Policy Paper

Preamble:

The following section contains the policies of Labour Youth on a number of key areas these such as: Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Foreign Affairs. The issues are listed at the start of the each section and each contains an introductory note which is drawn from the papers and policies of LY (Labour Youth), Labour, ECOSY (European Young Socialists) and PES (Party of European Socialists) and which may provide the background for future motions. After the introductory note is the relevant motion from the Labour Youth Conference 2003 (and all conferences thereafter) the conference from which this Policy Document commences and any motions made by Labour Youth to any organisations to which it is affiliated. At the end of each section shall be a brief section outlining possible issues for future motions.

It is envisaged that as such the policy document should be extended and revised each year after the Labour Youth Conference to include the new motions from conference. All motions contained within the policy document shall be applicable for three years from the conference at which they are adopted. Conference shall be able to renew, amend or remove any motions from the presiding year using the normal methods for dealing with motions to Conference.

A full list of motions passed at every conference since 2002 is available here

Education & Science

The issue of Education and Science is viewed by Labour Youth as been one of the most important policy areas to its members. The role that education at all levels and in all forms plays in the development of Irish Society as well as the economic success which is attributably the high numbers of Irish people that have access to the primary, secondary and tertiary education. However Labour Youth feels that this vital sector of public policy is often over looked.

Through the following motions, Labour Youth seeks to fully develop a range of policies - that will take account of the most recent national, European and international developments in education - ensuring that education remains one of the key tools in shaping society into the future:

1. Labour Youth believes that fundamentally 'Education is a Right' and that as such it should be funded primarily from the public purse and that access to it should not be limited by a lack of financial means. Labour Youth believes that core to the right to education is the continuing need to totally and unequivocally oppose the re-introduction of third level fees. This would serve only to limit access to education from those groups in society who have the most to gain from it. Further to this Labour Youth firmly believes that registration fees should be abolished and the grant system should be reformed to provide realistic and direct levels of financial support for students attending third level.

Labour Youth also calls for the reduction in the 15 mile exclusion clause to that of 5 miles Labour Youth notes with grave concern the dangerous policies emerging nationally and internationally to use privatisation and public/private partnership for the delivery of education in a 'for profit' manner. These current policies will endanger the right to education and the access to education of marginalised groups in society. There are also long-term philosophical, ethical and intellectual property problems with the current methods of public-private and privatisation models which are undermining the long standing principle of the pursuit of knowledge in the public interest.

Labour Youth further notes the failure of the government to index link current & capital public expenditure in education at all levels; the failure of the government to adequately finance 3rd level education throughout the 1980's which has lead to a 1.4bn per annum shortfall; and that the increase in demands on the education system, necessitates the immediate creation of a capital funding plan to make up for the years of under-investment in educational infrastructure and to met the needs of 21st century Ireland such a plan should cover all stages of education from pre-school to 3rd level. It is only through the removal of such financial barriers and burdens that Irish society and students can continue to gain from the long term benefits of having a high level of participation in third level education.

2. Labour Youth Notes the continuing inefficiency in the provision of maintenance grants for third-level students in Ireland. Furthermore Labour Youth believes that the income threshold for grants is set at too low a level, and that the grants themselves are insufficient for the living needs of students and calls for reform. Specific reform that Labour Youth demands is for the student maintenance grant to be increased to Social Welfare levels, that the income threshold for provision of grants should be raised considerably, that the level of income support should meet the needs of students, and that the inefficiencies and bureaucracies in the grant system should be removed.

3. Labour Youth is also concerned with the dominant influence that one religion has had over our education system. One of the key changes the LY is working towards is for this overtly biased and uniform system to be replaced by a religious education course that provides students with knowledge of a wide variety of religions. However Labour Youth does respects the fact that the Catholic Church has provided a valuable service in making education available when the State did not have the resources to do so. However it is the strongly held principle of Labour Youth that the State must now take care of its duties regarding the provision of pluralist education. In order to recognise this aim Labour Youth calls for the gradual cessation of government funding for private education in particular religious based education and that more funding be directed towards the public sector.

