Labour Youth Conference motions passed 2005

Issued : Monday 28 November, 2005

Labour Youth Conference motions passed 2005
Issued : Monday 28 November, 2005
EDUCATION

School Buses

Conference Notes With Concern:
The appalling tragedy in Co. Meath earlier this year involving a bus crash which resulted in the deaths of many young people.

Conference Further Notes:
That this loss of life could have been reduced or even prevented, had our antiquated bus fleet been properly equipped with seatbelts and other essential safety features.

Conference Therefore Calls On:
The government to conduct a full independent review of the school bus fleet in Ireland, and immediately withdraw from service any unsafe vehicles and replace them with modern safe ones with seatbelts and other safety features fitted as standard.

Youth Leisure and Recreation Facilities and Funding.

Labour Youth notes the poor, and in many cases non-existent provision of basic youth leisure and recreation facilities.

Labour Youth believes that this lack of basic planning and infrastructure is a damning failure of this Government.

Labour Youth calls on the Government to increase funding in this area, particularly in light of the National Children's Strategy, and the currently under-resourced National Youth Work Development Plan

Furthermore, whilst the provision of high quality leisure and recreational facilities
is highly desirable, an added requirement is the need for funding for the Youth Sector in general. Multi-annual funding is a priority need in the sector.

Labour Youth will commit itself to campaigning for Youth Funding.

Youth Work Act and National Youth Work Development Plan.

Labour Youth urges immediate implementation and funding for theYouth Work Act and the National Youth Work Development Plan.

Labour Youth commits itself to support campaigns by the NYCI and other Youth organisations in this area.

School League Tables
Conference declares:
That Labour Youth stands in opposition to the principle of school league tables. The distinctions between social classes are maintained chiefly through access to education and the quality of that education. Schools have the capacity to lead all efforts towards real social integration and genuine equality. League tables will make this nigh on impossible, further enhancing the divide between private schools geared towards the points race and under-funded public schools.

Conference notes with concern:
That one of Fine Gael's proposals for alternative government policy entails all secondary schools publishing an annual report. Two key sections of this report would comprise state exam results and "baseline" skills of students.

Conference mandates:
The NYE to campaign against the introduction of school league tables, and Labour Youth as a whole to oppose any programme for government that includes such a proposal.

5. Catholic Church
Conference notes:
That the majority of national schools in Ireland are established and maintained using taxpayers money.

Conference also notes:
That the state is constitutionally (Article 44.2.2) obliged to remain secular and not to fund any one religion.

Conference further notes:
That religion is a matter of personal conviction, it also notes that it should not be publicly funded, especially given the more multi-ethnic nature of today's Ireland and the potential for exclusion for all children in the state.

Conference condemns:
The use of the patronage system by the Catholic Church in Irish national schools. The patron system obliges the school to follow the religious ethos of its patron who can pay only a paltry sum towards school maintenance. This in effect has allowed the Catholic Church to teach the Catholic faith to the exclusion of all others during school hours in a state funded school.

Conference calls for:
the Current model of the Catholic faith being taught in the majority of National Schools to be replaced with a Core Curriculum programme, teaching pupils about all major religions and practices, similar to that of the Educate together

HEALTH

Mental Health/Suicide

Conference notes the "suicide-prevention strategy" launched in September 2005 by Mary Harney. While conference broadly welcomes this measure, conference must also note that investment in mental health services is still very low in comparison to other countries. Conference therefore can only describe this measure as "too little, too late"

Conference notes the following statistics on Mental Health/Suicide in Ireland
- There was a 44 per cent increase in suicide rates in young people over the last 10 years
- A quarter of the 444 suicides recorded in 2004 were among 15-19 year-olds
- In 2004 there were more deaths in Ireland as a result of suicide than of road traffic accidents.
- in 15-44 year olds of both sexes, disability arising from unipolar depressive disorders account on their own for more than the combined disabilities arising from asthma, through HIV/AIDS, through road traffic accidents, and through alcohol/drug use disorders.

Conference further notes and welcomes the Labour Party document on mental health - Changing our Mindset

Conference supports the work of organisations such as Aware, the Irish Association of Suicidology, Mental Health Ireland.

Conference believes that attitudes need to be changed to destigmatise mental health and depression

Conference mandates the policy development officer and working group to come up with a Labour Youth policy on promoting positive mental health for young people - specifically looking at 1st, 2nd and 3rd level institutions.

