Labour Conference will plan for a New Republic
The 70th National Conference of the Labour Party will take place in the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin this weekend, and will outline Labour’s plans to build a New Republic.
The three-day event, which will be attended by 1,000 party members and supporters, will see nearly 100 motions debated. Two significant policy documents on Women’s Health and a Workers Rights Charter will be discussed, alongside panel debates on Housing and Brexit.
Speaking ahead of the Conference, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said:
”Our Conference this weekend will give Labour members and representatives from across the country, an opportunity to debate how we build and plan for a New Republic. We will outline our vision for a better Ireland and how to achieve decency, justice and equality.
“We want to see real change in Ireland so that we tackle the crises in health and housing, and take real action to combat climate change. We don’t want to see our economic recovery squandered when so many challenges remain unresolved. We will outline our optimistic vision for our future, how we would deliver affordable housing, and a single tier, publicly funded health care system.
“We will celebrate the electoral achievements of the last year that saw our President, Michael D Higgins re-elected with a record vote, and the 8th amendment repealed from our Constitution. And we will plan for the local and European elections next May, and a general election whenever it comes.
“As we gather in Dublin for the first time in many years, we will showcase the many new candidates Labour has selected to win seats, and outline how we would prepare Ireland for the challenges of Brexit.
“On Saturday, we will also honour Vicky Phelan, Stephen Teap and Lorraine Walsh with the Jo Cox Award from Labour Women, in recognition of their bravery on behalf of all those impacted by the Cervical Check scandal.
“Across three days of discussion we will detail our policies, debate motions and adopt new positions and when we leave on Sunday we will be ready to put our message to the people of Ireland.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The ‘A New Republic’ Conference website for #LP18 is https://www.labour.ie/conference
The full agenda is available here.
The Standing Orders report covering internal elections and running order is available here.
Friday 2nd November
6.30pm: Conference Opens
7.40pm: Opening Address, Brendan Howlin TD
8 – 10pm: Motions on Health; Children & Youth Affairs; Employment Affairs & Social Protection; Transport, Tourism & Sport.
10.30pm: Connolly Café – “Building a New Republic”. Chaired by Evanna Craig, with Padraig Yeates historian and trade unionist; Sen. Ged Nash; Annie Hoey and Marije Laffeber PES Deputy Secretary General.
Saturday 3rd November
9.30 – 11am: Motions on Justice & Equality; Education & Skills; Finance; Foreign Affairs & Trade.
11am: Live TV discussion on Future of Women’s Health policy paper.
Panel 1: Alan Kelly with Vicky Phelan, Lorraine Walsh, and Stephen Teap; who will be presented with the Jo Cox Award by Labour Women.
Panel 2: Prof. Louise Kenny, Dr. Gerry Burke, Dr. Louise Caffrey, and Kathleen Lynch.
12pm: Live TV discussion on Labour’s ‘Affordable Housing for All’ policy with Jan O’Sullivan TD, architect Mel Reynolds, Aideen Hayden of Threshold and Mike Allen of Focus Ireland.
2-4pm: Motions including on Party Affairs, Housing, Planning & Local Government; Communications Climate Action & Environment; Rural & Community Development.
8pm: Presentation of Larkin Thirst for Justice Award.
8.30pm: Brendan Howlin live broadcast speech to Labour Party Conference.
Sunday 4th November
10.30am: Motions on Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht; Brexit; Business, Enterprise & Innovation.
11am: Brexit Panel Discussion.
Chaired by Dominic Hannigan, chair of the International Unit, with Claire Hanna SDLP, Stephen Pound MP, UK Labour Party; Manuel Cortes General Secretary, TSSA Union.
12pm: “A Workers Republic” discussion on Labour’s Policy Document ‘Decent Work for All’.
Chaired by Fiona Dunne, Chair of Labour Trade Unionists with Sen. Ged Nash, Sheila Nunan President of ICTU; John Douglas General Secretary of Mandate; Brian Nolan, Deputy General Secretary of Connect Trade Union; and Ethel Buckley, Deputy General Secretary SIPTU.
1.30pm: Conference closes