We need to show that we can meet our targets and put our house in order.
more favourable terms are likely to be available only to borrowers with a record of achievement in reducing budget deficits.
Fianna Fáil has delivered €20.5 billion of the €30 billion budgetary adjustment required.
We have proven that we can deliver.
even if this country had not entered an eU/imF Programme, we would need to aim to reduce our deficit to near balance by 2014.
Prolonging the adjustment means  accumulating more national debt to hand down to our children.
it will fuel doubts among investors about our ability to restore order to the public finances.
and as we know from the 1980s, such doubts are a recipe for economic stagnation and rising unemployment.
Fianna Fáil’s national Recovery Plan will build on the many positive aspects of our economy so that we can return to a sustainable growth path.
the eU/imF Programme is based on our national Recovery Plan.
the measures it contains will:
Remove barriers to growth
Boost our competitiveness
Restore order to our public finances
Repair our banking system so that it can serve the recovery
our future prosperity rests upon the implementation of the Plan over the next four years.
We wrote the Plan.
We believe in the Plan.
We are the party best placed to implement it.
Section  2 A Plan for Jobs
A Plan for Jobs
Fianna Fáil understands that tackling unemployment must be a fundamental objective for the Dáil and government during the next five years.
as outlined in the first section, we believe that restoring the public finances is the essential foundation upon which recovery will be built.
Restoring confidence for investors and consumers will have a very direct positive impact on job creation.
We will do more to help people who are unemployed
and businesses who want to create jobs.
Fundamentally we believe that ireland’s competitive advantage must be through having a highly educated and skilled workforce.
the sectors of the economy which have been most resilient during this crisis have been those which are export-oriented and rely on skilled workers.
The core principles which underpin our proposals to create jobs are:
Help individuals with education and training opportunities which can get  them back into employment.
Aid businesses that have the capacity to innovate and grow.
Promote Ireland’s position as a world centre for high-technology enterprise  by investing in the training and research which are vital to this objective.
Develop our vital agrifood sector to reach its potential for employment and  value-added products that are in demand worldwide.
Sustain high levels of capital investment in employment-intensive projects  which boost the competitiveness of the economy.
The Strengths of our Economy
the impact of the economic crisis has been felt most acutely by people who have lost their jobs.
All the recent evidence confirms that key sectors remain strong  and that the employment situation is improving.
Ireland is not “banjaxed” or  “destroyed”.
there are significant strengths in our economy which we can build on to fast-track economic renewal in our country.
-We have the youngest population in europe, with one in three under 25;
We have the highest proportion of graduates amongst the 25-34 age group in the eU;
-our exports are performing at their strongest level in eleven years;
ireland’s stock of direct inward investment is five times greater than the oeCD average;
-We have clusters of the world’s leading multinational companies, and continue to attract high levels of investment. almost 1,000 companies – including household names such as iBm, Google, eBay and Facebook– have chosen ireland as the hub of their european operations;
-Usa investment to companies in ireland is more than they invest to Russia, China and Brazil combined.
according to enterprise ireland:
“2010 was a year of strong recovery of export growth, which has helped to sustain employment in Irish companies.
The outlook is more positive now than at any point over the past three years,
and Irish companies are using this renewed confidence to aggressively target opportunities in international markets.
We expect new export sales from Enterprise Ireland clients in the order of €1 billion in 2010 and more importantly they will spend €19 billion in the Irish economy.
Irish companies have withstood the severe conditions they have faced, and have emerged leaner, stronger and with a greater appetite for international growth than ever before.”
in 2010 ireland continued to win significant foreign direct investment.
most encouraging is the substantial increase in the scale of these investments from many of the world’s leading companies.
In the past year the job numbers secured  through investments show a marked increase, with the average employment per investment double the 2009 level.
export led growth is feeding through in the employment portfolio of IDA’s clients, which created almost 11,000 new jobs in  2010, more than double the previous year’s total of 4,615
ireland continued to attract manufacturing investments during 2010 including Warner Chilcott, mCi, merit medical, Hollister, Yves Rocher, Lufthansa technik, Goodman medical, Zeus, valeo and Freund.
2010 saw iDa win a number of high-value Research, Development & Innovation projects for Ireland with over  €500million in new investment secured.
among the companies that announced RD&i  investments in 2010 were iBm  (smarter Cities), United technologies Research Centre (Renewable energies), alcatel-Lucent /Bell Labs, HP Galway, Biotrin, and accenture’s Global analytics Centre.
the fact that a global leader such as intel, which has already invested close to $7bn in ireland, has chosen to invest a further $500m here is an enormous vote of confidence and endorsement  of ireland as a competitive location for global investment.
intel is a bellwether company and this is a significant strategic investment for ireland.
Investment and Trade creating Employment
in the policies underpinning our national Recovery Plan is a series of investments in initiatives to increase the number of new jobs directly associated with exporting  enterprises by over 150,000 jobs.
These jobs will come directly in manufacturing,  tourism and internationally traded services.
specifically, our commitment is:
That each enterprise agency will target its schemes to achieve specific  elements of the overall plan  (iDa ir eland ~75,000, enterprise ireland ~60,000, tourism ~15,000)
To “job proof” all new policy and legislation to ensure that it is pro-employment
Trade
To increase the value of exports by agency assisted indigenous companies  by 33%.
To increase the number of exporting firms.
To increase the value of exports from existing exporters, both to established  markets and to markets offering new opportunities.
To diversify the destination of indigenous exports.
To increase the share of food and drink exports going to countries outside  the UK, from 56% to 62%.
To increase the share of other exports going to countries outside the UK,  from 57% to 63%.
To increase the share of food and drink exports to Asia, from 4% to 7%.
To integrate trade policy into the Department of Foreign Affairs, with each  diplomatic post playing a significantly enhanced role in trade promotion.
Tourism
To increase overseas visitor numbers to 8 million.
To increase visitors from Continental Europe to 3 million.
To increase visitors from new and developing markets to 0.5 million.
To increase visitors from the UK to 3.3 million.
To increase visitors from North America to 1.2 million.
Inward Investment
To secure an additional 780 inward investment projects through IDA Ireland.
20% of new greenfield investment projects to come from high-growth and  emerging economies.
IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to deepen the domestic value added  of overseas firms in ireland and to strengthen linkages and collaboration between foreign-owned and indigenous firms
Reducing Costs to Aid Competitiveness
our open economy is reliant for growth on the performance of its exporting base.
this means that ireland must be cost competitive internationally.
Recent price falls have helped to regain lost ground to some extent but we need to ensure that they are not just a cyclical response to the downturn.
Fianna Fáil  supports further efforts to provide a sustainable, structural change to the costs of doing business in ireland relative to other countries.
this will be achieved through additional measures such as:
Energy
The imposition of rigorous efficiency targets on the ESB, Bord Gáis and Eirgrid.
Capital investment programmes by the utility companies will be  commensurate with the infrastructure needs and energy demand of the irish economy avoiding excess capacity and extra cost.
A National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to achieve a national energy saving  of 20% by 2020 including measures to assist smes to lower electricity costs.
Transport
Completing the Metro North project.
Finishing the Dart interconnector.
Making public transport more accessible.
Telecommunications
The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce will work with industry to  enhance the business case for investment in nGn (next Generation network) delivery.
Appropriate State investment will be undertaken in cases of market failure.
The use of state infrastructure for the roll out of NGN networks will be  maximised.
Professional Services
We will identify further ways to tackle increases in insurance costs, building  on achievements of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.
We will provide for a more structured approach to mediation in the legal  system and promote further the use of alternative Dispute Resolution, taking into account recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in its Final Report 2010 on the subject.
A package of measures to reduce legal costs will be implemented, including:
increased use of tendering by the state;
priority publication and enactment of a Legal Costs Bill; and
additional proposals for legislation to reduce legal costs, drawing on the recommendations of the Legal Costs Working Group and the Competition authority.
Provide for increased use of arbitration and mediation.
Commercial Rents
The proposals of the Working Group on Transparency in Commercial Rent  Reviews will be implemented.
Remove developmental charges for any new commercial units that create jobs.
The Office of Public Works will lead a coordinated effort to reduce office  rents by up to 15% and review the efficiency of property arrangements across the public sector.
Reducing administrative costs for business
The 15 day prompt payment rule will be extended beyond Government  Departments to the wider public sector.
The targeted 25% reduction of the regulatory burden on business will be  achieved by end-2011.
Local Authorities will be required to improve their efficiency, including  through implementing relevant recommendations of the Local Government efficiency Group, to reduce where possible, the level of rates charged to businesses.
Supporting Small & Medium Sized Enterprise
the importance of the role of small and medium sized enterprises in ireland’s economy cannot be overestimated.
they supply goods and services on which larger companies rely.
Small firms directly support 700,000 jobs.
in our budget plan we have provided for investments in small firms in their earliest stages of development via enterprise ireland’s €175 million seed and venture capital programme and through the €500m innovation Fund.
We will transform the old Business Expansion Scheme into a new and better  focussed Business investments targeting employment scheme (Bites).