Conference mandates the campaigns officer and working group to launch a campaign on positive mental health and suicide prevention for young people which will incorporate the policy document prepared by the Education and Development officer.

Sexual Health Strategy
Labour Youth notes the increase in STIs amongst young people and urges that a
targeted Youth Sexual Health Strategy be put in place to include:

a) Comprehensive high quality Sex Education provision in schools
b) Access to affordable contraception
c) Improved to accessibility sexual health services

Healthcare
Conference believes:
that the right to access quality health care is a fundamental right for all.

Conference further believes:
that this right must be copper-fastened by the provision of health care through an accountable public system.

Conference notes with disgust:
the plans by the Minister for Health & Children, Mary Harney, to heavily subsidise and incentivise a range of for-profit hospitals. Conference believes these hospitals will do nothing to alleviate the health care shambles and horrific inequalities of care perpetrated on the people of Ireland by the current Government.

Conference calls for:
- The abolition of the ceiling on recruitment in public health services as a crude mechanism which hinders and increases costs by leading to the increased commercial buy-in of private resources from the market place, thereby privatising services for profit-driven ideological interests.

- The setting of the 'purse' for the Health Service Executive matched to the outcomes to be achieved over a set period and leaving the human resource requirement to be established by the HSE within the given resources, thus achieving value for money.

- The setting of all targets for community service delivery on a population basis to ensure equity of delivery to all localities - a practical way to do this is to abolish the 10 'pilot' Primary Care Teams nation wide and set out a 3 year frame for reorganising all 32 Local Health Offices into Primary Care Teams as set out in Health Strategy 2001

The introduction of multi annual budgets for all public health services based on identified and projected needs to allow proper planning and implementation of government set health strategies.

Conference mandates:
the Vice Chair/Campaigns Officer to run a sustained campaign against the introduction of for-profit hospitals as a priority in the year ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUALITY

Homophobia in our community
Conference notes with shame:
The homophobic attitude that is rampant in Ireland among old and young alike.

Conference notes with alarm:
The number of suicides that take place each year, with young people taking their own lives as they feel they've no other option and there's no one to turn to.

Conference calls on:
- The Department of Education to ensure that different types of relationships are explained to children at a young age.
- The Government to establish a helpline to give lgbt youth advice and support.

Blood Transfusion discrimination
Conference notes with alarm;
Recent hospital policy to cancel all pre-planned surgery due to severe blood shortages due to a decline of blood donations been made to the Irish Blood Transfusion service.

Conference notes with shame;
Irish Blood transfusion service policy to discriminate against members of the gay community and refuse to take blood from those willing do donate.

Conference also notes;
Irish Blood transfusion service claims that the reason for this discrimination is based on 1980s evidence of a perceived increased risk of HIV among members of this community.

Conference further notes;
- That this increased risk no longer exists where safe sex is practiced and that there is currently an increased risk amongst heterosexual couples of HIV.
- Heterosexual men and women who engage in unsafe sexual practices are not banned for life, yet gay and bisexual who may have only ever engaged in safe sex are banned for life.

Conference also notes:
the work of Labour LGBT in developing a policy on this area. Conference welcomes
this and commits Labour Youth to working with Labour LGBT on this issue

Conference calls on;
Labour Youth and the Labour Party to continue to lobby these groups to ensure that this discrimination shall not continue.
Proposed by Noel Browne/ NUI Galway

Foreign Nationals
Conference notes;
The popular practice of hiring foreign Nationals for the purpose of cutting labour costs is an ever escalating problem.

Conference further notes;
The recent high profile cases such as the Fillipina beautician paid one euro an hour, the GAMA episode where Turkish workers were disgracefully exploited and the Irish Ferries case where even more foreign nationals have been exploited.

Conference notes with shame;
The governments plan to raise the number of Labour inspectors from 21 to 30.

Conference believes
This move by the Government is a token gesture and will inevitably become another Government failure.

Conference calls on;
The current Government and any future Labour Government to increase the number of Labour inspectors to a level whereby they would actually become effective as well as introducing tougher penalties for employers who abuse foreign nationals

13. Integration of refugees; economic immigrants
Conference acknowledges:
The difficulties facing Irish society with regard to the integration of refugees and economic immigrants.

Conference welcomes:
The National Plan Against Racism (2005-2008) (NPAR)

Conference calls for:
- The fulfilment of Objective Two (Inclusion) of the NPAR by allowing refugees to take up paid employment and by implementing the EU Reception Directive to allow refugees to gain employment
- The provision of children's allowance to all asylum-seekers.

