www.labour.ie/tomjohnson

DemanDing equality:Ensuring ProgrEss For all

20 – 22 June 2014Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise

tom JoHnsonan introduction

The Tom Johnson Summer School is an annual event hosted on behalf of the Labour Party. The weekend takes its name from the leader of the Labour Party (1917-27), Tom Johnson.

Born in Liverpool in 1872, Tom Johnson moved to Ireland and went on to become President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, a Labour Party TD for the Dublin County constituency (1922-27) and a Senator (1928-34). Johnson was Labour Party leader when the party controversially did not contest the 1918 General Election. He was also the principal author of the Democratic Programme adopted by the First Dáil. He went on to become the only Leader of the

Opposition from the Labour Party, or indeed from any party other than Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

This year marks the 20th annual Tom Johnson Summer School. The first summer school was held in July 1994, and is now a major event in the Labour Party calendar held every summer; provide Labour Party members and supporters with an opportunity to discuss issues with speakers from within and outside the Labour Party.

Special Thanks to Jack Eustace, Director of the Summer School, Marty O’Prey, Labour Party Youth & Development Officer, Ita McAuliffe, General Secretary of the Labour Party, the Labour Youth National Executive, and all the staff and party members who have worked on this event.

introductionsEamon Gilmore T.D. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Leader of the Labour Party

The Tom Johnson Summer School is an integral part of the Labour Party’s annual calendar, bringing together as it does members from all parts of the Country, keen to participate in discussions on how we as a movement can shape the country over the years ahead. Members who are willing to exchange constructive ideas on how we might, to borrow from the title of this year’s Summer

School, ensure progress for all.

Labour Youth are to be congratulated on the stimulating programme they have put together for the weekend.

As this will the last Tom Johnson Conference I attend as Party Leader I would like to thank party members, for your tremendous support over the past seven years and in particular the last three years.

At our special delegate conference in March 2011, we made a decision, together. That we would live up to our commitment to our fellow men and women in that election. That we would fix the economic crisis, and that we would do it as fairly as possible. I am proud, and I am grateful, for our party’s role in delivering on that commitment.

I hope you enjoy the Tom Johnson Summer School on this its 20th Anniversary. I look forward to joining you on Saturday.

Congratulations to the recipients of the Jim Kemmy Thirst For Justice 2014 Award, the Irish Refugee Council. Labour Youth selected the Irish Refugee Council for the award in recognition of the outstanding work by this group on the campaign to end Direct Provision. Labour Youth are proud to support this campaign, and we are delighted that Sue Conlan and Simmy Ndlovu are accepting the award on behalf of the Irish Refugee Council.

Jack EustaceDirector of the Tom Johnson Summer School, Labour Youth Education & Policy Officer

Let me begin by sincerely welcoming each of you to the twentieth annual Tom Johnson Summer School. For two decades now, this weekend has provided a unique space within the Labour Party for critical engagement with our values and policies, and remains Labour Youth’s primary contribution to the political calendar.

It seems appropriate to include a few words about the namesake of the summer school, Tom Johnson himself. A prominent trade unionist and author of the Democratic Programme of the First Dáil, Tom Johnson served as the first leader of the parliamentary Labour party in the early days of the state. Though often ignored by history or condemned by hindsight, Tom Johnson nonetheless stood for his principles in an age of violent polarisation. In the words of the Democratic Programme we can find something much older and far more modern than the nationalism of De Valera or Cosgrave: the idea of a country not only free, but governed “in accordance with the principles of Liberty, Equality, and Justice for all” where every citizen may receive “an adequate share of the produce of the Nation’s labour”.

No less than in the time of Tom Johnson, the Labour Party of today faces immense challenges. Nationalist and reactionary forces again dominate the political landscape. Inequalities are biting and communities are suffering. Labour can do more, and Labour must do more. I ask each of you to keep this in mind as you listen to our speakers, engage with our panels, and participate in our hustings for the leadership of our party.

One area in which I sincerely hope Labour does do more is in our country’s shameful treatment of asylum seekers, those who seek out our shores out of a sense of desperation more powerful than anything you or I can likely understand. That is why I am so proud that Labour Youth has chosen to confer the Jim Kemmy “Thirst for Justice” Award on the inspirational people of the Irish Refugee Council, in particular for their tireless work highlighting the barbaric system of Direct Provision in Ireland. It is only a small recognition of their labours, but I hope we are able to do our part in moving this vital issue to the heart of the political agenda.

It has been an absolute honour to serve as this year’s Director, and I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to our keynote speaker, the excellent Professor Richard Wilkinson, for so kindly agreeing to join us. Like so many of our talented speakers, I was truly shocked and overjoyed when I realised the co-author of the world-renowned the Spirit Level had agreed to be our guest. I would also like to thank Marty O’Prey, in so many ways the real director of this event, whose work behind the scenes for Labour Youth is simply never credited enough.