4. Labour Youth is fully aware of recent developments regarding the implementation of the online post-graduate primary teacher course run by the Hibernia College, which is accredited by HETAC and approved by the Department and Education and Science (DES). In the case of the online post-graduate degree offered by Hibernia there are a number of problematic issues regarding, the 'experience' and 'involvement' of persons named as staff by Hibernia whom it has emerged are not involved with the college. There are also problems with the lack of consultation with the existing colleges and groups involved in Teacher Education. These are causes of grave concern to Labour Youth as they affect the quality of the education that students taking the course will receive and establish a very poor precedent for the future development and accreditation of other online education.

Labour Youth firmly believes that online education in Ireland is still in its infancy and that all those involved in it should take due care to ensure that it meets the highest standards and seeks to better the individual and society. To ensure that this is achieved Labour Youth is lobbying the government to cap the number of students taking the course in Hibernia at the current numbers. We are also calling for the Department of Education and Science to undertake a complete Quality Assurance Assessment of all online courses offered by Hibernia and other such education providers to ensure the course meets the highest standards in teacher education.

Labour Youth considers that a core difference between public and private education providers relates to the fees charged and the for profit motive of private education providers. Therefore in order to protect public education Labour Youth demands that the DES does not invest any public money into privately run courses and to increase funding in the existing publicly run primary education courses.

Labour Youth recognises the vital role that primary school teachers play in the shaping of society and therefore calls on the Department of Education and Science to increase investment in the existing publicly funded primary teacher education courses. These courses are currently in dire need of investment to safe-guard the quality and values of education in the state.

5. Labour Youth is also actively involved in the development of the European Higher Education area. Among the principles that Labour Youth and its European partners view as essential in the development of European education policy are that every student should have free access to further and higher education in their own country but also in all other EU member states. Labour Youth also believes that the exchange and mobility programme of the Union must be expanded to keep up with demand, so that students have equal opportunity to use their right to study in another member country. We call for the introduction of a European framework for mutual recognition of education qualifications.

Labour Youth along with the European Young Socialists (ECOSY) reject the view that the way to successfully create more jobs in Europe is only through the development of a more flexible market and that education and training serve merely to increase worker mobility. Making lifelong learning a real possibility for everyone is essential as the heads of state and government recognise. Improved quality, facilitation of universal access and opening-up to the wider world should be made concrete in the European education and training systems. Also, concrete policies must be adopted and investment must be made to reinforce the possibility for people to develop their qualifications and skills.

6. Labour Youth notes with grave concern the shameful conditions of many primary and secondary school buildings throughout the country. That in several cases the dilapidated nature of these buildings has endangered the very well being of the staff and children. That in some cases the buildings are in such a state as to prevent their use thus infringing on the right to education of many. Thus Labour Youth calls upon the Ministers of Education, Finance and the Taoiseach to- as a matter of state urgency -allocate emergency funding of not less than 106 million per annum, for the capital investment in the schools which are in the conditions outlined above and for such redevelopment work to be fully underway before the end of the current academic year.

7. Labour Youth notes that under the 1996 Education Act, all secondary schools are obliged to have a student council which shall represent the students' views to the board of management, principals and parents. That furthermore such Student Councils should be independent and treated with due respect by the education authorities. Furthermore Labour Youth recognises that in many secondary schools, student councils have not yet been established and that in several schools where they have been established they have not been allowed conduct themselves as outlined in the Education Act.

Labour Youth believes that at time of reduced civic participation, the failure to treat young adults as equal partners in their education by allowing them to represent themselves through independent Student Councils is mitigating against the full development of the countries next generation of citizens; And that Labour Youth and the Labour Party should encourage and enable in a non-partisan way the full civic development of young people.

Labour Youth calls on the Minister of Education to undertake a full review of the status and nature of student councils throughout the country and that such a report should include consultation with student, parents, school authorities and NGO groups such as the ISPCC, USI, USS and be published within one year.
Labour Youth believes that any schools found to be failing to fully implement the letter and spirit of the Act should be named and shamed and Student Councils set up there straight away and that funding should be made available to assist the independent functioning of Student Councils and the USS without any undermining of their independence.

8. Labour Youth recognises the increasing use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for school building and schools building management, in particular the weakly-competitive tendering process by which lengthy contracts for school building maintenance are awarded. Moreover Labour Youth notes the poor value for money that these contracts represent for the education budget

 

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

The area of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is one of the key instruments that society uses to regulate the relationship between its members and institutions. Labour Youth believe that there is a need for continuous monitoring and adaptation to the quickly changing demands of Irish society but that there must not be excessive legislation, which will cause people to disengage from the social values the legal system seeks to uphold.