Conference laments:
The vulnerability of migrant workers to exploitation due to the work permit system and also the potential for abuse suffered by female workers employed in private homes, and calls upon the government to ratify the UN Convention on Migrant Rights.

Conference furthermore calls for:
- The official promotion of Cultural Diversity.
- For classes on cultural diversity to be introduced as mandatory components of the First and Second Level Curricula to complement the National Plan to promote Inclusion and Cultural Diversity.
- The provision of English Language teaching at "direct provision" centres and for this resource to be made available to immigrants at local employment centres.

Conference mandates:
The N.Y.E. to work closely with Labour Equality in order to ensure that the often disgraceful conditions endured by refugees and economic migrants are vastly improved
NORTHERN IRELAND

Conference Welcomes:
The progress Labour Youth has made towards establishing an active presence in Northern Ireland over the last year.

Conference adopts:
The following as the official policy of Labour Youth with regard to Northern Ireland.
a) Labour Youth strongly condemns paramilitarism, criminality and sectarianism in all its manifestations throughout the island of Ireland.
b) Labour Youth recognises the legitimacy and diversity of the various social, cultural and political aspirations of people(s) living on the island of Ireland and believes that all such aspirations can and should be pursued through peace and democracy.
c) Labour Youth affirms the right of people living in Northern Ireland to self-determination and advocates the principle of consent as outlined in the Belfast agreement 1998 as the correct mechanism by which this self-determination should be exercised.
d) Labour Youth is determined to create a new political dynamic across Ireland and within both jurisdictions on the island based on our core values and with the intention of recruiting, campaigning and organising on all-Ireland basis and with the intention of challenging the conservative hegemony of nationalism, unionism and sectarianism that have blighted Irish politics for so many years.
e) Labour Youth believes that social and economic inequality across Ireland must be prioritised over and above the present constitutional arrangements on the island. It is our aspiration build a society throughout the island that is secular, socialist and intercultural in nature and to establish political institutions that reflect these values and which accord all citizens equality and respect.

 

Election Discrimination on Students /Commuters

Conference calls for:
The Minister of the Environment to ensure that all elections will be held on weekends to allow Students and Commuters alike to return home and Vote.

Conference further calls for:
That the Minister to grant Students the option of voting in a special polling centre held in their relevant colleges.
Proposed by GMIT

Conference mandates:
The N.Y.E. to work with other interested youth groups to see that these proposals are implemented.

The Rossport five
Conference notes with alarm:
The imprisonment of Micheal O' Seighin, Willie Corduff, Brendan Philbin,
Vincent Mcgrath and Philip McGrath by the Irish government for protecting
their families from a very real threat.

Conference notes with disappointment:
The lack of commitment on the part of the Irish government to exploring
and addressing the concerns of the people of Rossport in relation to
preserving the environmental integrity of the area and ensuring the safety
of those that live there.

Conference calls on:
The government to put pressure on Shell to seriously consider the off-shore option and to get a commitment from them that they will preserve the environmental integrity of all their work sites. Also that they take into account the proximity of the proposed high pressure gas pipeline to residential dwellings and enact legislation to ensure that such pipelines cannot be built in close proximity to area of human habitation.

Shell to sea
Conference recalls and condemns
The scandalous jailing of the Rossport five

Conference commends
The huge support that has been offered to the Shell to Sea campaign by people across Ireland and the work of Labour TD Tommy Broughan in the area.

Conference supports fully
The demands of the Shell to Sea campaign and the Rossport community-in particular that the gas from the Corrib pipeline be refined at sea

Conference mandates
Labour Youth, and in particular the Chair through the NEC, to ensure that the Labour party works with and fully supports demands of the Shell to Sea campaign

Conference agrees
That our natural resources should be used for the benefit of society of large and not handed over to multinationals like Shell for the sole purpose of corporate profit
Proposed by Meath East

Nuclear Power
Conference Recognises
The serious health risks created by the use of nuclear power throughout the world.

Conference notes with alarm
That neither the Irish Government nor the Labour Party has an official stance on nuclear power.

Conference calls for
The Irish government to make an official commitment that nuclear power stations shall not be used in Ireland

Conference mandates
The Chairperson of Labour Youth to communicate this position to the NEC and to seek that an official Party policy condemning nuclear power be introduced.