I hope to speak with all of you over the weekend, but for now let me just wish you an enjoyable stay in Portlaoise and hopefully another bunch of fantastic Tom Johnson memories.

All the best,

Jack Eustace

Friday 20th June

19.00 Opening Remarks: Senator John Whelan

19.10

Panel 1: The Importance of Equality in the Current Political Landscape

Anne Ferris TD - Joint Committee on Justice, Defence & EqualityTom Healy - Nevin Economic Research InstituteDan O’Neill - Young Workers Network & ICTU YouthIan Power - SpunOut.ie

20.15 Address by the General President of SIPTU, Jack O’Connor

20.40

Keynote Speaker: Professor Richard WilkinsonRichard Wilkinson is Professor Emeritus at the University of Nottingham and co-author of The Spirit Level

Introduced by Labour Youth Chairperson Ciarán Garrett

21.45 Reception

saturday 21st June

10.30

Panel 2: Exclusion in Modern Ireland

Professor John Baker - School of Social Justice, University College Dublin John Collins - Pavee PointDr Ronni Greenwood - Department of Psychology, University of LimerickBen Power - Transgender Equality Network IrelandPeter Szlovak - The Integration CentreAisling Twomey - Pavee Point

12.15 Break

13.00

Panel 3: Europe’s Role in Reducing Inequality

Daniel Cornalba - Young European SocialistsDr Mary Murphy - Department of Sociology, NUI MaynoothNoelle O’Connell - European Movement IrelandRuairi Quinn TD - Minister for Education & SkillsBrian Synnott - Party of European Socialists

scHedule

15.00Labour Party Leadership Hustings (Maryborough Suite)

Chaired by Labour Party Chairperson Loraine Mulligan

18.00 Break

19.00

Dinner

Jim Kemmy Speech by An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD, Presentation of the Thirst For Justice Award to the Irish Refugee Council, and address by Jack Eustace, Director of the Tom Johnson Summer School. Sue Conlan and Simmy Ndlovu will speak on behalf of the Irish Refugee Council.

sunday 22nd June

11.30 Presentation on third level funding by the USI President, Joe O’Connor

12.00 Labour Party Member’s Forum, chaired by Ged Nash TD

14.00 Tom Johnson Summer School 2014 concludes

Keynote sPeaKerRichard WilkinsonRichard studied economic history at LSE before training in epidemiology. His research drew attention to widening health inequalities, and led him to ask the UK Secretary of State for Social Services to set up an “urgent government inquiry”. The result was the Black Report (1980) which stimulated research on health inequalities internationally. Since then

Richard has played a formative role in international research on the social determinants of health and on the societal effects of income inequality. His books and papers have drawn attention to the tendency for societies with bigger income differences between rich and poor to have a higher prevalence of a wide range of health and social problems.Richard is now Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham Medical School, Honorary Professor at University College London and Visiting Professor at the University of York. He wrote The Spirit Level with Kate Pickett, a best seller now available in 23 languages, which won the 2011 Political Studies Association Publication of the Year Award and the 2010 Bristol Festival of Ideas Prize. He co-founded The Equality Trust (with support from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust). In 2013 Richard received Solidar’s Silver Rose Award and was named as Community Access Unlimited’s ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ Award.

sPeaKersJohn BakerJohn is an Emeritus Professor in Equality Studies at the UCD School of Social Justice and a member of Basic Income Ireland. His academic work focuses on theoretical issues of equality and democracy. He has been an active member of the Labour Party and of SIPTU since 1977. He was a founding member of Labour Equality and, as a member of the de Borda

Institute, advised Dublin City Council on voting procedures for naming the Rosie Hackett Bridge.

Sue ConlanSue Conlan has been the CEO of the Irish Refugee Council since February 2010. Prior to that she was in legal practice in the UK for 17 years. She has been involved in anti-racism and immigration for 27 years, either in NGOs or in legal practice and is studying for a PhD in the Politics Department at Sheffield University, England. She has also been an

independent researcher, consultant and trainer in immigration and asylum.

John CollinsJohn started working for Pavee Point in 2007 on the Community Employment programme and is currently the Men’s Health worker on the Health programme. John works with Traveller men in Finglas to build awareness of Traveller health issues and help men to discuss their health concerns. In 2014, John is working on developing a Traveller specific

men’s shed project.

Daniel CornalbaDaniel Cornalba is Vice-President of the Young European Socialists (YES) in charge of the European Election Campaign, Communication and Environmental issues and National Secretary of the French Young Socialists (MJS) for International and European affairs. During the last local elections in March 2014 he has been elected city councillor in the western suburbs of Paris (Yvelines). Previously, while studying political

science in Nancy, Daniel used to be the leader of the MJS’s local branch in Eastern of France during the presidential elections in 2012. Half German, half French, Daniel is member of the Young European Federalists since 2008, studied sociology in Berlin and is currently finishing a Master Degree in Public Affairs in Paris.