A simple and efficient certification process will be introduced.
The maximum  amount  that  can  be  raised  by  companies  in  a  12  month  period  will  be  increased significantly,  as  will  the  lifetime  amount  that  can  be  raised  per  company.
Enterprise agencies should work with SMEs to improve performance,  productivity and competitiveness, assist them in developing exports in new and existing markets, help them to access public procurement opportunities and help firms develop a greater online presence.
Core R&D supports and the innovation voucher system will continue to help  small firms acquire cost-effective R&D and to move up the value-chain.
We will investigate the potential for providing access to vacant or under-utilised public property for entrepreneurs or business start-ups to use as incubation centres.
We will undertake an overhaul of bankruptcy legislation.
The 15 day prompt payment rule will be extended beyond Government  Departments to the wider public sector.
We will protect the budget allocation for County Enterprise Boards.
Credit availability for business
it is a clear and absolute priority of Fianna Fáil to ensure that the broader issue of the availability of credit to the small business sector is addressed.
to this end Fianna Fáil in Government has, of course, already secured a commitment from the main lenders to make available not less than €12 billion in total for new or increased credit facilities to smes over 2010 and 2011, including funds for working capital.
We will ensure the implementation of this funding commitment.
Making Ireland a Global Innovation Hub
We believe that ireland can be a a Global innovation Hub.
this is not an empty phrase, it is achievable with the right policies – delivering high-quality employment which is sustainable and competitive.
there must be clear and achievable goals to make ireland:
The best place in Europe to turn research and knowledge into jobs, products  and services;
The best place in Europe to start and grow an innovative company;
The best place to relocate or expand and scale an SME; and
The best place in Europe for research-intensive multinationals to collaborate  with each other and with clusters of small companies.
to achieve these goals, Fianna Fáil will ensure that:
Innovation Fund Ireland will attract international venture capital fund  managers to ireland, making their expertise, experience and network available to our enterprises.
IDA will introduce the European Accelerator Programme to attract fast growing firms to locate their European HQ in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland will introduce a new approach to providing seed capital  and other supports to innovative start-ups.
Enterprise Ireland will assist Irish firms to maximise export potential through  programmes for Ceos, mentoring and trade missions and will launch a campaign to attract overseas entrepreneurs to locate in ireland.
The ‘Silvertech’ initiative will be introduced with the HSE working closely  with multinational companies in ireland on the introduction of new technology for healthcare.
Science, Technology and Research
there is no such thing as a world-class economy or a high-income economy that does not invest significantly in advanced research.
From a situation where this area was completely neglected, Fianna Fáil in office introduced a range of supports which have transformed the irish research landscape and are underpinning major employment projects.
Despite the budgetary pressures we have faced in government, the national Recovery Plan includes significant funding for this area.
in 2011 these funds will ensure that:
o  science Foundation ireland will maintain 29 world-class research centres in 2011 and continue to work with over 400 industry partners.
o  enterprise ireland will help approximately 1,200 companies with reseach and innovation activities in 2011.
o  enterprise ireland will also support 85 High Potential start-Up companies next year, rising to 100 by 2015.
o  the number of industry-led competency centres will be doubled to 16 by 2015.
o  innovation Fund ireland will grow to €500m, attracting leading international venture capital companies to ireland.
o  A majority of IDA projects will be of the highest-value type.
ireland has built a strong science base.
two thirds of ireland’s R&D is in the private sector, creating new product and service innovations that will drive exports, growth, and jobs.
Productive, high calibre research, undertaken by highly skilled  research teams working closely with industry partners will continue to be a priority for Fianna Fáil.
Fianna Fáil will ensure that:
Research investments will be concentrated in areas where Ireland will secure  the greatest economic and social returns.
The number of industry-led research competence centres will be doubled to  ensure that industry drives the research agendas.
IDA and EI will foster research, development and innovation in companies to  boost productivity, exports, growth and jobs.
Ireland’s reputation as a country where enterprise can partner effectively  with third level institutions will be developed at all levels ranging from sFi  funded fundamental research centres to ei inno vation Partnerships and innovation voucher programmes.
As part of a wider reorganisation of research funding organisations, Science  Foundation ireland will incorporate the principal academic research funding programmes currently in other agencies.
Every diplomatic office will arrange at least one significant seminar in the  next twelve months to showcase the research strength of ireland.
While ensuring a substantial increase in the level and quality of support  for innovation within enterprise, our plan protects funding for research in academic institutions.
Services Sector
the services sector in ireland has the potential to become a significant player in the worldwide expansion and innovation of the sector.
Currently in ireland, the sector accounts for around €69 billion in exports and 107,000 jobs in agency-assisted companies.
one third of the services exports are accounted for by computer services, and a further 9% by financial services.
the potential is significant.
Global trade in services grew from €1.4 trillion in 2000 to €3.3 trillion in 2009, and there are further significant opportunities for growth in sectors such as business process outsourcing, international education, healthcare and financial services.
Fianna Fáil is committed to
Promoting diversity in our services exports and reducing the heavy  reliance in services exports on two sectors - software/iCt and financial services.
services in sectors such as education and healthcare can provide opportunities for expansion.
Encouraging internationalisation of our services enterprises.
There is a clear  potential for irish companies to expand their operations which to date has only been realised by a relatively small number of firms.
Benefits will accrue to both the firm and to the economy as a whole.
The Agri-Food Sector
as well as providing a livelihood for an estimated 120,000 farmers and their families, the agri-food sector currently exports almost €8 billion annually in food and beverage products,
representing 50% of indigenous manufacturing exports
. it employs over 45,000 people in over 800 companies throughout the country and generates almost one third of ireland’s net foreign earnings from manufacturing.
We have ambitious targets to increase the value of exports on an annual basis by a third to €12 billion by 2020.
Fianna Fáil recognises that the agri-food sector is the country’s largest and most important indigenous industry, with almost a quarter of a million people dependent on the sector when account is taken of agriculture and ancillary employment.
our national herd is a national asset.
We will ensure that the irish agri-food sector is to the forefront in our export-led economic recovery,
which has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in  urban, rural and coastal communities throughout this country.
Support a well-resourced CAP Post 2013 and ensure that our farmers and  processors are positioned to adapt to emerging challenges and ensure that the eU maintains a strong agricultural production base.
Fully implement the key recommendations of Food Harvest 2020 for the  future development of the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sector.
this will create at least 4000 jobs .
Provide direct capital supports for marketing and processing.
Support the consolidation and restructuring needed to enhance competition  in the sector.
Ensure the further introduction of the new farm investment schemes as part  of the eU co-funded Rural Development Plan, including the Dairy equipment scheme and Water Harvesting scheme.
The Irish seafood sector is worth €700 million and employs 11,000 people.
Fianna  Fáil  believes  that  the  share  of  catch  being  processed  by  irish companies  should  be  increased   as  well  as  maximising  landings  from  irish vessels.
We  will  also  protect   and  enhance  the  sector  in  the  current  review of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  due  to  be  completed  in  2012.
maximum stock  yields  will  have  to  result  in  an  increase  in  quotas  for  irish  vessels.
it  is no  longer  acceptable  that  88%  of  fish  caught  in  the  irish  Zone  are  by  non irish  vessels.
Tourism
tourism is a hugely important indigenous industry, which in 2009 delivered €4 billion in foreign revenue earnings and €1.3 billion in tax receipts, while supporting in the order of 200,000 jobs.
Fianna Fáil will work to maximise the economic and social potential of the tourism industry as a core contributor to ireland’s export-led economic recovery.
We will:
Aim to increase the number of overseas visitors to 8 million by 2015, by  focussing on the markets most likely to deliver growth and the United Kingdom as our single biggest source of visitors.
Seek to maximise the number of overseas visitors through competitive  airport and port charges, competitive and tourist-friendly immigration and visa arrangements, and cooperative marketing support programmes with air and sea carriers.
Continue to highlight at home and abroad the increasing value available in  the irish tourism industry and the high quality of accommodation on offer around the country.
Continue to seek opportunities to deliver better value for money through  the international and domestic marketing budgets by focussing on the markets most likely to deliver growth, using innovative marketing campaigns and programmes and greater use of e-marketing.
Maximise the potential of niche areas such as food, golf and cultural tourism.
Ensure that an inter-departmental strategy is in place to improve the leisure  potential of our harbours and increase marine tourism.
Help tourism businesses to reduce their cost-bases and get access to  appropriate levels of credit, especially working capital.
Aim to position Dublin as an important centre for business and recreational  tourism, building on the recent opening of the aviva stadium, the Convention Centre in Dublin and other theatrical/sporting venues, with appropriate marketing and other supports from the tourism state agencies.
Position Ireland as an important cultural and heritage tourism destination,  by building synergies between the tourism and culture communities, developing the work of Culture ireland and enhancing public access to our built heritage, attractions and monuments.
Develop a ‘St. Patricks Fortnight’, with an impressive offering of arts and  culture events, aimed at attracting cultural tourists from around the world.
