Workshops: The fight against crime would be a priority for Labour in Government, Joe Costello TD said at the conference.
Speaking at one of the range of workshops on policy issues at the conference, Mr Costello said Labour would introduce a range of innovative measures including Garda diversionary and cautionary programmes dealing with juveniles at risk and a new advertising bill which would break the link between sport and alcohol.
The party also supported a volunteer Garda force and a special task force which would deal quickly with any new drug arriving on the scene, he said.
Jan O'Sullivan TD, speaking on education, said many of the problems of anti-social behaviour and despair among young people could be prevented if they ensured that all children got the chance to deliver on the skills and abilities they all had.
To do that they had to lead a debate about what happened and should happen within the education system, she said.