Former ICTU general secretary David Begg has announced his candidacy, as an independent candidate, in the Seanad election. David will contest the election as part of the NUI panel. Ballot papers for the election are due to be issued today (Monday 21st March).
David has been an active trade unionist throughout his working life. He began his career as an electrician, working in the ESB and became active in the then ETU. He went on to become a trade union representative with the ESBOA.
Later, David became general secretary of the CWU and oversaw the merger between the postal and telecommunications worker's unions. He later served as chief executive of Concern and was an effective advocate for people enduring extreme poverty in the developing world.
In 2001, he became general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). In that capacity, he fought to get the right to collective bargaining enshrined in law, engaging in detailed discussions with the government which eventually led to the 2015 Industrial Relations Act.
David was one of the very few who warned against the potential for the collapse of the credit-fuelled property bubble as far back as 2002. His warnings were dismissed. As the country was plunged into a crisis characterised by growing unemployment and attacks on workers' conditions, David led the Irish trade union movement through one of the most challenging periods in its history.
Leadership
IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody said that David’s candidacy provided an opportunity for strong leadership in the Seanad. “David has been a leader of exceptional skill and insight and I firmly believe his voice would be a very welcome addition to the Seanad. He has always been a valued friend to IMPACT, assisting us in a number of very challenging situations throughout his time as ICTU general secretary.
“He has a track record of intelligent leadership and has been a tireless advocate for workers’ rights. In that respect, I think he would provide the kind of leadership in the Seanad the country needs in rebuilding post-crisis,” he said.
“Critical point in history”
In announcing his candidacy, David said “Ireland has reached a critical point in its history but is ill prepared for some of the issues we will have to deal with in the future. The 2008 financial crisis was the fourth occasion since independence that the viability of Ireland’s future came into question. Our susceptibility to boom and bust cycles suggests that there are deep structural flaws in our development model.
“I believe that we need to become more like some of the small open economies of Northern Europe. Not only are they sustainable but they are consistently amongst the most economically efficient and socially cohesive in the world. They have proven that high quality public services and low levels of inequality in society complement rather than detract from competiveness.
“This proposition is evidence-based and the outcome of many years of research conducted in Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands, the findings of which I have set out in a book recently published internationally by Palgrave Macmillan.
“If elected, I will use the Seanad to advocate for a new development model that will secure a better, fairer and more sustainable future for our people. These strategic issues were largely ignored during the recent General Election campaign.”
For more see davidbegg.ie
Kieran Rose
Long-time Dublin City branch activist Kieran Rose will also contest the Seanad election as part of the NUI panel.
Kieran, who works as an urban planner with Dublin City Council, is also running as an independent candidate and has been a life-long equality and human rights activist. He is a commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, a founder and co-chair of GLEN, the Yes Equality executive committee and is a graduate of both UCC and UCD.
His campaign focuses on the improved supply of affordable quality housing, development land reforms, an improving economy that benefits all and transparency and accountability in the public sector. Kieran also supports the repeal of the 8th Amendment and is committed to making equality and human rights the cornerstone of public policy.
For more see kieranrose.ie