Finally it must be noted that the Irish legal system has been very slow to adapt to modern society. Examples of this are the belated decriminalisation of homosexuality, the lack of modern policing methods and an overworked prison and court system, which still base themselves on the punitive rather that preventive methods in order to maintain social cohesion.

1. Labour Youth notes with thanks: the work that has already been undertaken by several Labour Youth members and the Labour Party's Justice spokesperson on preparing a policy response to the draft Criminal Justice Bill (2004); and the support given to the 'Kill the Bill' campaign by the Assembly of Irish Social Movements on the 10th of October 2004.

Labour Youth believes that the Criminal Justice Bill will:
Increase the intial standard detention time by 18hrs (bringing it to 24hrs); Re-classify the taking of DNA samples as non-intrusive and allows their retention for up to 12 months; Grant the Government the powers to appeal 'lenient' sentences; Empower the Garda to issue without appeal on the spot fines with refusal to pay leading to Criminal Prosecution; And revoke a citizens rights to withdraw a statement, which may have been made under duress or intimidation.

Labour Youth recognises that Bunreacht na hireann states in article 34, "Justice shall be administered in courts established by law by judges appointed in the manner provided in this constitution," and therefore the efforts made by the Minister for Justice in the new Criminal Justice Bill 2004, to introduce on the spot fines to be handed out by the Gardai for anything they deem fit, is both immoral and un constitutional. Labour Youth also affirms that sections of this bill are a further example of the erosion of our rights as Irish citizens.

2. Labour Youth has long recognised the need to campaign strongly for the decriminalisation of cannabis. We believe that resources directed towards policing cannabis should be re-directed towards serious crimes. We also call on the government to fund research into cannabis as a medicine and to develop hemp into an agricultural industry, for material to be used in textiles, construction materials, medicine etc.

3. One of the core objectives of Labour Youth is the achieving of equal rights for the Lesbian Gay and Bisexual community. The LGB community should enjoy all the same rights as heterosexuals. Labour Youth strongly objects to the fact that two men or two women cannot have their relationship recognised by the state in the same way that heterosexual couples currently have their relationships recognised and demands that the right to marry to be extended to same sex couples.

While the development of partnership rights would be a welcome step forward, Labour Youth believes that true equality can only be achieved through the full implementation of the recent Equality Authority and National Economic and Social Forum reports on Equality for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals.

Labour Youth not only demands a reform of Irish legislation on LGB rights but also demands that the Vatican reform its attitudes towards the LGB community in line with true Christian values. In particular we condemn the document issued by the Vatican on 31st July 2003 in respect of Gay marriages as hate filled, narrow-minded and re-enforcing prejudice and intolerance. As well as supporting the legislation of gay marriages in existence on the same basis as heterosexual marriages, Labour Youth also argues for and supports members of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual community to have the same rights; in terms of divorce, separation, adoption & fostering of children, as heterosexual couples.

Furthermore Labour Youth believes that having sex is a good thing and does not understand why it cannot be a good thing for everyone to be able to have sex at an equal age of consent, whether male, female, straight, bisexual or gay. Thus Labour Youth call for the lowering of the current equal age of consent from 17 years to 16 years for all genders and inclusive of gay and straight sexual relations

4. Labour Youth is continuously seeking to develop solidarity campaigns with its comrades around the world who face hardship in trying to achieve their goals through peaceful action. Labour Youth acknowledges the action taken by UCD, TCD and other Students Union' to boycott Coca-Cola in solidarity with the trade union activists in Coca-Cola's bottling plants in Columbia. Labour Youth is committed to supporting any initiatives to do likewise in other colleges or organisations in which it has members.

5. Labour Youth believes that the Irish constitution is a living document and as such it may be changed to reflect the changing values within Irish society while maintaining the core principles and objects of the state. As such Labour Youth considers it necessary for the full implementation of changes recommended by the constitutional review group to Article 40.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann. This would ensure that fundamental rights should be upheld rather than hindered by the Constitution.

6. Labour Youth, in conjunction with the policies of the Labour Party, demand a clear and up-to-date decision for the parents of Irish children whose plight is not known. The immigrant parents of Irish children are still awaiting a decision from the government.