Support Tourism Ireland in coordinating ‘The Gathering 2012’ as a major  initiative to encourage people of irish heritage from all over the world to visit ireland in 2012, with a range of special programmes on offer.
Continue the policy of attracting suitable major sporting events to Ireland.
Deepen North/South tourism cooperation, including all-island international  tourism marketing through tourism ireland and the north/south ministerial Council, and complementary cooperation between Britain and ireland, including cooperation on statistics and supporting measures to facilitate movement of visitors across the Common travel area.
Facilitate the participation of the tourist industry, both in the private and  public sectors, in programmes of Labour activation measures, building on the changed profile of unemployment and the advantages of enhancing the visitor experience through the Fáilte brand.
Arts and Culture
Fianna Fáil values the positive contribution that a thriving arts and cultural sector makes to irish society as a whole and is particularly conscious of the potential of the sector to provide opportunities for self-expression and participation.
We also appreciate the economic potential of the arts and creative industries and their role in supporting enterprise and innovation in the economy as a whole, as highlighted at the Global irish economic Forum in Farmleigh.
While resources for all sectors will be under pressure over the next few years, we will do our best to support arts and culture initiatives.
We will
Ensure that the arts and culture sector continues to be represented at the  Cabinet table.
Work to maintain employment levels in the sector.
As resources allow, advance the capital development plans for the National  Gallery of ireland, the national Concert Hall, the abbey theatre, the national Museum at Collins Barracks and other major cultural centres.
Seek to maximise the mutual benefit for the arts and tourism sectors of  cultural tourism initiatives.
Extend the Section 481 Film Investment relief to 2016 to maintain  ireland’s attractiveness as a location for film production in an increasingly competitive international environment and protect and grow the number of direct and indirect jobs supported by the industry.
Establish a new development agency for the audiovisual industry, Screen  ireland, amalgamating the functions of the irish Film Board, the industrial Development authority and enterprise ireland in relation to film and multiplatform audiovisual content production in ireland.
the new agency will seek to grow the scale of the industry significantly.
The Green Economy
A crucial objective for us is to ensure that employment growth is sustainable.
This  is one reason why the fast-growing Green economy is a sector where ireland has huge opportunities for growth, particularly in the following areas:
Energy export potential
A Green IFSC
Water management
Ireland as a test-bed location and research hub
Potential for convergence of ICT and energy management systems
the national Retrofit Programme which is incorporated into our national Recovery Plan is also providing work for the construction sector.
Further steps include:
Investing €4.5 billion in our transmission distribution and international  interconnection grids to develop our renewable resources.
Developing Ireland as a centre of new Smart Grid technology using our  advantage in a flexible grid infrastructure and as a location for energy ICT  companies.
Identification of skills needs to capitalise on the green economy and design  of appropriate courses and training to deliver these skills.
The publication of the Green Public Procurement Plan.
Green IFSC
Fianna Fáil strongly supports the establishment of a Green iFsC to target environmentally-related financial services as a means of generating high value employment and revenue growth in ireland.
By establishing the ‘Green IFSC’, Ireland will position itself as leading financial  services centre for the management of carbon and green finance, including the establishment of a government supported international Carbon standard (iCs) and associated Dublin international voluntary offset Registry (DivoR).
this initiative will help to maintain the competitive advantage of the iFsC
and has the potential to create in the next five years over 4,000 new jobs and €6 billion in  revenue from this emerging sector.
The Digital Economy
the digital economy is a key part of the smart economy.
it involves the rollout of an extensive next Generation network and also the fostering of cloud computing services and its attendant new applications.
ireland is host to many of the world leaders in software, some of whom have located R&D centres here.
these firms have developed strengths in the e-learning, financial services and telecommunications applications.
the sector is an important source of high value jobs in the economy and Fianna Fáil is determined to build on these foundations.
We will :
Provide direct supports for R&D and other business activities through the  enterprise development agencies.
Roll out 100 megabit connectivity to second level schools.
Continue the roll-out of the National Broadband Scheme.
Develop the use of ICT as an enabler of energy efficiency, which is a key  area of growth.
Work with relevant industry partners to help SME’s better exploit the  opportunities of global online markets by helping them create their first website and upskilling their capacity in online sales.
Continue the modernisation of financial regulation according to best  international practice.
Develop Ireland as a centre for Green Data Centres and establish an  international Content services Centre.
Complete a strategy review by the IFSC Clearing House Group in 2011.
Corporate Taxation
The corporation tax of 12.5% is a cornerstone of our economic policy.
We  negotiated it with the european Commission 1997 and implemented it in subsequent budgets.
Foreign direct investment supports 240,000 jobs in  this country much of it attracted by our corporation tax rate.
We will retain the 12.5 per cent tax rate.
Capital Investment
there has been an unprecedented level of capital spending over the last ten years which has upgraded the quantity and quality of physical infrastructure.
the infrastructure deficit which previously characterised the irish economy has been significantly addressed.
in particular, the programme of investment has transformed the quality and quantity of the national road network
and we now have state-of-the-art motorway connections between Dublin and the main regional centres.
the expanded capacity levels achieved in infrastructure overall are likely to be sufficient to meet anticipated demand over the medium term in most areas.
notwithstanding the pressing need to reduce spending, Fianna Fáil remains committed to the objectives and principles set out in the Government’s  infrastructure investment Priorities.
essentially, these are the investments which make the greatest contribution to economic recovery,
underpin the creation of sustainable employment
and deliver valuable social infrastructure.
We had one of the highest rates of public investment in europe over the last ten years and we still have now.
We retain this infrastructure and it is helping to grow the economy once again.
over the next four years over €16 billion will be invested in our infrastructure.
this future capital investment must be targeted and employment-focussed.
Capital investment will therefore support direct job creation in world-class, export-oriented enterprises.
Our investment will also allow several new road projects to start, support major  regeneration projects in Ballymun and Limerick,
sustain the school building  programme,
and progress high priority health projects, particularly in the mental  health area.
Metro North has been given priority as a major labour intensive capital  project.
This will create 6,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction  phase.
It also has the potential to create and sustain 37,000 jobs.
Over €1 billion will be spent on housing and water services in 2011, which will  create and sustain employment of somewhere in the region of 10,000 jobs.
The Government will also help identify infrastructure investment  opportunities for the nPRF and other private investors.
We are installing a water metering system that will create between 1,200  and 1,800 jobs between 2012 and 2014.
The new national retrofit programme to be announced in 2011 together with  new tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades will create 5,000 jobs.
These  jobs are in addition to 5,000 jobs supported by energy efficiency upgrades  of over 110,000 homes since 2007.
Education and Training
Fianna Fáil has acted quickly to meet the increased demand for up-skilling, reskilling and activation opportunities from jobseekers.
In the space of two years,  we doubled the number of places available.
as a party, we have long been committed to vocational training and to the type of training opportunities close to the labour market that ensure job seekers remain work-ready.
We also believe in the importance of providing training for people according to their own abilities.
not all learners are suited to training in an academic environment; as a result, diversity and flexibility of provision remain essential to  meeting the training needs of ireland’s modern economy.
in excess of 173,000 further education places and over 100,000 FÁs training places are being provided in 2011.
Getting the Structures Right
Fianna Fáil believes that it is right for the State to play a role, not just in the facilitation  and  quality  assurance  of  training  and  activation  measures,  but  in  their  direct  provision.
in recent times, Fianna Fáil has initiated a number of changes to improve the delivery of employment, training and community services to the public.
this initiative has involved the transfer of skills and training to a single department and activation under the minister for social Protection.
Fianna Fáil is determined to prevent overlap in the provision of training by different providers funded by the taxpayer, ensuring that each provider is clear that scarce resources are being correctly targeted.
in re-structuring the delivery of these services, Fianna Fáil is committed to:
The integration of the State’s employment and social protection services;
Retaining a role for the State in the provision of non-academic training  through the establishment of a newly-focussed skills and training agency;
The elimination of overlap in the provision of training by the new agency, the  further education sector and our veCs;
Greater alignment of skills and apprenticeship training provision with the  national skills strategy; and
Ensuring robust quality control and certification, with ease of progression,  for all training qualifications through the establishment of Qualifications and  Quality Assurance Ireland on a statutory basis.
Accessing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund has proved important  in delivering tailored interventions for specific individuals that have lost their jobs in enterprises that have migrated overseas.
Fianna Fáil is also committed to  providing the necessary matching funding for draw-down of eGaF funds.
A Diverse Range of Flexible Training and Activation Measures
Fianna Fáil is committed to diversity and flexibility in the provision of training  opportunities.
Fianna Fáil is committed to:
Delivering 100,000 training and employment places for the unemployed in  2011.