Electronic Voting
Conference notes:
- the Government purchase of a NEDAP/Powervote electronic voting system;
- the worrying issues that arose with the 2002 General Election in relation to the use of Electronic Voting, and which only came to light following repeated Freedom of Information requests, such as non-matching counts of voters versus ballots recorded;
- the establishment of the Commission on Electronic Voting (CEV) to examine the issue in 2004;
- the damning report of the CEV on the issue;

Conference welcomes:
- the ongoing campaign by Irish Citizens for Trustworthy eVoting (ICTE) & Joe McCarthy to ensure that any electronic voting system introduced maintains the highest standards of integrity, secrecy and security;

Conference condemns:
- the vast sums of money spent to date, and still being spent, on machines which all expert opinion clearly stated before their purchase would not meet the required standards;
- the ongoing intransigence of the Government and its refusal to acknowledge its failure in this matter;

Conference believes:
- that the current situation should give all political parties cause to take measure of where they stand on this issue;
- that any Electronic Voting system without a Voter Verified Audit Trail is unacceptable as it does not provide a secure and verifiable means for counting the votes cast;

Conference affirms:
- that Labour Youth is opposed to Electronic Voting in the form proposed by the Government, and tested in the 2002 General Election;

Conference mandates the NYE to:
- campaign for the abandonment of the proposed Electronic Voting system and the sale or scrapping for the maximum return of the machines purchased by Minister Cullen;
- campaign for the disestablishment of the Commission on Electronic Voting and its replacement with an independent Electoral Commission that would have complete control over all aspects of the electoral system and report directly to the Oireachtas.

JUSTICE

Prison System
Labour Youth supports an alternative to the current system of prison detention for individuals with drug addictions. We call for the establishment of hospital detention centers to detox addicts, rather than placing them directly into the main prison system where they continue to use drugs and become victims of a system and of a society that has ceased to care.

Conference mandates:
'The N.Y.E. to report on the practicalities of treatment as an alternative to standard detention.'

Immigration
Labour Youth welcomes foreign nationals who have arrived in Ireland to set up a new life within this country with the clear intention to build a family within the Irish state and who wish to work to help continue the economic growth of the Irish State. Labour Youth will never accept a two tier society with Irish nationals placed above any other nationality within society.

24. Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)
Conference notes:
the policy below (see Appendix A) on Anti-Social Behaviour Orders was provisionally passed as Labour Youth policy by the Organisation Council.

Conference formally adopts it as policy.

Conference mandates:
the policy officer and working group to come up with an "alternatives to ASBOs document" -

Conference mandates:
the Campaigns Officer and Working Group to continue to campaign against ASBOs - particularly using the aforementioned "Alternatives to ASBOs document"

Deportations
Labour Youth rejects the Government's attempt to deport up to 250 people, who originally arrived in Ireland as unaccompanied minors, in many cases fleeing persecution and conflict.

Now, many of these 'aged out minors' are due to be deported, many having settled in Ireland and having completed their Leaving Certificate.

Labour Youth strongly opposes current Department of Justice policy and condemns
in particular the Minister, Michael McDowell for his appalling record in this area.

 

 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, PARTY AFFAIRS AND CAMPAIGNS

Constitutional Amendments:

Membership Age
Article Three:

Delete sentence and insert:
Labour Youth is open to all Labour Party members under the age of 26 who opt to participate

Article Four
Delete "16-26 years old individual and branch members" and replace with "individual and branch members under the age of 26"

Role of education and development officer
Article seven section one subsection (g)

Delete:
The National Education and Development Officer shall be responsible for Labour Youth training seminars, policy development and schools.

Replace with:
The National Education and Development Officer shall be responsible for Labour Youth policy development. The Education and Development Officer shall become the Director of all Labour Youth organised seminars.

Equality Officer (Constitutional Addendum)
Article 7 section one, insert subsection (i)

The National Equality Officer shall be responsible for ensuring equality and equality of access for all Labour Youth members. The National Equality Officer will form and chair the Equality Working Group, which shall be open to all Labour Youth members. The Equality Working Group will have at least four meetings per year and will assist the Equality Officer with their duties.

The National Equality Officer shall take the role of Labour Youth representative in Labour Equality.

National Youth Council of Ireland
Conference mandates the national chair to ensure:

That Labour Youth re-affiliates to the National Youth Council of Ireland at the next possible opportunity.

The Organisation Council shall decide on any Labour Youth representative to the National Youth Council of Ireland. This representative must ensure that at all times he/she is representing Labour Youth policy as decided by Conference, The Organisation Council and the National Youth Executive
33. Working Groups
Conference welcomes:
the creation of working groups in November 2004. Conference believes that the way in which working groups contribute to the organisation could be greatly improved.