7. Labour Youth notes with disgust the shameful treatment of many asylum seekers, refugees and economic immigrants within Irish society; the abysmal attempts by the government to ensure that all people are accorded with basic human rights in accordance with national and international law; that the Irish government has legal obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) to which we are party; that all peoples have the right; to work, social security, to protection of the family unit, to food, to health, to dignity and development, to education and partake in cultural life; that several of these rights are been breached by government policies. These include but are not limited to:
a) The current system of issuing of work permits to employers, creating as form of 'bonded labour' and the failure to allow asylum seekers to exercise their right to work
b) The 'mass midnight deportations' of parents of Irish born children and the wanton destruction of family units through such policies.
Such inhumane and degrading policies pose a critical threat to human dignity.

8. Labour Youth is also gravely concerned with the length of time that applicants for asylum are forced to wait while pending the decision on their application. Labour Youth demands clear and effective answers from the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform as to why these applicants have to wait for up to 2-3 years not hearing results from their asylum interviews. The results from this long delay are compounded with both psychological and physical effects as a result of this poor, bureaucratic and mismanagement of the asylum process in Ireland. Labour Youth calls for the Department of Justice, Equality & Law reform to heavily invest resources to ensure that this time-scale is reduced and to undertake fully investigation into the cases of all applicants on a case by case basis. Labour Youth further demand that the government uphold the highest principles of human rights in deciding on asylum applications.

9. Labour Youth condemns the fact that gender inequality continues to exist in the workplace and that women earn approximately 28.4% less than men per hour; the fact that 11.8% of women in the workforce hold administrative positions, compared with 21.8% of men; and the fact that the lower paid clerical/secretarial sector is dominated by women, with only 5.3% of males employed in that sector is dominated by women, with only 5.3% of males employed in that sector.

However, Labour Youth acknowledges the achievement of the EU and the Equality Authority in improving gender equality and applauds the work done by SIPTU and the National Women's Council of Ireland in this regard.

Thus, Labour Youth calls for the full implementation of EU directives concerning gender equality into Irish Law, and for a strengthening of the Equality Authority to ensure that women do not suffer in their careers or financially when they take maternity leave, and especially that their pensions are not detrimentally affected. Furthermore, Labour Youth call for recognition of the unpaid work carried out by women for society and for Labour Youth to work towards a method of recognising this

10. Labour Youth has campaigned for people with disabilities to receive equal access and opportunity in the pursuit of their life goals. In particular Labour Youth calls upon the government to provide training and funding for the employment of more sign language interpreters at all government offices and events. Labour Youth furthermore resolves to support the deaf community in their struggle to have Irish sign Language recognised as an official language of the state on the same basis as Irish and English, which must include an appropriate constitutional amendment.

11. Labour Youth recently published its Garda reform document which sets several core changes to maximise the responsiveness of An Garda as a police service in 21st century Ireland. Labour Youth calls for the adoption of such key ideas contained in the reform document such as local community policing, the establishment of a police ombudsman person, a drastic increase in the size and make up of the service as well as modern training for new recruits. Labour Youth will continue to develop this document and in the near future will develop similar documents on the court and prison system and will strive to have these policy reforms implemented.

12. Labour Youth notes that the recent restrictions on nightclub opening times have not created a responsible drinking culture in Ireland.
Labour Youth believes that the current pub and club opening hours are "anti-youth" in nature and wishes to promote a more liberal and personally-responsible drinking culture.

13. Through our European partners (ECOSY and the Party of European Socialists/ PES) Labour Youth has sought to develop policies at an EU level on Freedom, Security and Justice. One of the top priorities of the PES is to guarantee the respect for fundamental rights and freedom and develop EU laws in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. These goals can be enumerated as follows:
1. Fight against discrimination

2. Stronger rights linked to EU citizenship

3. Development of an Asylum and Immigration policy which up holds humanitarian values.

4. Fair treatment and more rights for non-EU citizens resident within the EU.

5. Stronger co-operation between national police forces in order to counteract crime.

6. Creation of common legal methods in order to counteract all forms of crime.

7. Common minimum standards in order to protect the rights of individuals including those involved in criminal procedure.

