HEAD 2 HEAD: Joan Burtonsays there will be a resurgence in support for the party if it focuses on national campaigns Jan O'Sullivansays Labour needs to start a dialogue about how its policies could bring about positive change in Irish society.
Like Mark Twain, Labour Party members insist that rumours of our demise are greatly exaggerated. I recall a sense of depression after the 1989 election that Labour had failed to elect a single woman TD. Three years latter we had a greater number of women TDs than any other party, and that record has remained intact to this day. A party can change when survival demands change and circumstances permit it.
Granted, Labour has obvious difficulties. It also has the capacity to confront its problems and to turn the situation round. In my time as a member, Labour has punched above its weight in securing social, political and welfare reforms that have made Ireland a more open and vibrant society. Often, it had to confront vested interests to achieve its ends. It did so without flinching. It will do so again on the current agenda of environment, health, education and justice. In today's Ireland, we have to bridge the gap between the traditional Labour fortresses and the progressive instincts of a broader hinterland, to fuse the values of community with the demands of economic competence.
Social democratic parties are in quite robust health in many advanced societies, in power in some and challenging for power in others. They see no conflict between their egalitarian agenda and the demands of a modern, competitive economy. In fact, one complements the other in that the most successful knowledge-based economies are driven by a distinct democratic streak, involving the participation of all in lifelong education and other policies that promote social cohesion.
It is not the policies that Labour advocates that are unable to attract a wide appeal among Irish voters. Thousands march to make poverty history or to end the war in Iraq. Thousands of others feel deeply about injustice at home and the inability of a wealthy society to combat poverty. Logically, these people should vote Labour as the political expression of their view at the ballot box; only some do. So Eamon Gilmore and his deputy have to find out why the rest don't and act accordingly.
It's not all to do with organisation. Sinn Féin in Dublin Central was organised with military efficiency and substantial resources. Its high-profile candidate got nowhere on May 24th. I want Labour to be strong on organisation, but strong on policy renewal as well. They are the two sides of the same coin.
Organisation in itself is not the silver bullet to deliver political advance. Organisation comes best from campaigning. Dáil motions and parliamentary questions are essential tools in any parliamentary system, but they are not the sole tools. The modern communications armoury offers much more to the campaigning party. I noticed that Hillary Clinton used the internet rather than the Senate floor to make her "I'm in and I'm in to win" declaration for the White House. I used those technologies to very good effect in Dublin West in the last election. In my view, Labour needs to raise its game in the area of modern communications.
Campaigning has to be the oxygen of a Labour renewal. Take the shortfall in primary school places in new communities or the lack of breast cancer screening in the south and west. People see intense argument at leader's questions when the Taoiseach is put on the spot. Local branches and councillors do their best on the ground to highlight the position, but the two efforts don't connect. Thus, there may be local campaigns but no sense of a truly national Labour effort. Organisation comes in as the unifying thread of campaigns in the Dáil and on the ground.
One keynote policy we promoted at the election was a national system of early childhood education. It was a good policy and fitted in well with a pressing social need and with sound, long-term economic planning. I was astonished at how little political traction it had for our candidates. On reflection afterwards, I had to accept that we had failed to prepare the ground by a thorough campaign all over Ireland to win support for the idea. This is where we have to recast the party's efforts.
I have a distinctive record of robust debate and involvement with internal and external Labour Party issues. I was one of the first politicians to draw attention to planning corruption and its dismal environmental legacy. As finance spokeswoman, I highlighted many injustices in taxation. I hope Labour members will judge that record as indicating what they want from the leadership team.
I see the current process of choosing the deputy leader as revolving around one simple question: who is best placed to make Labour ready to change and then ready to lead?
Joan Burton is a TD for Dublin West and Labour's spokeswoman on finance.
I put my name forward for deputy leader of the Labour Party because I believe that I am the best person for the job. When he first announced his intention to seek the leadership, Eamon Gilmore sought a mandate to lead the renewal of Labour in Ireland. Eamon has now got that mandate and he will achieve it with the support of the entire party. I believe that the role of deputy leader has the potential to play a key part in developing this unity of purpose.
I want to use my energy, enthusiasm and ability to make the deputy leader's position a catalyst to re-invigorate the Labour Party as an organisation and as a political force in modern Ireland. These two goals must go hand in hand. I see the deputy leader as a conduit of communication who makes sure members' views are heard, but who equally ensures that the party's message is getting through and making sense to people. It has become obvious to me from talking and listening to members that there is a strong desire to develop a greater sense of purpose in the organisation.
As a campaigning party, it is essential that we recruit new members and apply our core values of freedom, equality and democracy in a way that is relevant and meaningful in a modern Ireland. To succeed in this, we have to strengthen the organisation across the whole country, in urban and rural communities. I feel that this is absolutely critical to our future success and should be a priority. We are a national party, but there are parts of the country where a great deal of work is required to build up the membership and support. I believe that I am ideally placed in my Limerick East constituency to assist the leader in that work.
We need to be clear about who we represent and what we want to achieve. We are a party of principles, ideas and programmes of action. However, unless these are well understood, to the point where members and supporters can talk about them with conviction and in simple terms to their neighbours, in their workplaces, in the media and on the doorstep, we will not realise the full potential of a strengthened organisation.
So we must open a dialogue among ourselves and in the country about how Labour policies would, if implemented, bring the positive changes. The most effective way to do this is through active campaigning. The great opportunity for Labour is that so many current issues are directly linked to Labour values and policies. When we campaign with communities that feel excluded from the benefits of prosperity, it is from the viewpoint of a party that stands for opportunity for all.
