A New Social Contract, A New Social Dialogue Building a Better Future

Social Justice Ireland’s Annual Social Policy Conference

You are invited to join Social Justice Ireland for their Annual policy conference which will take place online on Wednesday, 18th November 2020. Hear from national and international speakers on the need for a new social contract and engage with a panel discussion by representatives of the five pillars of Social Partnership on the importance of sustaining social dialogue.

Moments of great upheaval often see people raising major questions concerning what was simply taken as ‘given’ previously. The Covid-19 pandemic has provided such a moment.

The initial response to these new challenges showed a solidarity that is not always obvious in the usual day-to-day experience of most people.  But it also shows up the inequalities on which our society is built.

The economic lockdown imposed the greatest cost on those already worst off. Thousands of jobs have been lost in hospitality, leisure, and related sectors which are characterised by a high incidence of low pay.  Many of those who are still working and risking their lives such as carers and healthcare support workers, as well as shelf-stackers and cleaners, are also among the lowest paid in our society.

Once Covid-19 has been defeated, all countries will face a major challenge: to decide if the experience of recent months and our response to it should shape the future of our society.  We must learn from this experience and tackle the inequality and exclusion that we’ve failed to address heretofore.

Our 2020 Social Policy Conference seeks to explore ways of doing just that. What would a vibrant economy, that protects and underpins society, look like? How can we secure decent services and infrastructure? What constitutes just taxation? How do we ensure that good governance underpins policy? And how can we deliver sustainability across all sectors?

Please join us for what promises to be a highly engaging and stimulating conference.

Agenda

Session 1 – Register Online for Session 1 Now
10:00            Opening Remarks:                 Seán Healy
10:15            International Perspectives:    Ann Pettifor, Economist
Philippe Pochet, ETUI

Session 2 – Register Online for Session 2 Now
11:30            Irish Perspectives:                                                                          Joe Larragy, Maynooth University
Colette Bennett, Social Justice Ireland

Session 3 – Register Online for Session 3 Now
14:00          Social Dialogue Panel             Danny McCoy, IBEC
Presentations                          Patricia King, ICTU
Karen Ciesielski, IEN
Damian McDonald, IFA
Seán Healy, Social Justice Ireland
15:40          BREAK

16:00          Social Dialogue Panel            Contributors as above
Discussion Q&A

16:30          Wrap Up                                 Seán Healy
16:45          Conference Close