Conference: ‘Possibilities for Left-Wing Parties & Civil Society’

'New Political Possibilities in Ireland for All Left-Wing Parties in Partnership with Civil Society'

By Tom O'Connor of Cork Institute of Technology

A CONFERENCE entitled New Political Possibilities in Ireland for All Left-Wing Parties in Partnership with Civil Society will be held on Monday 31^st January in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin.

The conference will give TDs and public representatives from Labour, Sinn Féin and the Left Alliance an opportunity to showcase their economic and social policies in advance of the general election. Arguments will also be presented on the possibilities for a grand coalition of the Left as a new potential Irish Government.

The conference will also explore how real democracy might be put in to place in Ireland through establishing real networks and working arrangements between civil society and these political parties alongside the trade union sector and progressive academics.

This will be augmented by an outline of progressive, fairer and more sustainable economic and social policies by representatives from civil society, unions and leading progressive academics.

Policy issues covered:-

Alternative solutions to the banking crisis

New policies to reduce unemployment

A fairer taxation system

A new budgetary framework

Negotiating with the EU and IMF

Housing waiting lists and mortgage arrears

Social welfare cutbacks

Revitalising communities

Public services

Political leadershipMore efficient and fairer health and social care policies.

The line up is as follows but more may be added later:-

Sinn Féin TDs

Tommy Broughan TD (Labour Party)

Ciarán Lynch TD (Labour Party)

Joe Higgins MEP (Left Alliance)

Cllr Richard Boyd-Barrett (Left Alliance)

Michael Taft (Unite and TASC Economists Network)

Anne Costello (Community Platform)

Dr Mary Murphy (NUI Maynooth, academic, activist and former Policy Officer with Vincent de Paul)

Prof Kathleen Lynch (UCD, academic and activist)

Tom O’Connor (Economist, Cork Institute of Technology)

The conference will run from 9am to 6pm.

Admission is €10. Booking in advance is essential.

Booking info: [email protected] and [email protected]

A full conference programme will be published later and sent out to all participants.

Further details, discussion and news of new speakers will be posted on the Irishl Left Review website http://www.irishleftreview.org/