A summary of some of the other debates which took place at this year's conference.
Childcare
The State should consider reducing legal standards for childcare providers in order to drive down costs and give tax relief to working parents paying for childcare, according to a study on the topic presented to the conference, writes Mark Brennock.
As well as proposing a possible reduction of regulation, the document suggests that existing school premises be provided free of charge by the State to groups of parents wishing to set up after-school childcare services. Such facilities would be staffed by a combination of volunteers and professionals, with the service costing just €5 per child per day on normal school days.
Senator John Minihan, who prepared the document, told the conference that this was "a workable concept". He was speaking at the end of a debate in which one speaker said the cost of childcare was a great burden on families today as high tax rates were in the 1980s.
Immigration
The Government has been urged to introduce a green card system of immigration which will safeguard the rights of immigrant workers while at the same time facilitating the introduction of professional, technical and unskilled workers to meet labour needs.
Delegates at the conference voted to back the motion proposed by Liam McCabe of Carlow/Kilkenny who argued that the current system involving both work permits and residency permits wasn't working.
Overseas aid
Former minister of state with responsibility for overseas development Liz O'Donnell said the Government should "keep its word" on its previous promise to donate 0.7 per cent of GNP to overseas development aid annually.
The Government had promised to reach this goal by 2007, but last year admitted it was not going to be reached. Ms O'Donnell said it was "the minimum" that the Government could do in relation to its international responsibilities.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy producers can never hope to compete on an equal footing with the ESB as long as the semi-state agency continues to own the country's energy transmission system, the conference was told. According to Airtricity chief executive, Eddie O'Connor, the ESB's ownership of the transmissions system confers an unfair advantage on the ESB over those seeking to sell renewable energy such as wind generated power.
"The existing grid is the product of history - it is not the recipe for the future but its configuration is protected by an incumbent monopoly and state monopolies, like the weather, seem to be always with us," said Mr O'Connor to loud applause.