Conference mandates:
the NYE to come up with a strategic plan for improving the functioning of Labour Youth Working Groups. This plan shall incorporate plans from The Recruitment Officer, The Education and Development Officer, The Campaigns Vice-Chair and The Communications Officer for the respective working groups that they head.

Conference further mandates:
the incoming NYE to present this strategic plan on improving the working groups to the 1st Organisation Council meeting after Conference for approval.

Recruitment outside of colleges
Conference notes:
that a lot of active Labour Youth members join while in University/College.

Conference welcomes:
this but notes that College Branches can be transient in activity.

Conference therefore does not believe:
that the sole focus of Labour Youth Recruitment Officer and any recruitment campaigns he/she runs should be third level colleges.

Conference mandates:
the Recruitment Officer and working group to liaise with and assist those young members of the party who are interested in getting their peers involved at constituency and branch level or interested in setting up youth sections within constituencies.

Recruitment outside of colleges (2)
Conference mandates:
the Recruitment Officer to fully explore all avenues of recruitment, including a greater emphasis on recruitment outside third level institutions.

Cllr Declan Bree
Conference notes
The fine work carried out by Declan Bree over many years for the Labour movement in Sligo.

Conference notes
That the Labour party complaints committee recently upheld a complaint made against Declan Bree-that he refused to apologise for labelling a decision by other Labour councillors in Sligo to vote against traveller accommodation as disgraceful.

Conference further notes
That Declan Bree intends to appeal this decision to the national executive of the party

Conference commends
The continued efforts of Declan Bree in the area of travellers rights.
Proposed by Meath East

Standing Orders governing nominations for the NYE
Conference mandates:
the NYE to vote at their next meeting to change standing orders so that when seeking election to the NYE only one nomination per candidate will be accepted and published

The Red Flag
Conference notes:
The historic role-played by Jim Connell in the Labour movement and in particular his song the Red Flag.

Conference believes:
That Jim Connell's "The Red Flag" should be sung at the end of conference business on Saturday night by the delegates and this tradition should be continued at future Labour Youth events.

Electoral Strategy
Conference notes:
- the result of the vote at the Labour Party Conference in relation to the motion authorising the Party Leader to enter a pre-election pact with other parties;
- that some members have concerns about the effects of such pacts on the Labour movement;
- that the Party Leader has indicated his preference for a post-election coalition with Fine Gael and the Green Party;

Conference welcomes:
- the democratic and reasoned manner in which the issue was debated;
- the willingness of those who opposed the motion to support the democratic decision of the Party Conference;

Conference therefore affirms:
- Labour Youth's desire for the Labour Party to be the majority party in the next Government;
- that continuing work is needed to ensure that Labour becomes the largest political party in Ireland in the medium term;

Conference mandates the National Youth Executive to:
- engage in a campaign to maximise the Labour Party's vote;
- endeavour to maximise the participation of young people at all levels of the wider campaign, especially in key roles on the election teams of all candidates;
- support in particular the younger candidates in battleground constituencies;
- to, immediately after the forthcoming General Election, commence the campaign for the 2009 Local & European elections and the next General Election with the aim of making the Labour Party the second biggest party in the country in all three elections.

Reports to Organisation Council
Conference believes that accountability and openness are fundamental to democracy within Labour Youth.

Conference believes that each officer on the National Youth Executive shall prepare a report to each Organisation Council outlining their programme of work. This report will be available online and advertised to all members no less than three days prior to the holding of the OC.

 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

The Middle East
Conference Notes:
That Labour Youth supports a boycott of all imported goods from Israel until such time as the injustices and flagrant violations of International law perpetrated by the State of Israel have ceased.

Conference Mandates:
The International Officer to draft a motion on behalf of Labour Youth for submission to the next ECOSY (European Young Socialists) congress outlining the reasons for the boycott and mandating ECOSY to support the international boycott until such time as Israel complies with International law.

Burma
Conference notes:
- The continuing ruthless oppression by the totalitarian military junta in Burma, where basic freedoms are denied to her citizens, where human rights atrocities are perpetrated, and where systematic torture, rape and murder are state policy.
- The widespread use of forced labour, designated a "crime against humanity" by the International Labour Organisation.

