Defiant delegates want jobseeker benefit restored

Labour delegates have defied the party leadership and insisted young unemployed people should have their full jobseeker benefits restored after controversial cuts were imposed by the coalition.

The public face-off occurred last night after a Labour Youth motion to re-instate the full Jobseeker’s Allowance to 18-25-year-olds was passed by conference, despite a last gasp attempt by the minister responsible to delay any decision.

In the first public row of the annual three-day conference, delegates broadly backed plans to remove the “discriminatory” decision to slash the €188 weekly allowance to €100 for younger people.

Responding to the calls for change, junior social protection minister Kevin Humphreys said he agreed but sought to replace the motion with a plan for him to meet with Labour Youth before compiling a report in July.

The switch was due to be allowed by chairperson Loraine Mulligan until Labour Youth interjected to insist the initial motion must be voted on. At this point, delegates roundly rejected Mr Humphreys delay plan, and backed the pay increase.

The move was one of a number of key social protection policy switches outlined last night, and which are likely to be key to Labour holding voters in the imminent general election.

They included calls backed by Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin for two weeks paternity leave for fathers; for the full Christmas bonus to be restored to pensioners in the next budget; and for “quality” paid internships to replace JobBridge where possible.

However, while they are now Labour policy, it remains to be seen whether they will be acted on by the Fine Gael-Labour cabinet.

Elsewhere, Energy Minister Alex White told the Labour conference everything has to be considered when it comes to energy resources – including nuclear power.

Mr White said a serious debate was needed before any options are rejected outright, but did not specifically say he supports the use of nuclear power in this country.

The policy changes came after Environment Minister Alan Kelly earlier claimed the coalition is “probably one of the best in the history of the State” because of the “simple fact” it has achieved what the country could “only have dreamed of” four years ago.