Two candidates for Deputy Leader Race

Labour Party members will this month decide on a new Deputy Leader of the party following the resignation of Liz McManus TD from the post. In what is only the second ever such vote, Labour activists will use the one-member, one-vote system to decide on one of two candidates; Limerick East TD Jan O’Sullivan, or Joan Burton TD, who represents Dublin West in the Dáil.
The Deputy Leader’s role is described in limited terms by the Party Constitution as “assisting the Party Leader.” At a Labour Youth hustings on September 1st both candidates were keen to express their understanding of these limitations while promoting closer co-operation with members and a rejuvenated approach to campaigning on the ground.

Joan Burton is a 58 year-old former lecturer who cut her political teeth in the antiapartheid movement in the late seventies and early eighties. First elected to Dublin County Council in 1991, she was returned to the Dáil the following year in the ‘Spring Tide.’ A Junior Minister for Social Welfare in the Labour-Fianna Fáil coalition of 1993-94, she moved to the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform in the Rainbow
Coalition of 94-97, overseeing Overseas Development in particular. She lost her seat in 1997 but regained it in a tight battle in 2002 and, despite considerable competition in a vastly overpopulated constituency, increased her vote to take the seat this year. She was Labour’s Finance Spokesperson in the last Dáil.

Jan O’Sullivan, only a year younger than Burton, began her political journey in the party of her mentor Jim Kemmy, the Democratic Socialist Party. The DSP merged with Labour in 1991, with O’Sullivan, previously a Limerick City Councillor, elected to the Seanad in 1993 and to the Dáil in 1998 in a by-election following Kemmy’s death. She retained the seat in 2002 and 2007 and, like Burton, enjoyed a high profile in the Dáil as Labour’s Education spokesperson.
The ballot will take place by postal vote for members who have paid full affiliation fees for the past two years. Those yet to receive a ballot or with other queries can contact their branch secretaries or Labour’s Head Office directly. Voting closes on October 5th.

Author: Dermot Looney

Spanish Civil War Veteran to Speak in Dublin

Bob Doyle - who fought for dermocracy and against facism in the Spanish Civil War is speaking in Dublin on Friday March 23rd in the ATGWU Hall in Middle Abbey Street. He is the headline speaker at this years Connolly Festival - which is held by the Labour Movement in commemoration of James Connolly.

The rest of the line up is

Friday March 23rd

• 5.30pm End the US Blockade of Cuba - Cuban Ambassador Noel Carrillo



• 7pm Spanish Civil War Veteran Speaks Bob Doyle last surviving Irish veteran who fought on the republican side in the Spanish Civil War.

Saturday March 24th

• 10 am Campaigning for Travellers Rights Cllr. Declan Bree



• 11.30 Justice for Terrence Wheelock Featuring Terrence's brother Larry Wheelock. Terrence died as a result of injuries received in Garda Custody



• 2 pm National Anti-War Demonstration Fianna Fail Ard Fheis Assemble 2pm Lidl Car Park CityWest



• 8 pm Connolly SocialOuthouse 105 Capel Street - 5 euro admission all proceeds from social to Labour LGBT

Labour Youth call for free contraception

Responding to Health Minister Mary Harney’s statement earlier this week that she would consider lifting VAT on condoms, labour Youth have called on the Government to introduce universal provision of free contraception.

Labour Youth Vice-Chair, Neil Ward, commented “Condoms are more expensive in Ireland than in any other European country. To redress the balance Labour Youth called for provision of free contraception in our pre-budget submission of November last year.

“If the Government is serious about tackling Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), then they must show their commitment by not simply lifting VAT on condoms, but by providing them free of charge.

“Labour Youth believe that the state should help ensure that all citizens are protected from STIs and unplanned pregnancies by making contraception available without cost to the individual.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Neil Ward 085 713 4159

End the blood ban on Gay men

Members of Labour Youth came out to supprt the protest about the blood ban operated by the Department of Health on Gay men.

It is now widely accepted that the best way to ensure a safe blood supply is to refuse blood from anyone engaged in high risk behaviour - rather than the current situation where hetrosexuals engaged in high risk promiscuous sexual activity will have their blood accepted while gay men involved low risk monogamous relationships will have their blood refused.
This ongoing disrcrimination by the Department of Health helps to perpetuate ignorance about HIV risk.

Members of USI, LGBT societies in several colleges, Labour Youth and Labour LGBT joined the protest.

Mass Tresspass in Rossport