2008 National Conference Address
Posted by Alan Kelly on December 01, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Speaking at the 2008 National Conference in Kilkenny on the party's finance debate
Comrades, the world has changed since we were together last November.
And what has happened? After decades of living with the smug arrogance of free marketers there is a new dawning for the left. As we witness the collapse of greed, its philosophers and their disciples there is a huge reawakening to the simple truth that people are first, that the human person is central and that the market and economics exist to serve society.
At the moment we are between two worlds. Behind us the world order created by Reaganomics and Thatcherism and championed locally by the late PDs is drowning in its own excess. Ahead of us is the emerging face of a new global reality, a reality that will be shaped by new people, new ideas and a new generosity.
At this crucial time what we need is real leadership: leadership with vision that can see the possibilities and lead the way to them; leadership with courage that can turn its back on the sacred cows that have crippled us; leadership that has the capacity to recognise new opportunities and take them.
As I look across at the United States I can't help but envy them their new President, their new hope and the possibilities they have created because they have had the courage to change things.
However, isn't it pathetic to look closer to home and see what we are saddled with: a rag bag government living off the last bites of builder's pavlova served up in the tent at the Galway races.
It is such a crying shame that at this time of crisis and opportunity we suffer under a government that hasn't the vision, the courage or the capacity to lead us to the new possibilities opened up by the collapse of the old world.
The world financial crisis is undoubtedly having a massive impact on our small open economy. However, this crisis has an ally in our government whose failed policies have led us head long straight into recession.
We had an unsustainable building boom in this country driven by government tax breaks and land speculation aided and abetted by financial institutions that were reckless.
This over reliance on the construction industry for growth and taxation created a bubble that has now burst and as a result we have over 2,000 a week going into unemployment
We have a generation of young people left with gigantic mortgages that they are unable to service and another generation worried sick about their depleting savings and pensions
And who was steering this ship through these murky waters; who was responsible for our finances that have seen one of the largest turnarounds in western Europe? An Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
The buck stops with him and his two apprentices Minister Lenihan and Tanaiste Coughlan or as I like to call them - the TOXIC TRIO.
Colleagues, this is a government bereft of leadership
This is a government bereft of ideas
This is a government bereft of confidence
Fianna Fail simply does not have the ability to run our economy. They haven't produced a single good idea to try and turn our economy around.
They have completely failed to develop an export led economy.
Failed to make us competitive.
Failed to develop high value business that can accommodate our graduates.
Failed to develop a knowledge based economy.
Failed to deliver on one of the most important infrastructural issue that is strangling the growth of this economy - Broadband.
They have failed to address the REAL ECONOMY. But more than that, in their attempts at undoing their eleven years of mismanagement, they are demeaning us all and they are redefining our sense of ourselves as a people.
As a people we have always prided ourselves on being civilised and decent. But this notion of ourselves as civilised and decent is under assault every day from Brian Lenihan's 'warped' interpretation of patriotism.
There is nothing civilised, decent or patriotic about pulling financial security from under older people, there is nothing civilised decent or patriotic about withdrawing a potentially life-saving vaccine from young girls, there is nothing civilised decent or patriotic about forcing children into overcrowded classes in Nenagh, Limerick, Killarney or across the nation.
I affirm today that it is our patriotic duty to get rid of this Government!
I was proud to be part of the Labour party Team that launched our 'Proposals for Economic Recovery'. We have shown that we can provide a real economic alternative.
Comrades this is our time, this is the time when people, when the human person, when society is moving back centre stage. The Thatcher dictum that society is dead is confined to the graveyard of fallacy.
All over the world, where are businesses, bankers and citizens turning to for comfort? They are turning to the taxpayer, they are turning to the public purse, they are turning to that place called the common good.
The Labour Party is best placed to maximise the possibilities of the situation we find ourselves, we have the broad and practical policies to bring about the change that is needed.
We will promote balanced growth both sectorally and regionally through targeted investment in the industries that are both sustainable and will enhance our future.
The Labour party is the party that will invest in education and our country's future.
We will make it an absolute priority that the conditions are provided to ensure Ireland can develop high tech industries
We will close these disgraceful tax loopholes and breaks that allow Irish tax exile Oligarchs to avoid paying their fair share of tax.
We will ensure regulation of hedge funds, private equity funds and complex financial products that have led us into excessive borrowing.
And we will not allow banks to dictate the future architecture of banking in this country.
We were right to oppose the bail out bill for financial institutions, which simply was too vague and without conditions.
We are the party that wants to take equity in the banks and reform the lavish remuneration and bonus schemes in banks for senior executives, who are now relying on the Irish people to keep them in the lifestyle that they have enjoyed to date.
Colleagues, we in the Labour party can be proud of our track record. We have an economic plan.
Colleagues, its time to perform OUR patriotic duty by getting rid of the toxic trio and this Government.
ENDS
* For my other conference speeches, watch them live by visiting http://www.labour.ie/conference2008/
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