Fórsa is to step up its campaign for expanded State service provision and a “best-of-class” social wage including free health care at the point of delivery, access to free or affordable childcare and early years’ education, social housing worthy of the name, enhanced local services and accessible high-quality education.

Delegates to the union’s national conference last week endorsed the union’s report on the post-pandemic Irish state, which was published in February. 

The report also called for the development of a long-term economic and industrial strategy that reduces Ireland’s dependence on foreign direct investment by developing parallel indigenous enterprise.

Moving the motion, Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan said the State’s response to the pandemic had demonstrated what can be achieved when prioritising financial, organisational and human resources for the common good.

“Workers, communities, and public services stepped up to extraordinary challenges in 2020 and 2021. We worked together collectively to provide equal and easy access to essential goods and services. And we continue to step up.

“Now the State must step up further for its citizens to build upon the positive actions taken because of the pandemic. To move forwards, not backwards, when it comes to the expansion of the role of the State in public service delivery, innovation, economic management, and climate action,” she said.

She echoed the post-pandemic report’s findings by calling for a progressive State, which provided decent public services worthy of a wealthy European nation.

“This should be funded by an expansion of employer PRSI contributions, increased tax on wealth, and a phasing out of subsidies for environmentally damaging fossil fuels, accompanied by a trebling of R&D spending on renewables,” she said.