Investing over €7 million in 2011 for the provision of on-the-job training for  up to 1,000 redundant apprentices in the public and private sectors;
Supporting further labour market activation measures, to assist up to 700  redundant apprentices and craft-persons in 2011;
Rolling out the Skills Development and Internship Programme, which will  enable the unemployed maintain their links with the labour market while also facilitating their up-skilling and re-skilling;
Supporting 170,000 learners through adult and further education (FETAC  Levels 1 to 6); and
Investing €20 million in a new Higher Education Labour Market Fund to  enable unemployed people access innovative part-time higher education opportunities from certificate to post graduate levels.
the provision of beneficial activation measures, from which individuals gain experience of the work place and ensure they remain close to the labour market, are a key element of Fianna Fáil’s policy to support job-seekers.
Fianna Fáil has developed and supported a suite of activation measures and is committed to:
Expanding the places available on the Work Placement Programme from the  current 2,000 places to 7,500;
Providing an additional 10,000 places, bringing to 15,000, the number of  short-term working opportunities in the community for unemployed people through the tús initiative;
Supporting Community Employment Schemes as an essential activation  measure that also provides a significant benefit to local communities and funding 23,200 Community employment scheme places; and
Funding an additional 5,000 places on the Rural Social Scheme and  Community services Programme.
Skills Development and Internship Programme
Fianna Fáil is committed to the roll-out of a skills Development and internship Programme. this will enable the unemployed maintain their links with the labour market while also facilitating their up-skilling and re-skilling, thereby improving their employability.
as part of the programme, participants will undertake a twelve month placement in a private sector firm and will also receive a substantial education and training offering, while retaining their social protection entitlement and being in receipt of a small additional participant bonus while on placement.
Redundant Apprentices
Fianna Fáil has introduced a series of successful measures over the past two years to assist redundant apprentices to complete their on-the-job training.
Fianna Fáil  is now committed to an investment of over €7 million in 2011 with the objective of  providing on-the-job training for up to a further 1,000 apprentices in the public  and private sectors.
We will also continue to fund a number of other labour market activation measures to assist up to a further 700 redundant apprentices and craftspersons.
Further and Adult Education
Fianna Fáil is strongly committed to supporting the further education sector and has maintained the level of funding invested in adult and further education despite the budgetary challenges faced.
the level of overall expenditure on further education has grown from over €177 million in 2000 to almost €426 million last year.
Fianna Fáil is committed to maintaining the 2010 level of provision for 2011.
this level of funding will allow us to support over 170,000 learners with part-time and full-time further education programmes ranging from FetaC Level 1 to 6 this year through the network of veCs nationwide.
Fianna Fáil is committed to over 40,000 full time places being available in Youthreach, vocational training opportunities scheme, senior traveller training Centre, and Post Leaving Certificate programmes.
Fianna Fáil’s commitment will see an estimated 125,000 learners avail of part time provision in adult literacy, community education and the back to education initiative.
Higher Education
in the Higher education sector, Fianna Fáil is committed to funding approximately 156,000 places.
in addition, we are committed to the introduction of a new €20 million Higher education Labour market Fund.
the aim of this new initiative will be to increase the number of part-time and flexible up-skilling opportunities available  in the higher education sector,
so that people can continue to look for work and be available to take up employment while upgrading their qualifications and skills.
Section  3 Reform  of  Politics &  Government
Reform of Politics & Government
it is essential to address urgently the economic and employment issues dealt with in the first two sections of this manifesto.
However, more long-term action is required.
a core principle for this manifesto is that we must learn the mistakes of the past by implementing a substantial programme of fundamental reform.
Political Reform
Why action is needed
all  mature  democracies  should  be  willing  to  undertake  an  open  review  of  their political culture.
Of the many major failings in Ireland’s political culture the  failure  of  our  parliamentary  system  to  consider  structural  problems  until  it  was too  late  is  the  most  significant.
the  dominance  of  short-term  considerations  in public  debate  is  obvious.
We believe that the essential way to assist recovery and ensure future sustainability in public policy is to radically reform the procedures for choosing and operating both parliament and government.
The objective evidence suggests three core public policy failings in recent years:
Significant increases in spending on public services and welfare were
implemented on the basis of revenue projections which proved to be
entirely inaccurate.
The tax base was narrowed too significantly with cyclical income becoming  too large a proportion of public revenues.
Oversight of the banking system signally failed.
an examination of the records of Dáil Éireann shows that during legislative debates, questions, private members’ time and committee work the near constant refrain was the need for extra money to go to public services, for tax burdens to be lifted on various groups and for easier access to credit.
much of the debate on parliamentary reform has focussed on the issues of cost and sitting hours.
Costs are important and must continue to be controlled,
but the most important savings can be made by a reformed oireachtas which can review and enact better public policies.
in terms of sitting times, there is no evidence that simply increasing the number of days where the houses or committees of the oireachtas meet will make any significant change in the quality of debate, fiscal policy or legislation.
The much more fundamental reform issue relates to the roles of members of parliament and government, their work and the system for electing them.
irish society today is so different from 1937 that it would be surprising if an electoral and government system established then was still appropriate.
as we outline in the section dealing with how specific changes should be developed, we believe that the first step towards positive reform is to try to develop a wide consensus on what should be done
.  the level and quality of debate about systemic reform has been poor and based on assumption rather than analysis.
in this plan we are setting out our principles for reform and an absolute commitment to act within a short period.
The Electoral System
We believe that the current electoral system has serious flaws.
It encourages  an almost perpetual campaign in irish politics and pushes representatives away from their most important roles of passing legislation and overseeing the work of government.
There is a clear disjoint between what is required to be elected and  the work of an effective parliamentarian.
twice in the past the people chose to retain the current system
. it has core merits, especially in encouraging tDs to be close to the people they represent.
However, we believe that the case for reform is now overwhelming.
as such, we support the introduction of a system which meets two core principles:
Retaining the direct link between tDs and the communities they serve.
ensuring that more national considerations are also represented in the oireachtas.
specifically, we support a mixed system of single-seat constituencies elected through the system of single transferable vote and a top-up national list which will ensure proportional representation.
this system is found in many countries including Germany and involves using a national list of candidates from which representatives will be elected to balance underrepresentation which would emerge in the constituencies.
We support the introduction of measures to favour gender balance within the national list.
any change to our electoral system will require significant public engagement in the development of proposals as well as passage in a referendum.
We therefore intend to submit these proposals to a Citizens assembly as proposed later in this document.
Dáil Éireann
much of the political analysis of the work of Dáil Éireann has been highly superficial.
many seem to confuse opportunities for partisan exchanges with promoting accountability.
the search for soundbites which can be carried in the media has overtaken reflective debate as the primary consideration during much  of the parliamentary day.
While the problems of the Dáil are clear, proposals for reform have focussed on superficial rather than real reform.
Without such reform, the number of tDs and the length of the hours they attend Leinster House are irrelevant policy soundbites rather than substantive solutions.
the cost of the Dáil is important and must continue to be controlled,
but the most important issue relates to the quality of the Dáil’s work.
our proposals for reform of the electoral system and government are central to delivering fundamental Dáil reform.
However there are more immediate actions which should be taken.
our core principles are:
Improve the Dáil’s oversight of all aspects of the public sector.
Increase the level and quality of TDs’ engagement in legislative and  budgetary processes.
Ensure that Dáil proceedings are more constructive.
We therefore will propose that the following measures be implemented during 2011:
The election of the Ceann Comhairle by secret ballot.
Save in exceptional circumstances, the principles of legislation will be  debated in advance of drafting.
The time made available for private members’ business will be extended.
In  addition to the standard time for a motion chosen by a political group, a separate provision will be made for individual members, from any group, to introduce legislation.
All legislation will be submitted for independent fiscal analysis in advance  of  debates.
The committee system will be restructured to ensure a greater focus on  core oversight roles which will go far beyond the relatively narrow work of the Public accounts Committee.
in particular, two new committees will be introduced:
o  a Regulatory oversight Committee which will have expert staff available to it to assist in the ongoing review of critical regulatory functions.
o  a Government oversight Committee which will be charged with overseeing corporate governance and strategic planning in the public service.
A revised budgetary process as outlined below.
To facilitate these changes the Dáil will be scheduled for a normal working  week for most of the year.
We will establish the legal services of the Oireachtas on a statutory basis.
Seanad Éireann
much of the rationale for the inclusion of the seanad in Bunreacht na hÉireann has ceased to be relevant over time.
serious questions must be asked about the continued role of an entity which is still struggling to justify its existence after  three quarters of a century.
it must be stressed that during the last decade the seanad did not play a substantive role in challenging unsustainable policies.
While its debates are frequently more thoughtful than those in the Dáil this suggests the need to reform the Dáil rather than the retention of the seanad.
it is important to note that second chambers are not an essential part of parliamentary democracy.
if our proposals for the reform of the electoral system and of government are enacted we will support the abolition of the seanad.
the savings in public expenditure will be used to resource the different elements which we are proposing to improve the workings of democracy and oversight of government.
President
the office of President is rightly held in great esteem by the irish people and we do not see need for significant reform.
We support the reduction in the age for eligibility to run for President to 21.
We support the extension of the franchise for presidential elections to all  irish citizens including emigrants.
We support allowing candidates for the office of presidency to be  nominated by petition of registered electors, this process to be managed by the new electoral Commission.