Jack EustaceJack is the Director of this year’s Tom Johnson Summer School. A UCD student, he has been active in Labour Youth policy formation for the past two years. In October 2013 was elected Policy and Education Officer of Labour Youth. As part of his duties, Jack is currently involved in lobbying on behalf of the End Zero Hour Contracts campaign. He is also leading

work on preparing our pre-budget statement.

15.00Labour Party Leadership Hustings (Maryborough Suite)

Chaired by Labour Party Chairperson Loraine Mulligan

18.00 Break

19.00

Dinner

Jim Kemmy Speech by An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD, Presentation of the Thirst For Justice Award to the Irish Refugee Council, and address by Jack Eustace, Director of the Tom Johnson Summer School. Sue Conlan and Simmy Ndlovu will speak on behalf of the Irish Refugee Council.

sunday 22nd June

11.30 Presentation on third level funding by the USI President, Joe O’Connor

12.00 Labour Party Member’s Forum, chaired by Ged Nash TD

14.00 Tom Johnson Summer School 2014 concludes

Anne FerrisAnne Ferris is the Labour TD for Wicklow and East Carlow. She is Vice-Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and a member of several other Oireachtas committees including the All-Party Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Rights. In 2007 Anne was elected Chairperson of Wicklow County Council, just the second woman to hold

the position in a period of 108 years. Deputy Ferris was elected to Dáil Éireann in 2011, on her first attempt.

Ciarán Garrett Ciarán is the Chairperson of Labour Youth. He is 23 and a member of the Sean O’Casey North Inner City branch in Dublin Central. He is currently involved in campaigns for a living wage and the end of zero hour contracts. Ciarán was elected to the Labour Party Executive Board on the first count at Party Conference 2013 in Killarney.

Ronni GreenwoodDr Ronni Greenwood’s research is concerned with ecological aspects of psychological well-being and distress amongst members of marginalized social groups. In her research on intersectionality, she investigates the ways in which gender combines with other social identities, such as Muslim, or immigrant, to shape women’s social experiences and well-being. In her

research on recovery amongst adults with histories of homelessness, she investigates the effects of homeless services provision and consumer choice and personal resources such as mastery, and the importance of mastery to social and psychological well-being. She joined the Psychology Department at University of Limerick in 2008, where her primary teaching responsibilities include community psychology and theories of personality. She is the principal program evaluator for the Dublin Housing First Demonstration Project. Prior to moving to Ireland, she was Assistant Director of Research at Pathways to Housing, New York and completed her PhD in Social/Personality Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Tom HealyTom Healy is Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI). Tom has previously worked in the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the National Economic and Social Forum and the Department of Education and Skills. He holds a

PhD (economics and sociology) from UCD. His research interests have included the impact of education and social capital on well-being.

Loraine MulliganLoraine Mulligan has been the Chairperson of the Labour Party since June 2013. Loraine currently serves on the party’s Executive Board, Central Council and the Policy Committee, having first been elected in 2009. She was active in Labour Youth from 2002-04 and was a member of the Presidential Campaign Committee for the Election of Michael D. Higgins

in 2011. Loraine works as a researcher in SIPTU and is a member of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Youth Committee.

Mary MurphyMary P. Murphy is a lecturer in Irish Politics and Society in the Department of Sociology, National University of Ireland Maynooth. She has research interests in gender and social security, globalisation and welfare states, the politics of redistribution and power and civil society. Recent publications include Careless to Careful Activation: Making Activation

Work for Women (Dublin NWCI 2012) and Towards the Second Republic: Irish Politics after the Celtic Tiger (with Peadar Kirby, Pluto Ireland, 2011). She is an active advocate for social justice and gender equality and a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Designate).

Ged NashGed Nash is Chair of the Party’s Policy Committee, Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Party and a member of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. Aged 38, he is a former National Secretary of Labour Youth. Representing Louth & East Meath, he is a former Mayor of Drogheda and was a member of Louth County Council and Drogheda Borough Council from

1999 until his election to the Dáil in 2011. He has a particular policy interest in areas such as employment, enterprise, the arts & sport.

Simmy NdlovuSimmy Ndlovu was born in Zimbabwe but has been living in Ireland for the last four years with her two daughters. Her diplomas include Marketing, Early Childhood Education, Community Development Practice and Project management. She is a dedicated community activist and has been involved in a number of organisations including the Campaign to

End Direct Provision, speaking at public events and in the media with a particular focus on why Direct Provision is harmful to children.

