The Local Government and Local Services Division conference took place in Letterkenny last week, running from Wednesday 14th May to Friday 16th May.

Energy ran high as delegates converged to shape policy and strategy for the coming years. There was a clear buzz around core issues including job evaluation, fair pay, housing, staffing levels, and resisting outsourcing.

The atmosphere was charged with purpose as debates unfolded and motions passed. Folk music opened the conference and set a grounded, reflective tone.

Members shared frustrations, hopes, and a deep determination to drive change. Many remarked how attending conference replaced isolation with solidarity, giving them a renewed sense of empowerment and momentum.

Speakers condemned the harmful impact of privatisation and the rise of far-right rhetoric, calling instead for investment in public services and a strong, secure public sector. They championed local government as the bedrock of daily life and a space where progressive values can thrive.

A key takeaway from the closing message from General Secretary Kevin Callinan was the power of collective action and the simple idea that when working people organise together in solidarity, they become a beacon of hope and a powerful force for lasting change.

Read on for an overview of conference activities 

Conference opened on Wednesday with surprise performances from local artists Without Willow, and poet Valerie Bryce. At the end of his opening address Cathaoirleach Mick Whyms paid tribute to DEC members Liam O’Brion, Kevin O’Malley, Pat Considine, and Vincent Savage, as they head into retirement. He praised their commitment as being “second to none.” 

Kevin O’Malley then took to the stage to pay tribute to Al Butler, former national secretary of the division, and Tom Browne, former Cathaoirleach, who he described as “giants of the trade union movement and particularly this union.” 

“The power of the workers, the power of the collective made this possible.”

National secretary Richy Carrothers had a significant announcement for delegates with a last-minute addition to the agenda. Just before delegates were scheduled to vote on motions concerning job evaluation, Richy took to the stage to announce a major advancement in the over 15 year-long fight for a job evaluation scheme for the local authorities sector. 

He presented a WRC document outlining agreement to establish a job evaluation scheme for the local authority sector. He said: “This as close as we have ever been to a fair, transparent, and impartial job evaluation scheme.” Read more about that here.

Following debates on motions, Fórsa president, Martin Walsh addressed the conference. He praised delegates for their work in fighting for better workers’ pay and conditions saying: “You’ve made wins that will change lives.”

A selection of photos taken over the course of conference is available on our website, linked here. 

On Thursday morning head of division, Richy Carrothers delivered an address to delegates largely focussing on the conference theme of ‘Keep it public, Keep it local.’ Richy highlighted the need for a stronger local government sector and lambasted the lack of importance placed upon the sector.

He said, “Ireland now has the worst level of local representation and the weakest local government in Europe. That is a shameful table to be at the top of.”
Motions followed Richy’s speech, with delegates speaking on the 4-day working week, and motions addressing the housing crisis passing with enthusiastic support.

Also on Thursday general secretary, Kevin Callinan, rallied delegates with an address that put unions and union activists at the heart of the fight to overcome the “dark times” we live in. He said, “we stand in the vanguard, against division, against hate, against war. For community, for justice, for peace.”

Kevin extolled the need for reform and modernisation within the union movement citing work already done within Fórsa to invigorate the organising power of our activist base. He called on delegates to use Local Bargaining to have conversations with coworkers and bring them into the Fórsa community.

A number of panel discussions took place at conference on topics ranging from organising for power, to the state of local government around the world.
The panel on Libraries and the Far-Right, featured Fórsa members Edel Scally (librarian), Michael Devine (assistant librarian), and Faye Carrie (UCD), with Fórsa policy & research officer, Aisling Cusack, facilitating. 

Panellists described a lack of institutional support as an abiding problem for librarians when facing far-right agitation. Edel described a situation where health and safety officers were making security plans with no central guidance.

Faye described how, when interviewing librarians for the Resisting Hate and Navigating Agitation report, she found, “people needed to feel listened to, because they weren’t listened to by management”.

While there was a lack of support from people in positions of authority, Michael and Edel told of the great support they received from the community. Michael joked “our biggest danger was if we develop diabetes or hay fever, we received so many flowers and boxes of chocolates.”

He went on to underscore the importance of the swift response from unions: “Fórsa came in and said we’re here for you. The union support made us feel like we could do something about it.”

Guest speakers also addressed conference. Dr. Lorcan Sirr gave an address on housing, where he underlined the necessity for the state to directly produce housing for those most in need; whilst conference also welcomed Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, Lilian Seenoi-Barr. Lilian discussed the importance of building bridges, and the impact of representation. She called on Fórsa to be a union that builds stronger communities, and a better country.

A new DEC was elected to represent members of the division. Chair Michael Whyms and Vice Chair Bernard McNeely were elected unopposed. The members of the :Local Government and Local Services DEC are:

Fiona Baskett (Longford H&LG branch), Mairéad Costello (Kerry H&LG branch), Cliadhna Dinneen (Cork H&LG branch), Florie Hickey (Roscommon H&LG branch), Ray Kennedy (Offaly H&LG branch), Audrey Lambert (Dublin City Council LG branch), Noel McCarthy (South Dublin branch), Brian Madden (Galway H&LG branch), Ann Marie Maher (Laois LG branch), Margaret O’Dwyer (Kildare LG branch), Gerry O’Quigley (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown LG branch), Margaret Tuohy (Clare H&LG branch), and Padraig McGivney (Cavan H&LG branch). Padraig McGivney will take the post of 3rd divisional representative on the NEC.