Labour TD for Limerick City Conor Sheehan introduces the Party Leader to the 74th National Conference
Labour TD for Limerick City Conor Sheehan introduces the Party Leader to the 74th National Conference - The Labour Party
Delegates, comrades, friends and of course family. It is my honour to welcome you to Limerick City for our first conference here in 29 long years to introduce our party leader Ivana Bacik TD.
What a year it’s been, with 55 Councillors, 11 TDs including 7 first time TD’s, two new Senators and we have even repurposed Aodhán as an MEP, such is our commitment to the circular economy.
We are a growing party, a reenergised and invigorated party with a genuine new energy and we’re moving forward together.
Limerick is fantastic city, it is my city, I wouldn’t live anywhere else. It is the home of rugby, the frequent home of hurling (we’ll get it back next year Alan), home to Dolores O’Riordan and the Cranberries, Frank McCourt and Richard Harris.
Limerick has heart, soul and grit but it also has many problems. An overburdened health service, a drugs crisis that has ravaged working class communities and a housing crisis that sees over 50 people rough sleeping every single night and leaves thousands of young adults stuck at home with their parents, if they haven’t emigrated.
Limerick needs more than the apathy this clapped out gutless governing cobbled together by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Lowry and Western alliance. That is why our job here is so important because Limerick needs Labour back in Government.
I am proud to stand here and follow in a long line of Labour TD’s from Michael Keyes, Stephen Coughlan, Mick Lipper, the legendary Jim Kemmy and of course the one and only Jan O’Sullivan.
They say you should never meet your heroes, and I am so honoured to work and have worked with two of mine.
To Jan I say thank you for everything you have done for this country, this city and for our proud party. The 14th woman in the history of the state to be appointed to cabinet, the first Protestant Mayor of Limerick and the first woman to be elected to represent our city in the Dáil, five times no less, your achievements are unsurpassed.
I thank you for all you have taught me, for your advice, your friendship and above all your patience.
As for Ivana, what can I say as work alongside her in Dáil Éireann is awe inspiring.
To be honest, I get tired looking at her. She hardly stops, barely sleeps but the energy and determination of this woman are something else.
Ivana is a person of deep conviction, intelligence, thoughtfulness, drive and determination but you are also a warm person with a wicked sense of humour.
Both Ivana and Jan taught me that in political life you do not have to seek to divide for divisions sake, that you do not have to roar and bray to change things and that you can be compassionate and strong, nice but determined, and kind but ideological.
Because we are ideological.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have no ideology besides telling people not to rock the boat but where has that gotten us.
A decade of economic growth squandered. Public services on their knees, infrastructure delivery at a standstill and 16000 people homeless.
When I look at this country, I see a wonderful place, an amazing people, but a Government that will not and cannot realise our potential.
We need hope that only a Government of the left can deliver.
We saw in the Presidential election, the power and courage of hope and the vision for a better Ireland with the election of Catherine Connolly.
Catherine’s campaign showed that the left can come together and with the Labour Party at its heart, the left must unite.
We need better.
Better schools, a cleaner environment, safer communities for ALL and secure and affordable housing.
We have the resources; we have the people but we need a Government that will rise to the occasion.
We need Labour in Government. We need Ivana Bacik in Government.
That is why this moment matters, this is the time, now is the moment and we MUST rise to the occasion.
Conference, please get on your feet for the Leader of the Labour Party, my friend Ivana Bacik.