Cabinet
the structure of how we form governments is increasingly a problem given both the complexity of issues addressed by modern governments and the impact which appointing only oireachtas members has on the work of the oireachtas.
the current system effectively removes almost 20% of the membership of the Dáil from the daily work of parliament outside of their own departmental areas.
We believe that there are two major reforms which would increase the  effectiveness of both cabinet government and parliamentary oversight:
Members of Cabinet should not be members of the Oireachtas while they  serve as ministers.
o  the current irish system of limiting membership of government so drastically is unusual in international terms.
o  When members of the oireachtas are appointed to Cabinet they would be replaced by an alternate while serving as a minister.
the alternate would be on a list published at the time of the election, in a similar way to european Parliamentary elections.
o  they would continue to require approval by the Dáil, attend, answer questions and participate in debates but would not have votes.
o  this system would allow them to devote significantly more time to their ministerial duties and increase the number of Dáil members participating in all parliamentary duties.
o  it would, in addition, significantly increase the accountability of ministers to the Dáil.
Persons who are not members of the Dáil would be allowed to be appointed  to serve as ministers:
o  in these cases a confirmation process would be put in place which would include a presentation of priorities before the relevant committee.
o  in all cases, new ministers would present a detailed statement of priorities for debate by the relevant committee within one month of appointment.
Making Constitutional Reform a Reality - Involving Citizens
it is absolutely clear that no significant programme of political reform which involves amending the constitution can succeed without a real engagement with citizens during the process of drafting proposals.
there are many ideas for how this can be achieved but none have yet been proven.
it is important to avoid a situation where expert advisers become disproportionately influential in framing  debate and drafting recommendations.
elected representatives also have an entirely legitimate role as well as expertise on this issue and they must not be excluded from the procedure – which is implied by some proposals.
overall, we believe that a public consultation process which is focussed on achieving very clear outcomes is required.
We support the principle of a Citizen’s assembly.
this would bring together a group of citizens to debate and recommend specific proposals.
in the first instance it would be focussed directly on reform of:
The electoral system
The Oireachtas
Government membership
We would seek to constitute the assembly so that it includes people from all sections of society – not representatives of organisations.
its work would combine a wide public consultation and non-partisan debates.
its work on these areas should be completed within six months.
the more effective the assembly is in its work the more likely it is that its recommendations will be accepted.
However, it would be a bad start to the renewal of democratic institutions to exclude elected representatives from the process.
We do not support the proposal for a constitutional convention to tackle redrawing the entire constitution.
this would stop the clearer focus on the reform of politics and government which we believe is necessary over the next year and would be too broad to allow serious public engagement with the large number of complex issues addressed in Bunreacht na hÉireann.
Political Donations and Election Expenditure
the changes we have implemented have already dramatically reformed the system of political funding and election expenditure in ireland.
We support the introduction of a legal ban (by referendum if necessary)  on  all  political  donations  except  from  persons  entitled  to  vote  in  a  general election.
elections  should  be  funded  and  decided  solely  by  those  entitled to  vote.
We will also support the halving of the donation limit to political parties  and a new independent system for auditing compliance with spending and donation controls contained in the electoral acts.
We will introduce a Bill to this effect within one month of the convening of a  new Dáil.
Electoral Commission
While ireland has elections that are held to high standards and run with absolute integrity, we support further changes which will underpin the independence of the system and target increased participation.
We will introduce an independent electoral commission which will be  charged with running elections, maintaining the electoral register and promoting turnout, particularly through public education about the working of the electoral system.
We support a constitutional amendment to extend polling over two days in  order to facilitate higher participation.
The Commission can utilise the local authority network as in the present  system but will separate national administration and oversight from the Department of the environment & Local Government.
Citizens and Government
significant strides have been made in recent years to open government to citizens.
We accept that there are further steps to be taken:
We support the automatic publication of all granted Freedom of Information  requests online save in limited circumstances concerning personal data.
We will formalise the requirement that all data gathered as a result of  publicly-funded research be made publicly available in a data archive.
in addition, the outcomes of publicly-funded research programmes must be made freely available save where there are specific commercial intellectualproperty issues.
We support the continued extension of whistleblower protection.
We  believe that the best way of doing this is to continue with the stronger approach of adding sector-specific reforms into legislation.
Targeted Constitutional Reform
Bunreacht na hÉireann has served ireland well since its adoption in 1937.
it has shown its ability to evolve over time in many important areas.
it is right to acknowledge its role in safeguarding democracy and securing rights.
Grandiose proposals to scrap or redraw the entire Constitution offer no positive outcomes except delaying action on the more important task of renewing our political and governing system.
instead of sacrificing the legal certainty which comes from over 70 years of precedents, Fianna Fáil will focus on the number of specific areas where we believe amendment is desirable.
An amendment to strengthen the rights of children.
An amendment to replace the reference to women and mothers in Article
41.2 with a gender neutral version recognising parents in the home.
An amendment to provide for a court of appeal to reduce the current  waiting periods for court cases.
An amendment to address the limits placed on parliamentary enquiries by  the judgement on the Abbeylara case.
Budgetary System Reform
the failure of most elements of the budgetary process has been well established.
it did not prove robust enough to ensure that broad issues were examined or assumptions challenged.
The range of international reviews which projected  continued growth prove that these failings were not unique to ireland.
However, there are important changes which must be made:Reform and update the existing budget system beginning in Budget2011 taking into account the recommendations of the Joint OireachtasCommittee on Finance and the Public service in its recent report on macroeconomic Policy and effective Fiscal and economic Governance.
There will be an extension of Performance Budgeting to identify more  readily  the  results  and  impacts  that  are  expected  to  be  delivered  with public  funds.
New Value for Money rules to spotlight performance, and to assess whether  spending programmes and investment projects are delivering real benefits.
A medium term expenditure framework with multi-annual ceilings on  expenditure in each area, to ensure that public expenditure is managed within fixed, sustainable limits and to guide the planning and delivery of structural and policy reforms.
An independent budgetary advisory Council will be established to provide  independent commentary on the government’s budgetary planning.
A general emphasis on more sustainable policy planning through a legal  provision to require multi-annual planning and automatic adjustments based  on revenue and growth figures.
Public Sector Reform
We believe that ireland has a strong public service which compares well internationally.
However, the scale and pace of change in work practices and public expectations combine with the fiscal crisis to mean that there must be further significant reform in the delivery of public services.
Complete the programme of reduction of public service staff numbers for  each sector to bring the overall reduction to 8%.
Reform work practices to provide more efficient public services with  scarcer  resources.
The public service will be smaller and more efficient.
Performance of individuals and organisations will be better managed and  measured.
Organisations will be restructured so that public bodies and public servants  will be able to work across different sectors and organisations.
Within the civil service, transfer across departmental boundaries should  become common, and transfers should involve both promotions and more regular reassignments.
The strategic plans of departments should be summarised in accessible  form  and  examined  by  an  oireachtas  Government  oversight  Committee every  year.
Each Department should have a small supervisory board drawn from  outside  the  department  which  would  review  management  performance and  internal  audit.
Where  a  bonus  scheme  exists  payments  should  be cleared  by  this  board.
The annual report of each department should include all significant  corporate governance issues which have emerged within the department or its agencies together with the actions taken to tackle them.
We support the introduction of more formal controls of officials and others  moving into the private sector including a ‘cooling-off’ period.
In addition, we support the introduction of a formal register of persons  lobbying government.
We will examine ways to increase external recruitment.
However, the priority  will  be  to  address  the  need  for  expert  staff  in  oversight  and  policy  roles.
We will replace the Top Level Appointments Commission with a body more  independent of the senior public service.
Outcomes, Evaluation & Accountability
there is already a substantial process of strategic planning and evaluation in place within the public service.
We believe that it is essential to see the process for extending outcomes, evaluation and accountability as a collaborative one.
We will revise the Ministers & Secretaries Act to clarify and update the  assignment of accountability within the public service.
in the first instance, this process would be led by the new Dáil Government oversight Committee which we are proposing.
Setting measureable outcomes is a key part of ensuring performance.
However, it is also possible to have targets overload.
therefore we will simplify the performance management procedures within each department and require that each strategy statement and evaluation be reviewed by the relevant Dáil Committee within one month of publication.
in order to drive this programme of reform across government we will appoint a minister of state for public service reform with the right to attend cabinet.
Local Authority Reform
We support changes to workings of local authorities which will increase the sharing services between councils, extend the provision of information to residents and enhance democratic accountability.
We will publish further details of these measures during the campaign.
The Operation of State Boards
the areas covered by state agencies are increasingly complex and the need for improved strategic oversight and corporate governance is clear.
We therefore support a significant series of changes to the operation of the system of constructing state boards.
We support a review of the membership of all state boards.
In particular  we acknowledge that many are too large and do not include a sufficient diversity of skills.
o  as a general rule we support the introduction of a limit of ten ordinary members plus a chairman for the membership of boards which have core supervisory functions.
o  each minister should prepare and publish a statement of the skills and roles sought for each board.
this will provide the framework within which appointed decisions can be made and reviewed.
o   each appointment to a public body should be reviewed by an independent board to work alongside the Judicial Appointments Board.
they should be charged with certifying the suitability of potential appointees.
