Conference Motions Passed 2008

Issued : Tuesday 18 November, 2008

Environment

Social Housing
Conference notes:
The continued high price of housing for young people and the least well off in our society

Conference further notes:
That Housing is a right and not a luxury determined by the market system of the propertied classes.

Conference calls for:
A massive increase in the social housing stock as a priority for any future Labour Government.

Conference mandates:
Ly to campaign for a Social Housing Programme that sees the provision of housing for all as a right.

Conference further mandates:
The National Chairperson to work to ensure that Local Government programmes in which Labour is involved after the Local Elections of 2009 include a commitment to increase significantly social housing availability in all Council areas.

Electricity generation
Conference notes that:
Hydroelectricity (HE) is derived from the power harnessed from the flow of falling water, typically from fast-flowing streams and rivers. Presently about 6% of Ireland's electricity generating capacity is in the form of hydro power. The Ardnacrusha hydroelectric plant built in the 1920s is still the country's largest renewable energy generating unit. A typical HE plant has an efficiency of ~80% compared to 35% for a conventional mixed fuel plant.

Conference further notes:
The potential of HE as a secure source of renewable energy in a time of rising oil/gas costs, uncertainty of fuel supply and growing environmental awareness.

Conference also notes:
That HE can reduce the current dependence of Irish electricity on oil/gas and coal burning power stations and imported electricity.

Conferences demands
That Government policy and capital grant schemes are used to encourage the establishment of HE stations for localised energy production, particularly in rural areas.

 

Carbon sequestration
Conference notes that:
Co2 emissions have been identified as the cause of an average rise in global temperature of 0.6 C̊ since the 1960s. The warming trend over the last 50 years is nearly twice that for the last 100 years. While it is accepted as near impossible to reverse the trend it is possible to mitigate the effects already caused. A key concept is to balance emissions of Co2 while removing atmospheric Co2 so that there is no net increase.

Conference further notes:
That in Ireland this is best achieved through sowing of crops that absorb large volumes of atmospheric Co2.

Conference demands
That land already under forest coverage is not used in the calculation of carbon mitigation and that only newly planted areas are included.

Conference mandates
The National Youth Executive to ensure that Labour Youth's agri-environmental policy is kept up to date.

 

Protection of Natural Resources
Conference notes that:
The Shell to Sea campaign has highlighted the failure of the Government to safeguard the resources, particularly marine resources, endowed to Ireland. The nature and extent of undersea resources within the Irish Economic Zone is mostly uncharted and could potentially yield more than the North Sea oil/gas fields in net value.

Conference further notes:
The disgraceful, wholesale disposal, of our resources to foreign companies that will not be subject to a windfall tax or public scrutiny.

Conference believes
That where practical any such exploitation should be done through a state owned and run company with all profits invested in public services.

Conference further believes
That the future exploitation of our natural and marine resources by private groups should be subject to strict licensing conditions. This shall include environmental protection and a share in the profits of such exploitation for social and community development.

 

Education

Integration in Education
Conference notes:
The changing diversity of students within the Irish education sector.

Conference believes:
That all public schools receiving state funding must follow a secular ethos.

Conference reaffirms:
- That integration and not segregation is a key policy of Labour Youth
- That all students should be free to be educated without restrictions on their religious expression.

Costs of education
Conference notes:
The high costs incurred by Irish students studying away from home, such as a hefty registration fees, rent, course books and basic necessities such as food.

Conference notes with concern:
Government cutbacks in education and the threat of the reintroduction of fees for third level students

Conference further notes:
1. The need for many of our students to go on to do further study after they have obtained a primary degree.
2. The extortionate post-graduate fees incurred by these students, which can cost more than four thousand euro.

Conference praises:
1. Countries such as Sweden where fourth level education is available for free.
2. Countries such as Holland where fourth level education is available for less than one thousand euro.

Conference calls for:
1. The state to provide relief for students studying post-graduate courses.
2. Labour Youth to campaign for free post-graduate education alongside its campaign against education cutbacks and the possible reintroduction of fees.

