FORMER USI PRESIDENT ELECTED CHAIR OF LABOUR YOUTH
Former Union of Students in Ireland President Kevin Donoghue has been elected Chairperson of Labour Youth at the organisations annual conference this weekend in County Louth.
Kevin Donoghue aged 26 was President of the USI from 2015-16. As President of the USI he played a leading role in forming the Coalition for Publicly Funded Education. Originally from Doocastle in County Mayo, Kevin Donoghue is a member of the Labour Party in the Dublin Bay South constituency. He is the first former USI President to be elected Chairperson of Labour Youth.
Speaking after being elected at the Labour Youth conference Kevin Donoghue commented: “It is a huge honour to be elected Chairperson of Labour Youth. I am looking forward to campaigning on the key issues of concern for young people in Ireland. In particular I want Labour Youth to be at the centre of the campaigns for a living wage, publicly funded third level education, improving mental health services and repealing the 8th amendment.
“The Labour Party suffered a big electoral defeat in the General Election. The Party has a lot of work to do to rebuild the trust and support of the public, particularly among young people and in working class communities. However, I am confident the Party can rebuild. Ireland needs a strong Labour Party to confront the big social issues facing our society, homelessness, low pay, insecure jobs and the lack of affordable housing. The government is only worsening these issues.
“This weekend Labour Youth had a fantastic conference. It is encouraging that so many new members have joined the organisation since the general election. This year Labour Youth recruited 930 new members in our college recruitment campaign.
“I firmly believe that Labour Youth is the natural home for young people in Ireland who want a more progressive future for our country. I am looking forward to recruiting more new member s and fighting for our policies to be delivered. The rise of the far-right globally presents a real danger to hard won progressive gains. However, this must strengthen us in our resolve to build the future we want and counteract the politics of fear and hate.”