Noelle O’ConnellA Cork native, Noelle O Connell is the Executive Director of European Movement Ireland. Prior to joining EM Ireland, Noelle worked in senior training and development roles in a number of public and private sector bodies in various sectors. This included managing the introduction of Freedom of Information in the Institute of Technology sector. Noelle is a

Fellow of the Irish Institute of Training & Development, a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds degrees in Politics and languages from UCC and University of Edinburgh.

Jack O’ConnorJack O’Connor has been General President of SIPTU since 2003, having been re-elected in 2006 for a second term and in 2011 for a third term. He was also President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) from July 2009 until July 2011 and served previously as Vice President from mid-2007. He has been a member of the Executive Council of Congress

since 2001. He was elected as SIPTU’s Vice President in 2000. O’Connor is a long-time member of the Labour Party.

Joe O’ConnorJoe is the current President of the Union of Students in Ireland, the national representative organisation for over 350,000 students in 27 colleges across the island of Ireland. Joe was elected unopposed to this post at USI Annual Congress 2013, having previously served as a sabbatical officer in GMIT Students’ Union for three years, with one term as Vice-President

and Welfare Officer and two terms as President. In this role, Joe acts as the team leader, chief negotiator and lobbyist, public and media spokesperson and campaign strategist. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the Higher Education Authority, the statutory planning and policy development agency for higher education and research in Ireland.

Dan O’NeillDan O’Neill is a 28 year old human rights activist from Dublin and was a founder of the Young Workers Network. He currently works full time in SIPTU as their Social Media Campaigner and sits on the ICTU Youth Committee. Previously Dan worked for two years in Amnesty International. Dan also represented young people as the Campaigns and

Communications Vice President of UCDSU (2008-2009) and Deputy President/Campaigns Officer of The Union of Students in Ireland (2009-2010). Dan has been a member of the Labour Party for 9 years, holds an MA in public affairs and political communication and wrote a thesis on Labour’s communication strategy.

Ben PowerBen is currently the Executive Administrator at TENI and has also served as a Board member and Company Secretary for the organisation. He has done extensive work in the field of transgender rights and equality. Earlier this year he was a Keynote speaker at the launch of Amnesty International’s landmark report “The State Decides Who I Am” on the

lack of legal recognition for trans people in Europe. He has written articles for online journals such as humanrights.ie and daonnacht.ie and has been interviewed on the subject for various print and broadcast media bodies including The Examiner, The Irish Times, The Independent, 2FM and Newstalk.

Ian PowerOriginally from Waterford, Ian studied economics and politics at University College Cork, where he also served a term as a member of the Governing Body of the university. After finishing in UCC, Ian moved to London in 2010 to work in a sixth form college in Hackney where he established a university outreach programme to get more young people from poor

backgrounds into good universities. Ian returned to Dublin to take up the position of Communications Officer with not-for-profit youth information website SpunOut.ie in October 2012 and was promoted to the position of Executive Director in September 2013.

Ruairi QuinnRuairí Quinn, T.D., was appointed Minister for Education and Skills in March 2011. He has been a public representative since 1974 and a T.D. representing the people of Dublin South-East since 1977. Minister Quinn is passionate about delivering high quality education to our growing population in a fair and equitable way. Ruairí Quinn has broad political

experience, having served as a Minister in six different Departments, including as Minister for Finance from 1993-1997. In addition to his ministerial duties, Ruairi serves as Treasurer of the Party of European Socialists.

Brian SynnottBrian Synnott is the Communications Coordinator for the Party of European Socialists (PES). He was the press officer for Martin Schulz’s campaign as the first PES ‘Common Candidate’ for European Commission President in the European Elections 2014. He has worked in Brussels for 15 years on press relations, European-wide campaigns, and other

communications related projects. He has worked in the PES since 2010 having previously worked for European trade union federations. He has a BA in Politics and History and an MA in European Integration and is an Irish national.

Peter SzlovakPeter was born in Hungary and received his Degree in Law from Szeged University. He arrived in Ireland in 2004 and started working for a Direct Provision Centre in Cork. He went on to study and completed the LLM programme. He has worked on publications for Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre in Cork before taking up his role with The Integration

Centre. He is responsible for the monitoring of integration within the organisation.

Aisling TwomeyAisling works as the Communications Officer for Pavee Point and sits on the No Hate Speech Movement in Ireland. Previously Aisling worked for Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, and for Phil Prendergast in Ireland South. Aisling has worked in freelance journalism for 8 years writing for The Irish Times and Irish Examiner among others. Her academic work on punishment and legal reform is published in the Irish Law Times.

John WhelanAfter working as a journalist for 30 years, John Whelan was elected to the Senate in 2011, after securing 9,026 votes in that year’s general election in Laois-Offaly. He is the Labour Party Seanad spoksesperson on Energy, Communications and Natural Resources. He is also a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. He is author of the political

satire, “The Buddha of Ballyhuppahaun” which addresses the issues of consumerism and sustainability.

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