Labour should align itself with all other left-wing parties and people in order to achieve an entirely left-wing government, Siptu president Jack O’Connor will tell a fringe event at the Labour conference in Killarney.

He is expected to criticise Labour for not being distinctive enough in the current Coalition, arguing he never joined a political party called “the Government”.

He will urge the universal social charge be replaced by a different tax to fund health, childcare and care for the elderly and perhaps providing the template for a new pension system.

In his speech today, he will argue that his proposed reforms will be best achieved by a government of the left.

“I believe that work should be undertaken with others who genuinely believe themselves to be of the left and who consider themselves to be as committed to the ideal of egalitarian society envisaged by James Connolly and James Larkin.

“We should not be sectarian about it. We should keep our options to work with progressive people and parties of the left of centre in order to achieve the ultimate ambition envisaged by the Labour Party for a government of, and for, the mass of working people and dispossessed of our country.”

No broken promises

He will reject accusations Labour has broken its pre-election promises in Government.

“We were faced with the choice of opting to go into opposition and grow our electoral support while the most draconian austerity agenda ever inflicted in Ireland was implemented by Fine Gael and its political allies on the right, who would almost inevitably have won any immediate general election; or going into government as a minority party outnumbered by more than two-to-one to try and mitigate the damage to working people and civil society in general.”