 

Wearing of the hijab in schools
Conference notes:
The debate about the wearing of the hijab in schools.

Conference affirms:
The right of students to wear or display any such items of cultural or religious importance in a school setting.

Conference reaffirms:
Labour Youth's commitment to the creation of a tolerant, diverse society, free from the scourge of racism.

Conference condemns:
Reactionary comments from some quarters that have suggested that the wearing of the hijab in schools ought to be restricted.

Conference agrees:
That school boards should continue to implement a policy allowing for the wearing of the hijab in schools.

 

 

Health

Health Care
Conference notes:
The Government's ideological commitment to the privatisation of our nation's health service under the guise of cost cutting policies.

Conference further notes:
The Government's ongoing policy of withdrawing local cancer care units in regions such as Mayo, Sligo and Cavan and redeploying these units in centres of excellence.

Conference further notes:
That per capita funding in our nation's health service lags far behind other EU countries such as Britain and France.

Conference notes with concern:
The hardships that will inevitably be suffered by thousands of cancer patients around the country, who will have to travel long distances to receive cancer treatment in these centres of excellence.

Conference believes:
That health is a right and not a privilege and that our nation's health care should be adequately funded through taxation ensuring an equality of access for cancer patients across the country.

Conference condemns:
The neo-liberal policy of cost cutting in relation to our health care undertaken by the present Government and in particular the Minister for Health.

Conference calls for:
1. An end to the health care cutbacks undertaken by the Government.
2. Labour Youth to campaign against the closure of local cancer care units
3. Labour Youth to continue its campaign against cutbacks in our health service

 

Morning After Pill
Conference notes
The emergency use of the morning after pill.

Conference believes-
Such emergency contraception should be available over the counter in pharmacies without prescription.

 

Abortion
Conference condemns:
The SDLP for their campaign against the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland

Conference mandates:
Labour Youth to continue to campaign for Free, Safe and Legal Abortion in Ireland

 

Social, Community and Family Affairs

Rent Allowance
Conference calls for:
- A review of the system of rent allowance so that it is focused on getting the person into accommodation
- The removal of restrictions which militate against the acceptance of tenants on rent allowance

 

Finance

Tax treatment of married couples
Conference calls for:
A review of tax credits for married couples considering the increase of co-habiting couples, and the increasing variety of family types present in society.

The Economy
Conference notes:
The ongoing global financial crisis and its growing negative effect on the lives of millions of people

Conference asserts:
That this is largely the consequence of an anti-democratic project of market liberalisation, driven by the ideological certainty of mainstream economists, media and politicians.

Conference condemns:
This process and its effects, in particular the role played by the Irish Government in its encouragement of greed and lack of oversight over the last eleven years.

Conference recognises:
- The need to provide some level of assurance of deposits in the banking sector.
- The sudden resurgence of the role played by Government in the economy.

Conference further condemns:
The disproportionate approach involved in the Government's use of public money in its guarantee of the banking sector, in particular its failure to detail adequately the scrutiny and penalisation to which the sector will be subject in exchange for this guarantee.

Conference notes:
That this marks a continuation of a form of Government for the rich which initiated this very problem.

Conference applauds:
The outstanding opposition provided by the Labour leadership on this issue.

Conference calls for:
- Greater scrutiny and regulation of the banking sector.
- Substantial relevant support for the real victims of this crisis as well as its perpetrators.
- European-wide co-operation on the issue.
- A radical revision of the disastrous system of deregulated global capitalism that caused this crisis, including areas outside the financial system.

Nationalisation of banks
Conference supports:
The strong stance taken by the Parliamentary Labour Party in Dáil Éireann against the Government's bank bail-out scheme

Conference calls for:
The nationalisation of the Irish banks.

 

Bank bailouts
Conference applauds:
The valiant, principled and spirited stance taken by the Labour Parliamentary Party in relation to the Government bailout of the banks.

Conference commends:
Our Party Leader Eamon Gilmore TD and our Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Finance Joan Burton TD for their performance on this issue.