Government should be precluded from appointing a person who fails to be so certified.
o  the board shall maintain an online register of appointments.
it shall be notified of all vacancies as they arise and advertise them online.
members of the public will be entitled to submit their names for consideration.
o  Where appropriate in order to broaden critical expertise and increase the independence of members, appointments may be made of persons living outside the state.
o  When appointing a person to a state board a statement of their
qualification for the position and role should be published.
o  We support a statutory provision for gender balance in appointments which will also extend to external nominations.
o  We do not support the introduction of a process of oireachtas confirmation as we believe that, where they exist, such procedures inevitably lead to destructive partisanship.
A board must be able to carry out its functions solely in the public interest.
In many cases the current ‘representative’ nature of various boards, where  interest groups nominate members is unsuitable.
it should be more limited, possibly being restructured into separate supervisory and consultative boards.
Every board shall publish before March of each year an annual report on  its own activities as opposed to the wider work of the state body.
the Chairman may be examined on this by the oireachtas oversight Committee.
The C&AG will be asked to include a specific section in his annual reports  about the corporate governance systems put in place by each board including the effectiveness of the audit committees.
o  Where a specific shortcoming in corporate governance systems has been identified a board will be obliged to report regularly on efforts to improve these systems.
Introduction There is a better way
Ireland is at a crossroads.
This election will be one of the most important ever held.
Fianna Fáil and the Greens have ruined the economy.
440,000 citizens are unemployed;
100,000 more people will emigrate over the next two years.
Families are at risk of losing their homes.
Our elderly and disabled, low-income and middle-income families, our urban and rural communities and small businesses, have all been badly hurt by the bad decisions of this incompetent Government.
Our sovereignty has been handed over to the IMF
and EU and the banking debt has become the personal debt of every man, woman and child in the State.
This is wrong.
There is a better way to reduce the deficit and put our economy back on track without cutting the heart out of society
and destroying our education, health and social services.
If we are to fix this our society we need to put honesty and fairness into politics.
We need people in the Dáil who are there to represent the best interests of citizens, not the banks or themselves.
We need people who put job creation and quality public services first – who will make sure the ordinary person and the most vulnerable in society are protected.
All that is still possible, even in these difficult times.
But it means political choices.
Fianna Fáil’s and the Greens’ savage Budget targeted working families and those on low and middle incomes.
And, despite their rhetoric, Labour and Fine Gael have both said that they intend to implement the policies produced by the Government.
Four years ago, these parties were also saying the same thing – cut taxes, increase spending and give more power to the EU.
Four years ago, Sinn Féin said the fundamentals were not sound and that the Government was throwing away billions instead of investing in the future.
We proposed introducing a fair tax system,
using available public finance to create a world-class health and education system,
immediate measures to deal with a growing crisis in property and banking, the ending of cronyism and double standards.
We said use the boom to build a society that we can really be proud of.
Today we are the only party to have produced costed, alternative economic proposals that have been endorsed by independent economists.
Sinn Féin’s commitment is to:
a) Invest in a major job-creation programme to get Ireland back to work;
b)  Reverse the savage cuts and prioritise frontline services;
c) Burn the bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank and wind it up;
d)  Reduce the deficit by taxing the
wealthiest and eliminating wasteful
spending.
e)  Root and branch political reform aimed at producing a genuinely open and accountable form of Government which ends the notion of political elites and empowers Irish citizens
f) An end to the two-tier health
and education systems;
g)  The proper use of Ireland’s natural resources for the common good;
h) Continued support for the Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement
Over the last year Sinn Féin has confronted the Government and demanded higher standards.
For us, actions speak louder than words.
» Sinn Féin was the only party not to sign up to the Fianna Fáil/Green Party/Fine Gael/Labour ‘Consensus for Cuts’ and instead put forward a real alternative for economic recovery.
»It was Sinn Féin which first called on  Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue  to resign, saying his position was  untenable after the revelations about  his lavish expenses.
Only then did the  other Opposition parties speak out.
It was Limerick City Sinn Féin Councillor Maurice Quinlivan who confronted the slíbhín politics of Minister Willie O’Dea.
» It was the decision of Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty to go to the courts to vindicate the rights of the people of Donegal South-West which forced the Government to hold the long-overdue by-election.
» It was Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD who exposed Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s contacts with leading people in Anglo Irish Bank.
» It was Sinn Féin which opposed the Lisbon Treaty, pointing out the dangers for our sovereignty.
Sinn Féin is an Irish republican party.
We are a United Ireland party.
We believe in the sovereignty, independence and freedom of the Irish people and the right of our people to build our own society.
Sinn Féin is committed to delivering for citizens.
Sinn Féin offers more than just hope in this election – Sinn Féin offers a real alternative.
ExEcutIvE SuMMary
Part 1 – EconoMIc rEcovEry
1)  A new Budget as soon as possible following the election.
Close the deficit over 6 years, not 4.
We would envisage a €3billion adjustment for the remainder of 2011 (€4.7billion in a full year), leaving us with a deficit of €15.7billion in 2012.
3)  Restructuring the bank debts, including burning the bank bondholders in those banks which are insolvent, including Anglo Irish Bank.
This will ensure tax raised is spent on Irish public services – not servicing or paying off the debt incurred for bailing out the banks.
4)  Initiate a responsible wind-down of NAMA.
5)  A €7billion job-creation programme spread over 3.5 years with the aim of saving and creating more than 160,000 jobs funded by a once-off transfer from the National Pension Reserve Fund and which we would use for a stimulus instead of transferring its reserves into the banks.
6)  A labour-intensive essential infrastructure programme as part of the €7billion jobstimulus programme.
The focus of this programme would be to build hospitals, schools, public transport networks and to roll out broadband State-wide.
7)  Establishing within the stimulus programme a €600million Jobs Retention Fund.
This fund would subsidise workers in struggling Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the potential to save 96,000 jobs, akin to the successful model used in Germany.
8)  The introduction of a 1% Wealth Tax.
This would be an income-linked Wealth Tax for high-earners levied on their assets over €1million in value, excluding working farmland.
9)  The introduction of a third tax rate of 48% on individual income in excess of three times the average industrial wage (€100,000) per annum.
10) Standardising all discretionary taxation expenditures (tax reliefs paid at either the standard or marginal rate depending on income) with a view to ultimately eradicating tax reliefs that do not return a value for society.
11)  Restoring the minimum wage at €8.65 an hour.
12) Removing the income levy/Universal Social Charge from low-earners in the ‘no-tax’ bracket and keep minimum wage earners out of the tax bracket.
13) Immediately returning social welfare payments to 2010 levels, and as soon as economic conditions permit raise them further to ensure adequate incomes (no one below the poverty line).
Part 2 – thE PEoPlE’S SErvIcES
1)  A new universal public health system for Ireland that provides care to all free at the point of delivery, on the basis of need alone,
and funded from general fair and progressive taxation.
2)  Reversing the current health cuts.
Fund health in the context of reformed taxation and a progressive economic strategy.
Roll out the promised Primary Care Centres throughout the State on an accelerated timetable.
No more cuts to services at local hospitals and restore those services already cut.
3)  Fewer bureaucrats, more frontline health workers.
4)  An end to public subsidies for private healthcare.
Invest all health funding in the public system.
5)  A return to free education.
End the system where schools are reliant on voluntary contributions from parents by raising the capitation grants to cover the real cost of running a school.
Abolish the charge for the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert and for the mocks.
Establish a booklending scheme across all primary and secondary schools.
6)  The creation of 500 new teaching posts and the reduction of class sizes to 20 pupils per teacher.
7)  Opposing the reintroduction of third-level fees through any guise and reform the grants system to take into account the real costs of going to college.
8)  The responsible wind-down of NAMA.
9)  Examine models for mortgage debt forgiveness for those on low and average incomes who are in negative equity and who are in arrears.
10) Completing the stalled regeneration projects.
11)  A secure future for rural post offices.
Transform the rural postal network to make rural post offices a ‘one stop shop’ for a range of services including postal services, banking services, council services and citizens’ information.
12)  Ensuring those with the lowest farm incomes benefit proportionally more from the single farm payment (SFP) and abolish the SFP for large businesses not directly involved in farming.
Cap Single Farm Payments at €100,000.
13) Establishing a Rural Enterprise Fund to support new micro enterprises and co-ops being set up in rural areas, particularly in the agri-food sector.
14)  Boosting Garda numbers by ending current recruitment, promotion and overtime embargoes.
A far-reaching process of civilianisation to free-up fully trained Gardaí from administrative and other duties to fight crime is essential and must be expedited.
15) Raise Garda visibility and activity in areas and at times needed by reassigning Gardai from desk duties to the beat.
Part 3 – towardS a nEw rEPublIc
1)  A new Constitution.