Health and Children

Labour Youth believes that the present two-tier system of healthcare in Ireland is inequitable, inefficient and in need of radical reform in order to meet the needs of our citizens. We recognise the outstanding work and dedication of workers within the health system who seek to provide appropriate patient care despite the under funding and mismanagement of our healthcare system. We also recognise that a comprehensive healthcare policy requires a holistic approach on the part of the state and its citizens to facilitate a culture of healthy living within communities. The central aspects of Labour policy towards health are as follows:

1. The abolition of our two-tier health system through the establishment of a comprehensive and compulsory system of health insurance for all citizens in full time paid employment, which will be subsidised and provided for by the State.

2. Free healthcare for Students, Pensioners and any family or citizen whose main source of income comes from Social Welfare payments. Labour Youth demands that high quality healthcare should be available to everyone in society regardless of means.

3. The implementation of the recommendations of the health strategy in relation to the reform of health boards and a fundamental overhaul of the management structure within the health service.

4. Opposition to any attempt to introduce competition or privatise any aspect of the healthcare system. We contend that by nature health services are not compatible with market economics.

5. Greater funding for community care and support for the elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from mental illness. Labour Youth recognises the vital work done by carers in the community and demand a substantial increase in the carers' allowance.

6. Labour Youth acknowledges the need for education and information for young people regarding sexual health and calls for greater public debate and information about the dangers of Sexually transmitted infections (STI's) and for the empowerment of young people to make informed and responsible decisions in this area.

7. Labour Youth calls for the provision of safe, free and legal abortion in Ireland.

8. Labour Youth notes the disgusting inadequacy in the provision of medical cards for those from backgrounds of socio-economic disadvantage in Ireland and the appalling record of the current government, who despite promising to extend the medical card scheme, have actually reduced the number of those receiving free healthcare.

9. Labour youth also notes with alarm the threatened cutting of services at Nenagh Hospital under the Hanly Report and pledges to support opposition to the Hanly report and support campaigns for adequate breast cancer services at Nenagh Hospital and in the mid-west region more generally.

Overall Labour Youth policy towards health is based on the principle that healthcare is a fundamental social right that should be provided comprehensively and equitably across society. We believe that material resources should not impact on one's access to healthcare and recognise that the health service comprises of a whole system and social and community structure which compliment and support acute health services.

 

Social, Community and Family Affairs

Our policy focus in this area is based on a firm conviction that a strong, expansive and adequately funded welfare state is a necessary and vital part of a vibrant economy. We believe that providing full employment and a comprehensive system of social welfare provided by the state and funded through the taxation system ought to be central to government policy. Given the diversity of this area of government policy our key policy positions can be summarised as follows:

1. Labour Youth advocates a fundamental reform of the social welfare system. It is our view that a system of basic income should be introduced. This would eliminate existing 'poverty traps' and provide all citizens with the means to support themselves. As part of this policy we wish to have full integration of the tax and social welfare systems to simplify and improve existing arrangements.

2. In the interim Labour Youth shares the view that the role of carers in the home and in the community requires greater recognition. We call for a 50% increase in the carers' allowance.

3. We reject the stigmatisation of citizens in receipt of social welfare payments and call for greater universality in eligibility for welfare payments and for citizens to receive better information about their range of entitlements.

4. We recognise that all citizens have enormous potential to contribute to society and believe that labour market policy should not only focus on helping citizens to find employment but also that employment will be fulfilling and suitable for their lifestyle, needs and ambitions.

5. Labour Youth believes that inadequate provision of childcare is a key barrier to lone parents and women from entering the workforce in greater numbers. The cost of childcare is a disincentive to taking up employment and supply is inadequate. We call for the creation of a comprehensive system of affordable, high quality community based childcare provided by the State.

6. Furthermore we support the introduction of legislation to compel employers to recognise the different problems encountered by parents and to facilitate their needs and responsibilities.

7. Labour Youth calls for the expansion and protection of community employment schemes and increased recognition for the valuable work they do.

8. We believe that all children have the right to a decent standard of living. Therefore we condemn the fact that 1 in 6 children in Ireland live in poverty, and that of children live in homes in which the household income is less than half the national average.
Labour Youth Calls:
For the Government to increase Child Dependent Allowance to 35 euro per week
For the Medical Card Scheme to be expanded to include more children from lower income families
For the rezoning of more land for public housing schemes and the eradication of child homelessness
For the extension of the School Meals Scheme to provide hot meals for all children

Labour youth also notes the alarming rate of youth suicide particularly amongst young males. Because of this we call for the adoption of a comprehensive and integrated strategy through education, health and social services which investigates, researches and addresses this issue through education, training, counselling and additional support services.