Conference condemns:
- The neo-liberal philosophy which has led to the lack of regulation of the banking sector and ofhe market in general.
- The lack of safeguards in the bailout plan to protect the Irish taxpayer.

Conference believes:
That any financial support to the banking sector should follow the Swedish model of the Government taking part ownership of banks that need financial help.

Conference further believes
That the CEOs of banks should be sacked and that the salaries and bonuses of their successors should be capped at an appropriate level.

Bank Bailout
Conference notes:
The recent financial policy of the Government in aiding the banking sector.

Conference also notes with concern:
The current state of the country's health service and education sector.

Conference believes:
That the banks receiving aid from the Government be charged interest, and that this interest be invested directly into the health and education sectors.

Bailout of banks
Conference condemns:
The recent bailout of the banks provided by the Government.

Conference commends:
The Parliamentary Labour Party for voting against the measure in the Dáil.

Conference believes:
That the setting up of a state bank and the continued development of financial services provided by credit unions and post offices would be a healthy development for citizens and the economy.

 

Enterprise and Employment

Employment
Conference calls for:
The upholding of commitments to employment creation in the construction and other industries in decline in order to wean the sector to a lower level of activity.

Justice, Equality and Law Reform

The Equality and Rights Alliance
Conference notes:
The proposal of Government to merge the five statutory bodies with responsibility for equality issues into a single agency.

Conference further notes:
That Irish equality and rights organisations are recognised as examples of best practice in equality and rights protection and that a full merger could dilute their effectiveness.

Conference believes that:
It is vital that the Irish Human Rights Commission, the Equality Authority, the Equality Tribunal, the Office of the Data Commissioner and the National Disability Authority retain their own distinct mandates, functions and services.

Conference recognises:
The campaigning work done by the Equality and Rights Alliance to prevent this outcome.

Conference notes:
That the National Women's Council, ICTU, Amnesty International, the Children's Rights Alliance, USI, the ICCL, SIPTU and forty-nine other organisations affiliate to the ERA and support their campaign.

Conference mandates:
Labour Youth to affiliate to the ERA and support their campaign.

 

Legal Aid
Conference notes:
The current threshold for free legal aid in this country

Conference notes:
That in criminal cases a judge can assign legal aid and this leads to some people acquiring it and others on the same income failing to do so.

Conference believes:
That the threshold is too low in civil cases and that in criminal cases judges should not be given the power to assign legal aid.

Conference calls for:
This income threshold to be raised to €35,000 per annum and that all legal aid applications should be administered through the Legal Aid Board and not directly by the judiciary.

 

Alcohol
Conference calls for:
- The repeal of the new alcohol legislation
- The purpose of alcohol regulation to switch from restricting the rights of people and businesses to the support of those who are affected by alcohol
- Increased responsibility by those who abuse alcohol.

Licensing Laws
Conference notes:
That there has been a continued attack by Fianna Fail led Governments against young people and youth culture.

Conference further notes:
Recent reduction and restriction in opening hours of off-licenses, public Houses and nightclubs.

Conference agrees:
That the restrictions on opening hours help to marginalise young people who work late hours and study hard, by limiting their socialising time which in general is late at night.

Conference reaffirms:
That people should regulate their own drinking behaviour while respecting the age limit of 18 on sale and consumption of alcohol and the responsible consumption of alcohol.

Conference calls for:
The removal of closing time restrictions of all varieties and the introduction of a licensing system that allows off-licenses, public houses and nightclubs to determine their own closing time.

Conference mandates:
The National Youth Executive to support the deregulation of closing times for licensed premises to move to a system of 24 hour opening times.

Conference further mandates
The National Vice-Chairperson/Campaigns Officer to campaign for the deregulation of closing times.

 

Discrimination against Travellers
Conference agrees:
That Travellers in Ireland face discrimination on many fronts.

Conference condemns:
Attempts from politicians and others to exploit tensions in communities and seek to use reactionary comments against Travellers for political means.

