suppressed by the Chinese State

Conference Condemns
The State Capitalist regime of China, its suppression of dissent, its collusion with multi- national corporations, and imperialist exploitation of oil resources in developing world countries.

Conference Mandates

The Vice-Chair/Campaigns Officer to organise a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy, a week prior to the Olympic Games in order to highlight human rights abuses in china.

US Military in Irish Airports

Conference notes:
The continued use of Shannon airport by the US military in pursuit of its missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Conference reaffirms:
Labour Youth's longstanding position, which is that the use of Irish airports for this purpose must be brought to an end.

 

Boycott of Israel

Labour Youth condemns the ongoing conflict in Palestine and Israel.
Labour Youth also condemns the continued acts of aggression committed by both the Israeli State and Palestinian Militia. Labour Youth condemns this ongoing violence.

Therefore Conference resolves that:
Labour Youth advocates a boycott of all those institutions, including academic, that explicitly or implicitly support the Israeli occupation of Palestine or Israel's apartheid regime.

Socialism in Venezuela

Conference recognizes:
the work done by the people of Venezuela in bringing about a democratic socialist revolution in their country.

Conference resolutely believes:
That this is an example of twenty first century socialism, and that it is a socio-economic model that is worth aspiring to. While not being faultless, its approach to redistributing wealth, democratising the workplace and the providing social services is evidence that socialism can be implemented democratically.

Conference condemns the former TV station RCTV and the Venezuelan oligarchy in Their attempts to organise a military coup against the democratically elected government in 2001.

Conference further condemns:
The forces of U.S. imperialism which have continually sponsored and encouraged right wing terrorists in Latin America in their attempts to topple popular democratically elected government and replace them often with a military junta.

Conference welcomes:
The attempts by President Hugo Chavez to initiate the economic transition from a Capitalist state to a Socialist state, which is to be brought about democratically through a ballot of the entire populace in the coming months.

Conference further welcomes:
The nationalisation of the largest telecommunications company, the electrical power companies and the four largest oil companies in the Orinoco River basin, which had previously been controlled by foreign multinationals. This in turn has significantly reduced the cost of electricity and fuel for the ordinary citizens of Venezuela.

Conferences calls on:
Labour Youth to build links with the Irish branch of the 'Hands of Venezuela campaign' in the hope of creating awareness and solidarity for the Venezuelan nation and its people in Ireland.

Conference mandates:
the International Officer to investigate the possibility of organising a delegation of Labour Youth activists to visit the country over the coming year.

 

PARTY AFFAIRS

Corporate Donations

Labour Youth recognizes:
That corporate donations given to political parties distort the political process and that the dependence by political parties on corporate donations is unhealthy for democracy.

Conference declares:
That the time has come to end the link between big business and politics. This is required to restore public trust in the political process.

Conference therefore calls upon:
The Labour Party to stop accepting any corporate donations
The Labour Party when in government to ban corporate donations to political parties.
The Labour Party when in government to investigate a system of State-funding for political parties in all matters relating to elections and referendums"

Party Democracy

Conference notes:
The importance of Labour Party democracy.

Conference mandates:
The Labour Youth Chair to continue to insist that part democracy and leadership accountability are upheld at the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party.

Conference further mandates:
The National Youth Executive to continue to work for Labour Party democracy and to bring plans to the Council about how best to go about this work.

 

Participation in Government

Conference notes:
Labour Youth policy opposing the participation of the Labour Party in governments led by either one of Ireland right wing parties.

Conference agrees:
That this policy should be continued.

Conference further agrees:
That Labour Youth should continue to argue that the strategy of the Labour Party must be to lead a government.

Labour Youth also believes that the Labour Party should nominate and support the Labour Party Leader for Taoiseach

Conference mandates:
The incoming NYE to put proposals forward on entering into dialogue with like minded groups with a view to building up support for the policy of pursuing a left led government.
Proposed by Meath East

 

Party Conference Motion on Socialism

Conference resolves to:
Oppose any attempts to remove references to socialism from the Labour Party Constitution.
Conference believe that:
Such attempts will lead to the exclusion of socialist values, policies and members from the Labour Party.

Conference notes:
its opposition to motion 74 on the preliminary agenda of the upcoming Labour Party Conference.

Conference mandates:
the National Youth Executive to campaign against this proposal at the Party Conference.