Labour Youth Elect New Chairperson
Labour Youth has elected Adrian McCarthy as the organisation’s National Chairperson last weekend.
Adrian’s election took place following on from the loss of former Chair Cormac Ó Braonáin in December. Commenting on his election and the context in which it has occurred, Adrian said:
“I am privileged to have been elected Chairperson of Labour Youth. As an organisation, we have faced the most extraordinary and difficult circumstances this year having recently lost our wonderful comrade Cormac in December followed by an intense general election campaign.
“My election as Chair of Labour Youth has taken place amidst the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, which presents our society with the greatest threat we have seen in well over a generation. The risk to life and public health is substantial and concurrent with this we have also seen a rapid increase in unemployment from 5% to 8% after 140,000 workers across including bar staff, restaurant workers and childcare workers have lost their jobs within the space of a week.
“Our public services, our healthcare workers on the frontline and each of us as individuals will face challenges we have never experienced within living memory. Throughout this unprecedented crisis it is vital that the rights of workers, vulnerable people and those who are most at risk from the pandemic are protected. It is said that a society can be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members – in this time of crisis many people from all facets of society will be vulnerable and it is the role of the Labour Party to protect and advocate for these people.
“Labour Youth and its members will step up to the fore and contribute by whatever means we can in aiding the efforts to combat this pandemic. We will get through this crisis as a collective and in its aftermath the case for policies and decisions which place the needs of the many at the heart of every decision will be stronger than ever. Labour Youth will advocate tirelessly for this.
“I will endeavour to lead Labour Youth through this period of great uncertainty and I have no doubt that I will take inspiration from the passion and vision of my great friend and comrade Cormac Ó Braonáin over the course of the year ahead.”