Sherlock calls for State-led action for workers
Sherlock calls for State-led action for workers - The Labour Party
- Larkin’s legacy demands action today
Labour TD for Dublin Central Marie Sherlock today speaking at the annual James Larkin Commemoration in Dublin warned that Ireland stands at a historic crossroads, as global economic upheaval, unregulated artificial intelligence and the rise of the far right threaten workers, democracy and national sovereignty, and she called on Government to respond with decisive State-led action on jobs, housing, climate and care in the spirit of Larkin’s legacy.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“We are here to honour James Larkin, a giant of the labour movement whose courage and leadership inspired Dublin’s workers to fight for dignity, fairness and solidarity, and to recognise the enormous contribution of Delia Larkin, without whom that struggle would not have endured. Larkin understood that progress is never gifted, it is organised, and today that lesson matters more than ever. The world has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. Across the West, we see a dangerous convergence of economic power, unaccountable technology and a drift towards militarism that sidelines workers’ rights, climate action and international solidarity. These choices have consequences for Ireland.
“For decades, Ireland balanced its relationship between Boston and Brussels, benefiting from trade, investment and access to the single market. That model now looks increasingly fragile. Our exposure to the US economy has deepened, leaving us vulnerable to shocks beyond our control. This culture of deference has already weakened our voice on the world stage, from hesitation on standing up to authoritarianism to the failure to advance long-promised legislation on occupied territories. Integration must never become subordination, because that path threatens our sovereignty.
“The greatest emerging threat comes from artificial intelligence controlled by a tiny number of global corporations. AI can deliver enormous benefits, but without democratic control it risks creating a new techno-feudal order. We have already seen how disinformation spreads through social media algorithms and how opaque systems now sit between workers and employers in recruitment, management and pay. This shift erodes power at work and undermines trust in democracy. When 80 percent of Europe’s digital services are imported, the risk is clear. Our society cannot function if essential systems can be switched off at a whim.
“At home, the consequences of political choices are plain. Despite strong public finances, Government has failed to convert resources into security for ordinary people. In housing, the State spends billions buying homes at a premium from developers while directly building only a fraction of what is needed, driving rents up and locking families out of ownership. In climate action, rising emissions from homes show that grants alone do not work during a cost of living crisis. We need State-led, street by street retrofitting that delivers clean, affordable energy for everyone. In care, hospitals lose thousands of bed days because community infrastructure lags far behind need, wasting money and leaving patients stranded.
“This failure to plan fuels inequality and creates fertile ground for the far right, which thrives on division and fear. Larkin rejected the lie that workers should turn on one another. He knew unity, not scapegoating, delivers change. Across Europe and beyond, authoritarian movements seek to roll back democratic gains and pit people against migrants, minorities and each other. We must confront this head on with policies that deliver good jobs, strong public services and dignity at work.
“Ireland has choices. We can use public procurement to guarantee decent wages and collective bargaining. We can reshape work through flexible rights that cut commuting costs and open opportunities for those locked out of the labour market. We can reform migration policy to create additional fair, legal pathways to work while ending the waste and cruelty of a broken international protection system. Migration, outward and inward, is a key part of our country’s history and our future trajectory.
“Larkin’s legacy demands courage, not complacency. We must stand up to authoritarianism, invest in our people and prove that solidarity works. Government must act now to defend democracy, reclaim economic sovereignty and deliver an Ireland where work pays, homes are affordable, care is accessible and the future belongs to everyone.”
Link to the full speech here.