 

 

Environment, Housing and (Local) Government

Labour Youth believes that environmental issues are an integral aspect of improving citizen's quality of life. We believe proper planning and development, incentives to recycle and greater use of renewable energy resources is essential to provide a sustainable economy and to meet the diverse social needs of communities across the country.

Labour Youth notes the longstanding opposition of the Labour Party and the broader Labour movement to Nuclear Power and believes that we should continue to mount opposition to Nuclear Power. Labour Youth notes: the dependence of Ireland and the Western world on Petroleum for energy; that positive steps have been taken in the direction of renewable energy sources such as wind-power and Hydroelectric-power; that bioalcoholic substances like ethanol are efficient and environmentally friendly fuels; And the success of Brazil in the use of ethanol fuelled cars, which since their introduction in the 1980's, have vastly improved the quality of air in Brazilian cities and reduced the country's dependency on oil.

Labour Youth advocates:
1. The introduction of a constitutional amendment to guarantee all citizens a right to housing.

2. Greater integration public/private housing with all new housing developments providing 30% of the housing stock for social housing.

3. Greater protection for tenants in rented accommodation and the introduction of a uniform housing benefit, which is tenure neutral.

4. A property tax on the purchase of second homes and for strict regulation of the price of land.

5. The provision in new housing estates of appropriate infrastructure and amenities for families and the upgrading of facilities in existing housing estates as a matter of urgency.

6. Strict spending limits to be introduced for local and European elections and electronic voting should not be introduced.

7. The Ministers for Energy and the Environment to fund research into fuels such as ethanol and actively encourage the use of ethanol as an alternative to petroleum

We remain opposed to the Labour Party forming any coalition or alliance with any other political party at either a national or local level unless the Labour Party is the largest party in any such arrangement.

 

Foreign Affairs

Recent international developments, demonstrate the need for all nations to actively work on their foreign affairs and relations with other nations and international organisations in order to create a more equal and secure international environment in which both individuals and nation states can reach their full potential.

Labour Youth has actively sought to develop such policies at both a national and European level and has already played an important role in developing constructive foreign policies. Labour Youth representatives made up over a third of the national delegation to the youth convention on the future of Europe and have been active in all the follow up meetings on the future of Europe. Labour Youth members have also been active in participating at UN University courses, ECOSY events, Institute of European Affairs Ireland seminars and various other International Organisations which share similar goals to us. Recently a Labour Youth officer was vice-president of ECOSY throughout the period of Ireland's EU presidency.

We believe that one of the primary objectives of Irish foreign affairs should be, through the enhancement of international organisations, to achieve greater equality in the global community and to promote non-aggressive actions in conflict resolution. Ireland historically has avoided being aligned with any major powers and is held by many nations to be an 'honest broker', generous giver of aid, as well a nation experienced in dealing with conflict situations. This reputation needs to be retained and enhanced.

Labour Youth believes that Ireland must actively move towards 'Berlin rather then Boston' particularly in issues of international economic and trade policies. Labour Youth is continuously developing international policy, which is often brought forward to its partners in ECOSY and other groups.

1. Labour Youth has actively supported the Labour Party in its opposition to the illegal war in Iraq, with several hundred Labour Youth members taking part in anti-war and human rights demonstrations throughout the country. As well as this Labour Youth continues to call for the United Nations to lead the rebuilding of Iraq with full operational and political control over such a mission. It is the long held policy of Labour Youth to reject any involvement of Irish armed forces in operations that are not fully endorsed and supervised UN.

Labour Youth is fully committed to continuing the anti-war activities and support the upholding of international law and human rights in the interest of oppressed peoples. We fully acknowledge that there is a need for meaningful reform of the United Nations including changes to the membership and operation of the Security Council ensuring that it will have a real role to play in future international events. However the future of international relations does not rest with individual nations states but with collective nations co-operating with each other in order to promote human rights and equality among the nations and people of the world.

Furthermore, Labour Youth deplores the Irish government's facilitation of the war in Iraq through the use of Shannon Airport by the US military. We endeavour to end the use of Shannon by U.S. military if the Labour Party is in government.