Establishing an all-Ireland Constitutional Forum drawn from representatives of both legislatures on this island, civic society, business and trade unions to discuss and bring forward a Draft Constitution that would be put to the people in a referendum.
2)  Increasing voter participation by holding elections at weekends, reducing the voting age to 16 and automatically register voters as soon as they become eligible to vote using PPS numbers to avoid fraud.
3)  Reforming how the Dáil is elected.
Elect one-third of the Dáil from a list system; the other two-thirds from six-seat constituencies based on PRSTV.
4)  Abolishing the Seanad in its current form.
5)  Capping ministerial salaries at €100,000; TDs’ salaries at €75,000.
6)  Northern representation in the Dáil – The existing 18 Westminster MPs to automatically be accorded membership of the Oireachtas.
Voting rights in Presidential elections to be extended to citizens in the Six Counties.
7)  Changing the law to allow for the impeachment or removal from the Dáil any TD involved in corruption, deliberate misuse of public money or fraud.
8)  Building an Ireland of Equals where everyone’s rights are guaranteed, free of divisions caused by partition, sectarianism, racism and other forms of discrimination, and free from poverty and economic inequality.
9)  Publishing the National Positive Ageing Strategy following consultation and direct participation of older people themselves, establish a proactive Ombudsman for Older People, prioritise the protection of vulnerable older people including through the introduction of modern mental capacity legislation.
10) Reviewing the current Disability Act with a view to the introduction of a new rightsbased Disability Act alongside robust enforcement mechanisms and establish a Disability Ombudsman and a National Disability Strategy within the Department of the Taoiseach to set annual targets towards full delivery by 2016.
11)  Publish a National Carers’ Strategy to secure an adequate income, employment and social opportunities, health and wellbeing supports for all family carers.
12) Implementation of a comprehensive strategy to roll back the erosion of the primacy of Irish in Gaeltacht areas and to create new Gaeltacht areas, particularly in urban centres, across the island.
13) Industrial centres of excellence under the auspices of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht regions to foster employment for local communities.
14)  A referendum on Irish unity.
15) The integration of public services and infrastructure on an all-Ireland basis, enabling people to access services such as health and education nearest to them, regardless of which side of the border they are on.
16) Co-ordinating economic planning on an all-Ireland basis.
Harmonise taxation policy and regulation across the island.
17) Ensuring that the unionist community is included at the centre of the debate about the kind of Ireland we want and their place within a united Ireland.
Part 1 EconoMIc rEcovEry
FIxInG thE EconoMy
Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have brought the country close to economic ruin.
They have introduced five successive Budgets, as well as emergency measures in February 2009, and everything they have done has made the situation worse.
Their approach of slash and burn and bailing out the banks has completely failed.
The sacrificing of our economic sovereignty to the IMF/EU and the handing over of control of decision-making to them will be disastrous for the economy and society in general.
FIanna FáIl/GrEEn Party lEGacy
» 2011 will be the fourth consecutive year of declining employment
» By the end of 2011, 300,000 jobs will have been lost since 2007 – there are now 440,000 on the Live Register
» 35% of those on the Live Register are there for more than one year
» 100,000 more people will emigrate over the next two years
» Retail sales (excluding car sales) remain in decline
» The domestic economy, which accounts for 80% of the economy, continues to contract
– the only growth is in exports and most of those exports come from large multinational companies, not home-grown Irish businesses.
»  The Government have based their  fiscal plans on 1.75% growth in the  economy which cannot and will  not be achieved under their plans
The Government’s economic policy is focused soley on deficit reduction and bailing out the banks.
They have left the State without a plan for growth.
No plan for growth means no credible plan for deficit reduction.
The banks continue to receive our money in the bail-out but have not reinvested it in the State.
This money is being put into zombie banks here so that the leading banks of Europe can avoid the consequences of their own reckless lending decisions.
The money is heading straight back out of the country, leaving only increased debts for Irish taxpayers.
It is the banking debt that is plunging us into this debt, not the State’s exchequer finances.
Fully nationalise AIB and Bank of Ireland.
Introduce a Banking Resolution Bill which protects depositors.
Don’t rescue the remaining banks.
Introduce a stimulus package.
Overhaul the taxation system
Eliminate wasteful spending.
By taking these steps we will become a good investment for the bond markets.
High bond rates and credit rating downgrades show that Ireland is being punished for trying to service an unsustainable debt and by taking on more in the form of the EU/IMF loan.
SInn FéIn’S Plan For EconoMIc rEcovEry
Sinn Féin has put forward an alternative plan for economic recovery which has been endorsed by a number of independent economists.
Our plan is based on job creation,
taxation justice,
an end to wasteful expenditure,
a sensible deficit reduction timetable,
the separation of sovereign debt from bank debt and a realistic approach to addressing the banking crisis.
rEducInG thE dEFIcIt and FundInG thE StatE
The Exchequer deficit is €18.7billion and Sinn Féin aims to close this deficit over a six-year period.
Sinn Féin would introduce a new Budget as soon as possible following the election and begin implementing our proposals.
Sinn Féin would introduce a major jobs stimulus package and close the deficit over 6 years, not 4.
We would envisage a €3billion adjustment for the remainder of 2011 (€4.7billion in a full year), leaving us with a deficit of €15.7billion in 2012.
Over the following years, a combination of the new tax measures (and overhauling the system to shut down tax evasion and avoidance loopholes and get rid of tax reliefs), continued savings and the return from a stimulus package (including a growing economy in the private sector),
would begin to close the deficit.
For the remainder of 2011, resources from the National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) and the Exchequer Fund in the Central Bank should be used to run the State.
These two bodies hold €30.56billion (€14.9billion in the NPRF and €15.7billion in the Exchequer Fund in the Central Bank) between them.
That gives us until the end of 2011 to bring about a banking resolution.
rEturnInG to thE bond MarKEtS
Sinn Féin proposes returning  to the international bond markets in 2012 at the latest with a banking resolution package in place, a growing economy and a declining deficit.
By doing this we would restore confidence in the Irish economy with the international bond markets.
The reason the bond yields increased was because of an over-exposure to bank debt and Ireland’s commitment to paying back bondholders.
This increased interest rates.
We need to separate bank debt from sovereign debt.
A quick bank resolution plan, coupled with a radical shift in where Irish funds are diverted, would see bond rates move back to a reasonable rate.
Our debt/GDP ratio if we take the banks off the national balance sheet  would be 75%.
The corresponding figures for other European countries are: Greece 126%, Italy 116%, Portugal 76%, France 78% and Germany 73%.
SortInG out thE banKInG crISIS
The impact of the banking crisis on the public finances has been nothing short of catastrophic.
Our domestic public finances can be fixed
but we need to start with a change to how we deal with the banking crisis.
The Government needs to:
1) Separate sovereign debt from private bank debt;
2)  Abolish the bank guarantee – apply a market solution to a market problem;
3)  Burn the bondholders or allow them to negotiate debt for equity swaps in the smaller banks;
4)  Burn Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide bondholders;
5)  Introduce a bank resolution plan that protects depositors and, at the same time, taxpayers;
6)  Complete the nationalisation of AIB and Bank of Ireland and convert the two into a merged state bank;
7)  The responsible wind-down of NAMA.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)  Introduce a new Budget immediately after the election;
b)  No further drawing down of the IMF/EU loan;
c)  Separate sovereign debt from private bank debt;
d)  Sori out the banking crisis by burning the bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide, abolishing the guarantee, introducing a bank resolution plan that protects depositors,
and completing the nationalisation of Bank of Ireland and AIB;
e)  Reverse savage cuts imposed in the Fianna Fáil/Green Party December 2010 Budget which unfairly targeted those on low and middle incomes and were extremely deflationary;
f)  €7billion for a 3.5-year employment/ infrastructure provision stimulus package to to get Ireland back to work
– €2billion of this to be used for employment stimulus in 2011;
g)  A €595million financial stimulus initiative from current spending;
h)  Reduce the deficit over six years beginning with a €3billion reduction for the remainder of 2011 through a combination of the new tax measures (and more overhauls such as shutting down tax evasion and avoidance loopholes and getting rid of tax reliefs), continued savings and the return from a stimulus package (including increased tax revenues from growth in the private sector);
i)  In 2012 our proposals would see a total deficit reduction of €4.2billion and we would go into 2013 with a deficit of €11.5billion;
j)  Return to the markets in 2012 at the latest – If we take the banks off the State’s balance sheet, the debt/GDP ratio of Ireland falls below that of Belgium, which raised money in December at 1.8%;
k)   Over the next four years – 2013 to 2016 inclusive – our stimulus package returns a total of €15billion (as set out in our pre-Budget submission appendices) in revenue returns, social welfare savings and economy growth.
Year after year our new taxation measures would increase the tax-take further and we would seek additional spending savings where achievable in a fair and efficient manner.
Job crEatIon and Job rEtEntIon
Jobs can be created.
The solutions exist.
Creating jobs has to be at the core of any economic recovery plan.
By December 2010, over 440,000 people were unemployed.
Many people are struggling to survive on decreasing dole and social welfare payments while increasing numbers are emigrating.