When we campaign for the extension of Breast Check countrywide, it is from the viewpoint of a party that stands firmly for equality in the health services. When we campaign for school places and smaller classes, it is from the viewpoint of a party that stands for the State taking responsibility for an inclusive education system that gives every child the chance to reach his or her full potential. When we campaign for the retention of airline connections to the west of Ireland, it is from the viewpoint of a party that took a stand against the privatisation of our national airline because of its strategic importance for regional development.
We have a sustainable vision of Ireland. We need to develop our capacity to sell it to the Irish people.
I believe I have the work ethic and skills to play a central role in making the party more active and attracting new members. In the immediate future, we must concentrate on planning for successful European and local elections and winning seats from which we can build a sustainable electoral platform in the future.
Labour is the oldest party in the State, with strands from many backgrounds.
I became a political activist through the inspiration of Jim Kemmy and his conviction that politics could change people's lives for the better. Ireland today is vastly different to what it was then. Economic growth has changed the face of our country. We now have a much more prosperous, open and tolerant society. However, we cannot be content with economic success alone. The opportunities of a modern Ireland must extend to all our people.
I have great ambitions for my party. The fact that more than one-third of the people entitled to vote in the election for deputy leader have joined the party since Pat Rabbitte became leader and that our support is growing among young voters is a cause for optimism. But there is a great deal of hard work ahead. I believe I am the person who, with the leader, will ensure we deliver on that work and that is why I want to be deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Jan O'Sullivan is a TD for Limerick East and Labour's spokeswoman on education and science.
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Last week, Dermott Jewell and Brendan Burgess debated the question: "Should credit card surcharges be banned?" Here is an edited selection of some of your comments:
I think Dermott Jewell hits this one on the head. While credit-card merchant service-providers do make a charge, carrying cash has a security risk and handling charge, although those might not be immediately evident. Furthermore, having different charges for different methods of payment makes the consumer experience less transparent.
Aldi and Lidl made the choice to not accept credit cards due to the charges and this option remains open to anyone else who cannot accept the small percentage cost or add say, 1 per cent, to their charge for everyone to balance it out.
Finally, although Dermott did not bring it up, Brendan Burgess's point about direct debit payments deserves mention. I refuse to pay utilities by direct debit. Why? Look at the form you fill in to pay by direct debit. It invariably says: "Please pay direct debits from my account to . The amounts are variable and may be debited on various dates."
You are effectively giving the company carte blanche to take whatever they say out of your bank account. I have had billing disputes with utilities and other companies in the past and I am 100 per cent certain that since the company did not have the money in hand, and wasn't getting it until they resolved my concern, they were far quicker to act than a company that had already dipped into my account for the payment would be. - Thomas Ralph, Ireland
Brendan Burgess is described as the founder of askaboutmoney.com. However, he is also the chairman of the Consumer Consultative Panel to the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, appointed by the Minster for Finance. I find it seriously disturbing that Mr Burgess would purport to represent consumer interests.
His obvious delight in price haggling is not shared by all and is defunct for online, card-only operators like Ticketmaster and Ryanair.
The extent to which Mr Burgess is clearly out of touch with consumers is illustrated by the results of the vote. It is time for Mr Burgess to reconsider his role as a consumer advocate when his views are so closely aligned with industry groups that want to retain surcharges. We should be thankful for the good work of Mr Jewell and the representation of the Consumers' Association. - Paul, Ireland
Yes, of course. The price I pay for goods or services should not be so dependent on the method of payment. - Conor, Ireland
Can we take it then that Mr Burgess asks for a discount when spending over €100, except when purchasing from impoverished artists? In such circumstances, he foregoes the discount and pays the full cash amount. A sort of tip perhaps! Secondly, is he saying that James Adam Auctioneers transfer the full sale price of €1,000 to the client? - P.Kelly, Ireland
No. The main problem with credit card charges is not that they exist, but that they are non-transparent. Businesses should be entitled to levy any charge they want, so long as it is fully visible upfront to the consumer.
The solution is to oblige businesses to make the fully inclusive price at least as prominent as any other price in their advertising and documentation. This principle should apply in other areas too.
Banks should be obliged to give undiscounted loan rates as much prominence in their advertising as the discounted rates used to sucker people in. Mobile phone companies flogging wireless internet access should be obliged to give the long-term contract rate per month at least as much prominence as the three-month introductory rate. Dermott Jewell has missed the nail. Businesses have different cost structures. For some, it doesn't make much difference whether customers pay by cash or credit card. For others, particularly those with thin margins and high percentage credit card company charges, it makes a big difference. - Amergin, Ireland
Of course they should be banned. Credit card charges are a cost of doing business and should be incorporated into the price of the goods or service. I don't know who started this fashion of taking the cost of sales out of the sales price and charging them separately (but I have my suspicions). This practice, taken to its conclusion, could result in a restaurant charging a price for the food, with separate surcharges for cooking and for serving the food.
So how about it, airlines, concert promoters - build your costs into your prices. Let's have a bit of glasnost from the capitalist side. - Shan Gaur Salakh, Ireland
Why should the consumer pay credit card charges? Most airlines, hotels, holiday resorts and large retailers actually prefer the customer to pay by credit card when they make a substantial purchase. It saves them having to count cash, get it to a bank, to re-count it, etc. Besides, it provides security to the provider. Should a provider/supplier request me to pay by credit card, why should I have to pay extra charges for that? Ridiculous! - K. Hilton, South Africa