Conference agrees:
To continue to work with Traveller organisation and others to fight discrimination against Travellers.

 

Transport

Transport
Conference calls for:
- The development of reliable public transport.

- More pedestrian areas.
- More bicycle lanes.
- The consideration of a light tram system in Ireland's major cities.

Culture and heritage

Irish Language
Conference affirms its support for:
- The regeneration of the Irish language, along with other national languages, through cultural promotion.
- The cultural integrity of all nations

Conference resolves that the National Youth Executive should:
- Provide the constitution of the organisation in a dual language format (i.e. English and Irish)
- Support the compulsory aspect of Irish in secondary schools, until such time that Irish has reached a fluency percentage of 40% of the Irish population; at such a time the subject should become optional at Leaving Certificate level.

 

Party Affairs

College branches and constituencies
Conference notes:
The importance of linking college branches with local branches

Conference mandates:
The National Youth Executive to ensure that Labour Youth activists are facilitated to get involved in local constituency organisations.

Labour Youth Education Events
Conference recognises:
The benefit of developing further knowledge among members on political, economic and social issues.

Conference therefore mandates:
The National Education and Development Officer to arrange at least three education events each year. These events shall be aimed primarily at members of Labour Youth and at developing a strong knowledge base of contemporary political issues and progressive policy amongst the membership.

 

Red Flag Festival
Conference commends:
Cllr. Tommy Grimes, Cllr. Brian Collins and the Kells Labour Party for their ongoing organisation of the Red Flag Festival in Crossakiel, Co. Meath

Conference mandates:
The National Youth Executive to inform Labour Youth members of the details of next year's festival in due course, and to encourage and facilitate the attendance of as many Labour Youth members as possible.

Labour Youth election candidates
Conference notes
That a number of Labour Youth members have been selected as Labour Party candidates for the local elections next year.

Conference warmly congratulates:
These candidates and wishes them all the best.

Conference urges:
All Labour Youth members to support the effort to get these candidates elected

Conference notes:
The success of the outgoing National Youth Executive and Labour Youth in raising money for the Young Candidates Fund.

Conference mandates:
The National Youth Executive to continue to organise fundraising events for this important fund.

 

Annual debate with other youth wings
Conference supports:
A proposal to hold an annual debate, inviting representatives from all youth-wings of parties on this island, including Northern Ireland, in order to gain a perspective on opposite and similar ideals, and to create a floor from which to voice our opinions throughout the political spectrum.
Pre-election pacts
Conference believes that:
In order to keep our options open, keep our policies distinguishable from other parties' policies, the Labour Party should avoid pre-election pacts on the formation of Government coalitions.

Conference further believes that:
This will optimise our chances of getting into Government, or ensure that we have a strong position outside Government.

 

Labour led Government
Conference welcomes:
The stance taken by our Party Leader in proposing a Labour led Government

Conference believes:
That in the current economic and political climate this is the best strategy for ensuring that ordinary working people are protected and that their needs are advanced.

Conference further believes:
Eamon Gilmore TD should be the next Taoiseach of this country.

Conference mandates the National Youth Executive:
To campaign within the Labour Party and publicly for Labour to lead the next Government.

 

Links with Unions
Conference notes:
Attempts from some within the Labour Party to loosen the links between the Labour Party and the Trade Union movement.

Conference rejects:
Any attempts to undermine the Labour-union link.

Conference argues for:
The strengthening of the relationship between the Labour Party and the unions.

Conference agrees
To work with the Labour Trade Union group to this end.

 

21st Century Commission
Conference notes:
The draft report of the 21st Century Labour Commission.

Conference further notes:
That the discussion, debate and decision on this report have been postponed until the Labour Party conference next March.

Conference notes with concern:
That there are several proposals in the draft document that will reduce democracy and accountability within the party and a proposal that Labour Youth will lose its representative on the National Executive Committee.

Conference agrees:
That Labour Youth should hold a special delegate conference to discuss the commission report and democratically decide our position next year when the final proposals become clear.