Conference further notes:
The continued detention of Nobel Peace laureate and Freewoman of Dublin, Aung San Suu Kyi, who on October 24th, had spent 10 years in prison; as well as over 1000 other political prisoners.

Conference expresses:
Its solidarity with the people and leaders of the pro-democracy movement in Burma; namely the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB).

Conference calls for:
A genuinely inclusive process of irreversible reform leading to a transition to democratic government and national reconciliation in Burma.

Conference therefore mandates:
The officers of Labour Youth to press for a campaign to boycott Burmese goods, to ban all foreign investment in Burma and to discourage tourists from visiting Burma in accordance with the wishes of Aung San Suu Kyi, until such time as the Burmese junta commit irrevocably to these reforms.

Conference further mandates:
The officers of Labour Youth to engage in awareness campaigning to highlight
the importance of this issue both within Labour Youth branches and more
generally, among the youth of Ireland.

Colombia
Conference notes with alarm:
The current situation in Colombia where there is widespread collusion between the legal armed actors of the state and the illegal ones to the point where there is documented evidence of paramilitary fighters living on army bases and wearing army uniforms.

Conference notes with shame
The current campaign by the paramilitaries in the country of actively conspiring to annihilate any and all social organisations and trade unions which seek to create a sense of community and stand up to the blatant human rights violations being carried out against the civic population of the state as well as provide for basic rights with regard to work conditions.

Conference calls on
The Ministers for Finance and Foreign Affairs to investigate how monies provided to the Government of Alvaro Uribe for investment in peace and reconciliation are being spent.

Conference mandates;
- The incoming executive to issue a declaration of solidarity with Colombian workers who face the daily onslaught of violence and intimidation as they try to maintain the trade union movement.
- The International Officer of Labour Youth to maintain contact with the Colombian Solidarity Network and keep the membership of Labour Youth informed about developments in the country.

War in Iraq
Conference recalls
The decision by last years Labour Youth conference to oppose any coalition deal involving Labour unless the use of Shannon as a stopover for US troops en route to Iraq was ended as a precondition of any deal

Conference further recalls
The decision of the Labour Party conference to rule out any electoral deal unless the use of Shannon as a stopover for US troops en route to Iraq was ended as a precondition

Conference mandates
Labour Youth, and our Chair in particular through the NEC, to ensure that such a precondition is included in the Labour party manifesto at the next election

Shannon Airport
Conference Welcomes:
The passing of a motion at the Labour Party National Conference 2005 stating that the Labour Party is mandated to ensure that the US Military is no longer allowed use Shannon airport for its aggressive and illegal attacks on other countries or peoples.

Conference Mandates:
The incoming Chairperson of Labour Youth through their position on the NEC of the party to demand as a priority that this policy is given the prominence and attention it deserves before, during and after the general election.

Conference Asserts:
That Labour Youth will not support any government formation which the Labour Party may participate in if this policy mandate does not appear in its totality within the program for government and furthermore that it must be implemented within three months of the Labour Party taking office.

Millennium Development Goals
Conference notes:
The importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are a set of internationally adopted targets aimed at countering extreme poverty (living on less $1 per day), developing universal primary education and combating HIV/AIDS as well as five other key areas;

Conference notes with concern:
- the terrible impact of recent disasters including the Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami, the Niger crop failure, the unusually severe hurricane season and the Kashmir earthquake;
- the lack of media coverage for the thirteen other famines occurring throughout the Majority World this year;
- the failure of "western" Governments to respond to these issues until media coverage forces response;

Conference notes with shame:
- the failure of the Irish Government to meet its pledge of 0.7% of GNP in aid by 2007;
- the distorting effect on developing world markets of US & EU agriculture subsidies and the subsequent disadvantages to farmers from poorer nations;

Conference condemns:
- the lacklustre approach of the Minister of State for Overseas Aid & Human Rights to these issues;
- the new date of 2012 for meeting the 0.7% target;

Conference affirms:
- Labour Youth's support for the Labour Party's Development Co-operation Bill 2005 ;
- Labour Youth's support for the Make Poverty History campaign and the Millennium Development Goals;

Conference mandates the NYE:
- to campaign for the expedient introduction of an aid budget of 0.7% of GNP
- to continue to support the Make Poverty History campaign;
- to campaign for the Labour Party's Development Co-operation Bill 2005 to be the first piece of legislation passed by the 30th Dáil Éireann.

EUROPEAN UNION

49. EU Affairs
Conference notes:
The rejection by labour youth of the draft constitutional treaty for Europe
at a Special Delegate Conference because it did not serve to fulfill the
vision of a social Europe to which we aspire.

