Speaking at the Labour Party conference in his native Wexford today, the party’s leader Brendan Howlin advocated for a united Ireland and pulled no punches when it came to Donald Trump.
Howlin lambasted a “do-nothing government” and spoke at length about the issues that young people in Ireland are facing in 2017.
“For many generations, there has been a social contract. That contract meant that every family could believe in one simple idea. Work hard, and your children will have a better life than you. Work hard and the future will be better. That was a fair deal. But for the first time in generations, people no longer believe it to be true.
They feel afraid for their children. They worry they will have to emigrate; And that they won’t be able to afford a home. Young people in their 20s wonder – will they have job security; or a decent quality of life; or a health system that works; or a roof over their heads.”
Howlin, who has led the Labour Party since the 2016 General Election, also took aim at Donald Trump: “I haven’t been shy about saying what I think of him. He’s a racist, a sexist, and a homophobe. He doesn’t have the temperament or patience to run the world’s greatest power He’s a danger to us all.”
“He is already waging war on the environment. When he promises to ramp up the burning of coal, he gives false hope to those who have worked in mines; and gives real hope to a powerful, dirty industry.”
The Wexford man also described Brexit as the key challenge facing Ireland at the moment, and said that he would like to see a united Ireland: “I’d love to see a united Ireland that is an agreed Ireland. One that unites hearts and minds, as much as territory. One that accommodates and celebrates diversity rather than representing the triumph of either side.”
Howlin also called for the eighth amendment to be repealed:
Labour leader Brendan Howlin calls for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment, not a replacement, at party conference in Wexford pic.twitter.com/qrwbZ8ELAS
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 22, 2017
The Irish Times has published the speech in full.
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