2. Labour Youth believes that Ireland's future is best served in a democratic European Union based upon a uniquely European federal identity. This identity has at its core the social democratic values, which are the corner stone of the modern European nation. Labour Youth calls for the implementation of fully democratic structures within the European Union, so that the people of Europe may have a true voice over the development of their Union. In furtherance of a truly social democratic European Union, a Union of the people as well as of nations Labour Youth is committed to working with ECOSY and PES in support of the socialist principles that are shared across the EU.

3. Labour Youth 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

However, Labour Youth notes with shame the failure of the Irish Government to meet its commitments under the Millennium Development Goals to provide .7% of the GDP per annum towards the goals. That in 2003 Ireland contributed .41% GDP and that this has fallen in .39% GDP in 2004.

We believe that Ireland has a duty and the resources to meet the target contribution of 0.7% GDP pre year and that the government should take steps straight away to meet this commitment up to 2015.

Labour Youth calls on the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance to index link the contributions to the MDGs effective as of 2004 and to actively support the proposal to sell the gold reserve of the IMF in order to further to cancel the multilateral debt of poor countries as outlined in the paper by Sony Kapoor of the Jubilee Research and New Economics Foundation.

4. Labour Youth notes the continuing and upsetting situation in the Occupied Territories of Palestine, where murder, injury and denial of basic human rights continues on a daily basis. Labour Youth fully support demonstrations organised by the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others, including protests, demonstrations, boycotts and other measures aimed at securing peace and human rights in the Middle East.

Labour Youth the wilfully violent and intensive campaign of destruction that the Israeli state and its Defence Forces have unleashed on the people of Gaza in recent weeks. Labour Youth further notes the right of the State of Israel to exist and its rights under International Law to defend its citizens against appalling acts of terrorism.

Labour Youth believes that the current violent campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza and the broader context of oppression of the Palestinian people not only fundamentally breaches international Law but also degrades the security of the Israeli people themselves. If Israel will not listen to Europe, then Europe should not trade with Israel. Furthermore, Labour Youth believes that Israel's borders should return to those outlined prior to 1967.

Labour Youth calls for a fair and just resolution of the Israeli Palestinian conflict which must be based on the foundation that the minimum requirement for peace to be achieved in the middle-east and between the state of Israel and the Palestinian people is a complete end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land which is continuing in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and which is in accordance with the land for peace principle as set out in the Madrid conference of 1991 and which has been re-affirmed in the Saudi peace plan of 2002 that was recently re-vitalised by the Arab League.

Labour Youth also calls for the demolition of the concrete barrier which institutionalises a form of apartheid.

Furthermore, Labour Youth calls for an ending to all illegal settlement activity, house demolitions, the collective punishment as well as respect for the human rights of all Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.

Furthermore, Labour Youth calls for there to be an insistence that all Palestinian Refugees who wish to exercise their right to return to their homes that they were wrongly driven from in 1948, have a right to do so and that adaquate compensation of a financial nature be offered to those who chose of their own free will not to return.

Furthermore, Labour Youth calls on the capital of any Palestinian state to be East Jerusalem and for support for the Palestinian people on insisting that this bottom line from the Palestinian perspective becomes a reality as this is the firm wish of the Palestinian People

Labour Youth believes that the best way to achieve peace in the Middle East is for the two states of Israel and Palestine to co-exist in a peaceful and mutually beneficial environment. Furthermore, Labour Youth calls for circumstances where the Palestinian State as well as the Israeli state in conjunction with the people of those states can decide future structures other than the two state solution should this be their firm wish.

Furthermore, Labour Youth calls for an international protection force under a UN mandate to be sent to Palestine both for the protection of the Palestinian people and the security of the state of Israel as both the Israeli people and the Palestinian people have the right to live free from terror.

Furthermore, in view of the breaches of International Law with respect to the occupation, human rights abuses, the collective punishments and the illegal settlement activity outlined above, Labour Youth calls for the suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement which confers trading privileges on Israel but which is conditional on Israel's respect for human rights and the rule of law more generally as well as for a boycott of all Israeli goods and services as well as support for the educational and cultural boycotts of Israel in the same way as there were such boycotts of South Africa during apartheid in order to make South Africa come to its senses.

5. Labour Youth notes the successes of the Fair Trade Campaign in relation to raising awareness of issues of discrimination, inequality and exploitation across the world.