Conference further notes:
The subsequent rejection by the French and Dutch electorates of this Treaty,
rendering it defunct to all extents and purposes in its present form.

Conference re-affirms:
Labour Youth's commitment to an internationalist approach to promoting
progressive social change.

Conference calls for:
The development of a truly social Europe, building on the spirit of cooperation fostered by the European Union. Labour Youth aspires to a confederal Europe based on the fundamental principle of subsidiarity where powers are vested at the lowest appropriate level with only issues which necessitate pan-European action being decided at European level. Labour Youth recognises that free movement of people, protection of public services, and the promotion of universal welfare benefits is fundamental to Ireland's continuing membership of the EU. Labour Youth believes, however, that this ongoing process must go hand in hand with the harmonisation of social protection to fulfil our vision of a social Europe.

Conference therefore mandates:
The Policy Working Group in conjunction with the international working group, to develop a policy document outlining Labour Youth's vision for a social Europe.

Europe - working with like minded organisations

Conference notes
The importance of solidarity between ourselves and all like-minded organisations throughout Europe.

Conference further notes
The experience that can be gained from working with organisations with different methods or from different political climates.

Conference Recognises
The high quality training opportunities that are available throughout the European socialist network.

Conference supports
activists trying to re-establish left wing progressive values in many of our sister parties which have moved towards the centre in recent times.

Conference calls for
The International Officer of Labour Youth and the international working group to ensure participation in as many international events as possible.

Social Treaty

Labour Youth Conference notes that:
- Inequalities that will be created if the proposed "EU Services Directive" comes into force in its present form.
- Inclusion of the "Country of Origin" principle will lead to a race to the bottom in terms of social standards across the EU.
- Bolkestein Services Directive was rejected due primarily to the fact it contained a "Country of Origin" principle

Labour Youth Conference recognises:
- That further industrial disputes will occur along the lines of the on going Irish Ferries lay-offs if the "Country of Origin" principle comes into effect in the future.
Labour Youth Conference calls for:
- An EU 'Social Treaty' that protects workers and residents in the EU from the undermining or diminishing of their social standards due to any proposed Services Liberalisation. The proposed "EU Social Treaty" should strive for an upward harmonisation of social standards at an EU wide level.
Labour Youth Conference mandates the:
- National Youth Executive to fight any EU Services Directive that contains the present 'Country of Origin' principle and actively campaign against such a directive if it does not sufficiently protect workers and residents social protections.
- Education and Development Officer in conjunction with the Policy Working Group to draft a detailed policy document calling for an "EU Social Treaty" to protect EU workers and residents from the Neo-Liberal ravages of globalisation.
- International Officer to work within ECOSY (European Young Socialists) and with our partners across the EU for a pan-European campaign for an "EU Social Treaty"
TRADE UNION AND WORKER ISSUES

Social Partnership/ Workers Rights
Conference Notes:
The disgraceful manner in which the employees of Irish Ferries have been treated in recently.

Conference Further Notes:
That this situation is not an isolated case but rather is indicative of a continual process within the labour market of reduced job security, unsociable working hours, less protection of pensions and a general erosion of the rights, needs and security of workers.

Conference Believes:
That in the context of the present social and economic climate it is essential that the broad Labour movement and the Trade Unions in particular adopt a critical evaluation of the present industrial relations structures and assess whether they provide the best mechanism for promoting the interests of workers.

Conference Asserts:
That Labour Youth no longer considers the continuation of the Social Partnership process to be in the best interests of workers. In contrast, Labour Youth believes that the Trade Union movement ought to adopt an independent, radical and dynamic strategy aimed at substantial increases in real wages, job security and working conditions for its membership. Furthermore Labour Youth recognises that this may require strong and effective use of various forms of industrial action and the solidarity and co-operation of other progressive forces on the left in support of such action.

Conference Mandates:
The incoming NYE to ensure that Labour Youth campaigns actively against the Social Partnership model and works closely with other like minded individuals and groups within Trade Unions and civil society in general to achieve our aims.

Child Labour
Conference notes with alarm
That some 186 million children are currently involved in Child labour ranging from manufacturing, agriculture, home based labour to child prostitution and military work.

Conference recognises
That education is the key to long term escape from poverty, and child labour provides a serious threat to the fundamental rights of the child.