 

Constitutional Amendments

Council Reform Constitutional Amendment

- Delete "Council" replace with "National Meeting" throughout the Labour Youth constitution
- Delete Article 8 and replace it with:

8.1
The National Meeting of Labour Youth shall consist of all fully paid up members of Labour Youth, and members who are registered with head office at least one month in advance.
Each member of Labour Youth shall be entitled to vote on the basis of one member one vote

8.2
The National Meeting shall meet to discuss Labour Youth Campaigns and Recruitment and to hold the National Youth Executive accountable to the membership between national conferences.

8.3
The National Meeting shall meet at least 5 times a year. Only the National Chairperson or the National Vice-Chairperson shall call to order a National Meeting.

8.4
An Emergency National Meeting of Labour Youth shall be called following the submission of a letter to the National Secretary and National Chairperson of Labour Youth calling for an Emergency National Meeting and signed by at least twenty paid up members of Labour Youth registered with Head Office for a period not less than one month. Such an Emergency National Meeting must take place no less than seven days and no more than twenty days after the submission of such a letter.

 

European Affairs

Lisbon Treaty
Conference Notes:
The defeat of the Lisbon Treaty referendum earlier this year.

Conference believes:
- That the Lisbon Treaty is dead
- That the democratic will of the people should be accepted and that no re-run of this referendum should occur in any form.

Conference resolves:
That Labour Youth should campaign against any re-run of the Lisbon Treaty referendum

Conference Mandates the Chairperson:
- To campaign for the Labour Party to oppose a re-run of this Treaty referendum.
- To campaign against any future re-run of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum.

Lisbon Treaty
Conference Supports:
The Party Leader's decision not to support a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum

Conference Mandates:
Ly to support the Party Leader's decision.

Conference Further Mandates:
Labour Youth to help facilitate a public debate on the future of a Social Europe.

Lisbon Treaty
Conference Notes:
That the people of Ireland rejected the Lisbon Treaty.

Conference agrees with the Party Leader:
That this Treaty is now dead.

Conference mandates:
The incoming National Youth Executive and the Council to draw up a policy along these lines.

 

Lisbon Treaty
Conference notes:
- The rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish electorate
- The rejection of much of the content of the Lisbon Treaty in the form of the EU Constitution by the French and Dutch Electorates.

Conference accepts
The decision made by the Irish electorate in voting No to the Lisbon Treaty

Conference rejects
Any attempts to ratify the Lisbon treaty by way of a second referendum in Ireland or by circumventing another referendum.

Conference notes
That a strong and prosperous European Union is possible without the Lisbon Treaty

Conference calls upon
The European Union to abandon the Treaty of Lisbon.

Conference calls for
The development of an EU Social Treaty in its place. Such a treaty shall contain:
- A Charter of Fundamental Rights binding on all member states.
- A clearly defined strategy for tackling climate change.
- Promotion of high wages, collective bargaining, workplace democracy, job security, further training opportunities for workers and a reasonable work-life balance
- Freedom of movement between members states for EU citizens, and the freedom of EU citizens to seek employment in other member states.
- Full marriage and adoption rights for same sex couples.
- Free and legal abortion.
- Promotion of higher social protections, paid maternal and paternal leave and subsidised childcare,
- Promotion of universal access to healthcare, including primary care, and higher education
- A commitment to ending poverty in all EU member states by 2050.
- The transfer of much of the decision making power, and ability to initiate legislation away from the Commission and towards Members of the European Parliament.
- Opposition to the arms trade, imperialism and wars of aggression that are in breach of international law.
- The right of all member states to opt out of any foreign policy decision made by the EU
- Protection of public services against privatisation and liberalisation.
- Support for a development approach to third world countries and solidarity with countries embarking on working democratic alternatives to neo liberalism.

Conference mandates
- The National Chairperson to call upon Labour Party public representatives to support the above aims.
- The International officer to seek the support of our sister organisations for a new treaty incorporating the above aims
- Labour Youth to campaign for a better Europe based on the above aims.