Furthermore, Labour Youth notes the continuing need for Labour Youth to support initiatives aimed at ending the exploitation of workers, farmers and others around the world through the Fair Trade campaign.

6. Labour Youth notes that various Trade Unions, political parties and NGOs are mobilising against the G8, apparently being held in Gleneagles in Scotland in the summer of 2005.
Labour Youth shall continue to oppose the G8 summit, and forge links with the broader Global justice movement in Ireland.

7. Labour Youth notes with great concern the appalling situation which has recently come to light in Kosovo/Serbia

Labour Youth calls for every effort to be made to have the bodies of missing persons returned to their families and to clear up the case of all missing people and reform of the UNMIK to reflect the participation of Kosovo people in deciding their future.

 

European Affairs

1. Labour Youth notes with concern the neo-liberal economic policies and attitudes currently held by many European Union officials. The concept of the 'four freedoms' of the European Union is that of free movement of-
1) People
2) Goods
3) Capital
4) Services
Because of this, under current EU law and under the proposed constitution, closed or regulated services i.e. public services are illegal. Member states will gradually be forced to privatise, open up and deregulate Public Service sectors such as Transport, Energy, Postal services and even Education and Health.

Furthermore, Labour Youth notes evidence from privatisation and deregulation around the world have led to a sharp decline in the quality of the service, steep price increases and neglect of Health and Safety e.g.
1) 1980's New Zealand where privatisation of the energy market led to price hikes and blackouts
2) Privatisation of Railways in Britain, neglect of health and safety, drop in quality of service.
3) Deregulation of Energy market in California led to regular blackouts & erratic price hikes.

We strongly believe: public Services should be kept under government control and regulation for the common good of society so that quality of service delivered can be upheld and not sacrificed to profit margins; public Services are not commercial industries like any other; and privatisation of public services leads private companies to neglect health and safety in relation to those services.

2. Labour Youth notes with alarm and condemns the homophobic, misogynist and xenophobic views expressed by Mr. Rocco Buttigilone the former Italian commissioner designate to the Justice and Security portfolio.

Furthermore, Labour Youth notes that while everyone has a fundamental right to freedom of speech, the expression of such outdated and offence views must preclude Mr. Buttigilone from holding a public office, especially as a Commissioner of the European Union.

We believe: that the European Union in accordance with its draft constitution must continue to reflect the universal human rights values of a secular European Society; that the challenge posed by the nomination of Mr.Buttigilone is one of a democratic nature; and the success of the European Parliament in blocking Mr. Buttigilone's appointment, reflects the majority view of European citizens and illustrates the future direction in which the EU must continue to develop in order to bring itself closer to the people and become more democratic and secular.'

Arts, Sports and Tourism

Labour Youth:
1. Notes the Governments' proposed removal of Section 481 Tax Relief on the Film Industry and believes that this move will have a malevolent effect socially, culturally and economically.
2. Opposes the termination of Section 481 and supports greater funding for culture, the arts & film industries.
3. Recognises the unpredictable nature of the work of an actor and calls for flexibility in relation to actors' social welfare claims between periods of employment.

Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Labour Youth notes the current paltry levels of minimum wage and further notes that the inspectorate set up to police it is inadequate. Labour Youth believes that contrary to the neo-liberal ideology of this government that properly funded and extensive public services are essential for the social and economic development of the country.

Labour Youth also supports the well-deserved pay increases awarded to public servants under the benchmarking process. We further note the implementation of a four day working week in France and Germany which was introduced by our sister parties the French Socialist Party and the SPD. This progressive measure gives people an appropriate balance between their working lives and non-working lives.

Labour Youth calls for an increase in the minimum wage to living wage standards and for:

1. All employers to be under an obligation to publicise levels of minimum wage in the work place.
2. The Inspectorate to be given greater powers to monitor and directly discipline or fine non-compliant employers.
3. Opposition to any attempt to privatise Ireland's public services.
4. The implementation of a 4-day working week.

Agriculture

Labour Youth notes the unequal circumstances that exist with respect to world trade where the products of developing countries do not have the same access to western markets as the products of developed countries have to the markets of developing countries. Labour Youth Notes the Hypocrisy of western governments asking developing countries not to subsidise their farmers whilst doing the exact same thing themselves. Labour Youth calls for

1. Fair access to western markets for the products of developing countries
2. Reform of the common agricultural policy