Conference strongly condemns
The companies operating or trading in Ireland today that are actively encouraging child labour through their support of manufacturing which employ those under the age of 14.

Conference praises
Organisations like Alliance 2015, who have undertaken the task of implementing the millennium development goals set about in the Dakar convention relating to education.

Conference calls for
A name and shame campaign for all those companies proved to be involved in child labour.

Further conference calls for
Labour Youth to continue to support No Sweat Ireland, the ethical clothing company.

Irish Ferries
Labour Youth condemns the management of Irish Ferries and its proposed 'social dumping' of its unionised workforce in favour of 'yellow pack' migrant labour.

Labour Youth further rejects both the exploitation of skilled Irish labour and migrant labour.

Killer Coke
Conference notes
The Killer coke campaign, which calls for a boycott of Coca Cola because of the Human rights situation in Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia

Conference calls for
This campaign to be continued and stepped up in the year ahead

Conference mandates
The Vice Chair/Campaigns Officer and the campaigns working group to draw up a plan of action for the year ahead on the Killer Coke campaign

Young and Migrant Workers
Conference notes:
The vast number of young people finding it necessary to enter into part time employment while in second and third level education.

Conference further notes:
The upsurge in migrant workers working in Ireland under work permits.

Conference notes with concern:
A growing number of small companies and franchises in Ireland targeting both young and migrant workers. Migrant workers are faced with a situation in which; they are unable to change jobs, as their right to reside is dependent on their employer. They do not have access to information on their rights under Irish legislation. They are unable to reunite with their families unlike migrant workers who have applied under work visas or authorisations. As a result, young and migrant workers are mistreated, underpaid and discriminated against.

Conference mandates:
Labour Youth National Campaigns Officer to, in conjunction with college branches, launch an awareness campaign to inform and educate young and migrant workers. Conference further mandates the Chair through the NEC to put pressure on the party leadership to formulate a coherent policy on the protection of the rights of young and migrant workers.

Minimum Wage
Conference believes:
that all workers should be entitled to a minimum wage.

Conference notes with concern:
the exemptions to employers who employ workers under 18 years of age, and apprentices, amongst others.

Conference believes
in an equal minimum wage for all workers regardless of age, experience or any other factor

Conference calls for:
The introduction of a European minimum wage for all employees working in the European Union with due respect to purchasing power differences. This minimum wage should be sufficient to provide for a decent standard of life in each member state. In addition, this measure should not prejudice the right of member states to maintain or introduce a minimum wage which is higher than this minimum standard.

Conference mandates:
the incoming Education and Development Officer to draw up a research document on the issue of exploitation of non-minimum waged workers.

Conference further mandates:
the incoming Vice Chair/Campaigns Officer to run a campaign against underpayment and exploitation of workers and to form links with other progressive groups around this issue.

CULTURE, GAELTACHT AND AGRICULTURE

Famine

Conference Acknowledges:

The Great Famine which took place in Ireland during the years 1845 - 1850, which resulted in the loss of almost half the nation's population through starvation and emigration.

Conference Further Acknowledges:

That the overwhelming majority of those who perished or were forced to emigrate were ordinary working class people with few possessions and most without property.

Conference Notes With Concern:

The lack of any national day of commemoration for those affected by the famine.

Conference Mandates:

The NYE to campaign for a national day of remembrance for the famine victims, in light of the fact that the Labour Party has always proudly represented the working class and their cause throughout history.

60. Artists exemption

Conference notes:
- the recent discussions about the Artists' Tax Exemption Scheme;
- that the amounts of tax exempted per annum are small;

Conference affirms:
- its support for the Artists' Tax Exemption in order to further develop the arts and culture in Ireland;

Conference mandates:
- the NYE to campaign for the retention of the Artists' Tax Exemption with the following changes:
 the amount of income that can be exempted shall be capped;
 all income above and beyond the cap shall be taxed at the high rate;
 the scheme shall be extended to include actors (including voice-over artists);

Easter Rising

Conference notes that:
the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising will occur in 2006.

Conference believes that:
the role of the Labour movement, in particular the Irish Citizen Army, is often understated in historical narratives of the Rising.

Conference further notes:
the joint "Liberty" campaign, run jointly by the Labour Party and SIPTU, to commemorate the role of the labour movement in the 1916 Rising.

Conference mandates:
active Labour Youth participation in this campaign, and further involvement in other commemorations and events which are approved by a meeting of the Labour Youth Organisation Council, or, if time limitations do not permit, the National Youth Executive.