International

Barack Obama
Conference welcomes:
The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

Conference mandates the National Secretary:
To send a letter of congratulations to President elect Obama, this letter shall call for a full withdrawal of US troops from Iraq; the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay and all centres of extraordinary rendition; the end of the Cuban Blockade; the passing of the Employee Free Choice Bill;, and respect for Venezuela's right to self determination.

Conference maintains:
Its critical support for Barack Obama.

Burma
Conference notes with disgust:
The ongoing violations of human rights in Burma.

Conference recognises:
The good work done by the outgoing National Youth Executive in supporting the protests in Dublin against the Burmese Government's actions this year.

Conference notes with dismay:
That despite the ongoing situation in Burma, the issue has fallen below the radar of the mainstream media.

Conference mandates:
The incoming National Youth Executive, and particularly the National Vice Chairperson/Campaigns Officer, to work towards highlighting once again the disgraceful situation in Burma and to campaign to put the issue back on the international media's agenda where it belongs.

 

Israel and Palestine: the Jewish Settlement in Hebron
Conference notes:
That the city of Hebron is currently split into two administrative areas: H1 and H2. H1 contains most of Hebron, and 120,000 Palestinians, and is governed by the Palestinian Authority. H2 contains the city-centre and surrounding areas, and is home to 30,000 Palestinians and 800-900 extremist Jewish settlers. It is governed by Israel and policed, primarily, by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Palestinian-owned areas of H2 have been effectively shut down by the IDF, and what was once the economic centre of the city is now akin to a ghost town.

Conference notes with dismay:
That since 1997 the IDF have implemented a separation policy in H2, banning Palestinian traffic from H2, and preventing Palestinians from walking on many of the roads in H2, and that some 1,829 Palestinian commercial establishments have closed or been closed down, and that at least 1,014 Palestinian homes have been vacated under coercion or by order of the IDF.

Conference believes:
That the restriction of movement, is a breach of fundamental human rights.

Conference also notes:
- That the presence of settlers is a catalyst for the continued between settlers and local Palestinians, particularly by settler children who are not legally responsible for their actions.
- That the IDF have no authority, legally, over the settlers of Hebron.

Labour Youth believes:
- The situation in Hebron to be one of the worst situations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- That in the interests of peace and good living conditions the situation in Hebron must be resolved as soon as possible.
- That this can only be achieved by the evacuation of settlers from the area.
- That this would be popular amongst the broader Israeli public.

Ly therefore calls on:
The Irish, EU and Israeli authorities to encourage and carry out an evacuation of settlers from H2.

Conference therefore mandates
The National Youth Executive to lobby the leadership, TDs, and MEP of the Labour Party to exert pressure on the Government and the various governing institutions of the European Union, with a view to developing National and European policy that specifically encourages the Israeli Government to carry out an evacuation of settlers from H2.

 

Palestine
Conference encourages:
Labour Youth members to join the Trade Union Friends of Palestine Group

 

Palestine
Conference notes with alarm:
- That, according to figures from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, construction of settlements within the West Bank in the first five months of this year has nearly doubled by comparison with the same period last year.
- That the Israeli Housing Ministry initiated 433 new housing units during the period of January - May 2008, compared to just 240 housing units during the period January - May 2007.

Conference further notes:
That construction initiated by the Israeli Housing Ministry accounted for 64% of all the construction counted in the West Bank by the Central Bureau of Statistics in recent months and that the number of tenders for construction in the settlements has increased by 550%; 417 housing units in 2008, compared to just 65 in 2007.

Conference notes:
That there is now a financial incentive offered by the Israeli Government to settlers, as well as the ideological reasons which had previously been used to justify this illegal and immoral action.

Conference reaffirms:
Its call on the Israeli Government to end all such illegal settlement activity and to uphold the commitments it has made, both to the international community and to the Palestinian Authority as part of the peace process.

Emergency Motions on Cancer Vaccine proposed by UCC was passed and the Emergency Motion proposed by Dublin South on Medical Cars for over 70's was passed.