Commenting on the election results, Labour Youth Chairperson and Labour Party Executive Board member Ciaran Garrett said, “In 2011 Labour won an unprecedented level of support on a clear understanding that we would stand up for those most hurt by the economic crisis, defend the rights of workers and ensure an equitable recovery across all social classes.

It was with this mind that Labour Youth found itself unable to support the current Programme for Government. Many of our members foresaw the potentially devastating effects, for our communities and our party, in swapping our message of social equality and a fair recovery for one of technocratic competence and the language of “it could have been worse”. It is with no satisfaction that we note this analysis has proven correct.

It may be tempting to view this crisis in public support as an issue of personalities and ministerial allocations. But the truth there is a huge disconnect between what Labour was elected to do and what we are doing in government.

We have broken core election promises and implemented some devastating hardships on the very people we said we would protect. To our shame, we have done little to address the glaring inequalities in Irish society. For this the Labour Party should be unsurprised at the vote it received this weekend.

To dismiss this result as one of unthinking anger or midterm experimentation would be nothing short of an insult to the voters who have suffered so much for so long.

Instead it is critical the Labour Party immediately re-evaluates the disastrous policies that have brought us to this position. Last December, when Ireland exited the bailout Labour Youth launched a campaign pushing for measures which could act as stepping stones to a more socially just society and economy.

Labour needs to establish a truly independent identity in government. Labour needs to be at the forefront in campaigning for a living wage, the end of zero hour contracts and a badly needed wealth tax. Labour needs to tackle the housing crisis, confront rising rents and build urgently needed social housing. Labour needs to be championing proper universal healthcare. Labour needs not just to talk about why we need full employment, but how we are going to achieve full employment through a real public investment programme. Labour needs to stop using the language of tax cuts and start speaking about reversing the worst of the cuts to respite carers, child benefit, lone parent allowance, youth unemployment benefit and disability support.

Since being in government the Labour Party has had an increasingly arrogant approach to the public, seeking to convince rather than listen and accept the need for radical change to the way we do politics and policy.

Now more than ever the core values of the labour movement are needed to construct a fairer, stronger, more sustainable Ireland from the ashes of austerity. Labour must begin to deliver on these values if it is to avoid electoral annihilation in 2016.”

ENDS

Ciaran Garrett, Labour Youth Chairperson & Executive Board Member, 0857443043