Reminiscent of the 1950s and 1980s, a whole generation of young people sees no future in the country and they are leaving.
The ESRI has warned that up to 60,000 will leave by the end of this year and a further 40,000 next year if employment levels do not improve.
Our job creation proposals are based on providing immediate and direct employment in key sectors such as infrastructure – building schools, health facilities,
improving secondary roads and public transport, and rolling out broadband – creating employment, particularly for those affected by the construction sector crash.
Sinn Féin will also focus on creating new jobs across the agri-food, tourism and IT/pharma sectors, and Research and Development as well as with initiatives that will ensure Ireland becomes a world leader in green energy.
This will improve the State’s competitiveness in addition to providing us with world-class infrastructure to attract Foreign Direct Investment and support indigenous enterprise for longerterm employment creation.
This sustainable long-term employment would broaden and secure the tax base.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
A €7billion job-creation programme spread over 3.5 years with the aim of saving and creating more than 160,000 jobs.
This will be funded by a onceoff transfer from the National Pension Reserve Fund, which we would use for a stimulus instead of transferring its reserves into the banks.
b)  A labour-intensive essential infrastructure programme as part of the €7billion jobstimulus programme.
The focus of this programme would be to build hospitals, schools, water infrastructure, public transport networks and to roll out broadband State-wide.
c)  Establish within the stimulus programme a €600million Jobs Retention Fund.
This fund would subsidise workers in struggling Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the potential to save 96,000 jobs, akin to the successful model used in Germany.
d)   Create employment through the construction and delivery of childcare services.
There is a significant deficit which, if unaddressed, will be an impediment to economic recovery.
e)  A new generation of co-operatives.
Provide start-up funding and other support co-operatives as a viable choice for start-up businesses and the conversion to co-operatives as an alternative to closure for struggling businesses.
f)  Jobs created for the under-25s.
A Youth Jobs Fund to create 20,000 new jobs and an individual plan for the long-term prospects of every person under 25 who is on the Live Register.
g)  Boost employment in the tourism sector by developing tourist attractions, including cultural tourism attractions, amenities for those interested in adventure sport and attractions for children and young people.
Implement steps to make Ireland the top destination for those who want a clean, green tourist destination in Europe.
Target emerging and different/niche markets.
h)  Grow the agri-food sector by implementing the proposals in the report produced by Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan for the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
These proposals include funding and support central production hubs for SMEs involved in the agri-food sector.
i)  Employ apprentices on public projects.
Make the employment of a set amount of apprentices a condition on which public contracts are awarded to contractors building public infrastructure to help address the crisis in non-completed apprenticeships due to the construction sector collapse.
j)  Create a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Do this by changing the PRSI system to create a safety net for those who attempt to establish their own business, launching a National Entrepreneurship Programme with incubation centres around the country and doubling the target for supporting High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) from 200 to 400 per year.
k)  Break up local authority and public sector construction, service and procurement contracts to create a level pitch for small businesses to tender.
l)   A ‘Sales Ireland’ strategy to help Irish firms increase exports to markets outside the US and Britain.
Assist Irish firms looking to set up manufacturing businesses with the potential to compete with our largest imports, including through the provision of R&D funding.
m)  A publicly-owned national green technology firm for Ireland that would manage and use the island’s energy resources.
To be established within 12 months, it would be an energy provider and funder gathering expertise and resources to make Ireland energy independent by 2020.
Cost: approximately €100million.
n)  Increase and enhancing CE schemes, making the schemes more relevant for the needs of society, economy and the community.
o)   Initiate a ‘Front Line Services Aides Scheme’ where young people are employed to take on specific work from overworked front-line workers (e.g. civilianising administrative work that is currently done by Gardaí).
p)  Enhance Government-backed ‘Buy Irish’ campaign and ‘Shop Local’ campaigns.
q)  To reduce the pressure on retailers, end upward-only rent reviews for business premises.
r)  A radical overhaul of FÁS to ensure that the courses and assistance which it provides are relevant to the needs of job seekers and the economy, including being orientated towards growth sectors in the economy.
waGES and IncoMES ProtEctEd
People across Ireland are struggling to pay bills, meet rising mortgage costs and survive on incomes which have drastically fallen due to unemployment and pay cuts.
Social welfare rates have been cut.
ESB and gas prices are rising.
The minimum wage has been cut and this will have knock-on consequences on other low-paid workers.
Even in times of severe economic difficulties the Government must ensure that everyone has a decent standard of income, whether that is through wages earned in employment or through social protection payments.
Reducing poverty has to be a core aim of Government.
This will require enhanced education
and employment opportunities and improved income supports.
Countries which are successful in reducing poverty have comprehensive welfare systems, high payment rates and high employment rates.
As soon as economic conditions permit new, longer-term benchmarks against which the evolution of social welfare rates can be measured should to be set.
In addition, reducing payments to the incomes of those who spend everything takes money out of the local and national economies and is deflationary which in turn leads to more job losses.
Cuts in expenditure and tax increases need to be centred on the areas where they have the most positive impact on the economy.
Sinn Féin is committed to stopping any downward pressure for the working and middle classes on wages
and reducing the major costs facing households, including the amount that those on low and average incomes pay on mortgage repayments and rent.
We will strengthen workers’ rights protection to prevent wages being driven down.
We will reduce the social welfare bill by creating jobs rather than by cutting payments.
Pushing people into poverty will not lift us out of recession.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)  Restore the minimum wage at €8.65 an hour.
Sinn Féin has proposed other measures that can be applied to help viable businesses legitimately struggling to keep people employed, such as our Jobs Retention Fund.
b)  Oppose attempts by employers to unilaterally opt-out of agreed wage rates.
c)  Remove the income levy from lowearners in the ‘no-tax’ bracket, reverse the Universal Social Charge and keep minimum wage earners out of the tax bracket.
d)  Immediately return social welfare payments to 2010 levels, and as soon as economic conditions permit raise them further to ensure adequate incomes (no one below the poverty line).
e)  Protect the social welfare fund by working to end fraud and creating jobs to get people off the dole.
f)  Restore the Christmas Bonus social welfare payment.
g)  Restore Child Benefit to 2010 levels.
h)  Improving the social welfare system to ensure support is given to people seeking financial help in an holistic way – ensure a decent standard of living, access to childcare when job seeking, studying or training and, when employed, the provision of skills training and counselling where needed.
i)  New guidelines, protocols and training around the ‘habitual residence’ condition to ensure that returned Irish emigrants are not wrongly denied social welfare.
Centralise application data to ensure geographical consistency in decisionmaking.
j)  Improve the PRSI system to ensure employers are contributing fairly to their employees’ welfare (Irish employers contribute the least in Europe to their employees’ social protection).
k)  A cap on utility prices, including electricity and gas, for a minimum of three years and a reduction where possible.
l)  Maintaining VAT at its current rate, with eventual decreases of this regressive taxation.
m) Ensure a percentage is allocated from the carbon tax income fund in order to specifically address energy poverty and subsidise energy efficiency measures for the lowest-income groups.
Introducing compensatory measures to offset the carbon tax for low-income families, as demanded by social justice groups across the State.
n)  Introduce a Cost of Disability Payment on a phased basis, to offset extra costs related to disability and in recognition of disproportionate rates of poverty and unemployment among people with disabilities.
a FaIr taxatIon SyStEM
The purpose of the tax system is to collect finances to run the State, including providing services like health, education, justice and social welfare.
A good tax system is fair – it taxes those who can afford it most and asks for less from those who cannot afford it.
In this State, the tax system has been undermined as a result of changes introduced by successive governments leaving us in a position where the tax-take is insufficient to fund basic public services.
Fianna Fáil has steadily reduced direct taxation (income taxes) on the better-off while increasing flat taxes (VAT and rates), which is regressive and impacts most on ordinary people.
The introduction of a Universal Social Charge in Budget 2011 and the lowering of the tax bands to bring more people into the tax net and more lower-earners into the marginal higher tax rate of 41% has unfairly targeted the least-well-off for tax increases and lessened these groups’ disposable income – doing more damage in the long-run to the State’s finances.
Sinn Féin believes in providing high-quality, free at the point of delivery public services and these must be paid for.
This State does not have a spending problem in its structural finances;
it has a tax-raising and retention problem.
Many people made vast fortunes during the Celtic Tiger era, much of which was under-taxed due to the extent of tax breaks available.
We believe that those who can afford it should be asked to pay more.
Sinn Féin is also advocating tax harmonisation across the island so we can remove a dual system that penalises border businesses and citizens and impedes the development of an all-island economy.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)   Restructure the bank debts, including burning the bank bondholders in those banks which are insolvent, including Anglo Irish Bank.
This will ensure tax raised is spent on Irish public services– not servicing or paying off the debt incurred for bailing out the banks.
b)  The introduction of a 1% Wealth Tax.
This would be an income-linked Wealth Tax for high-earners levied on their assets over €1million in value, excluding working farmland. Potential to raise €1billion.
c)  The introduction of a third tax rate of 48% on individual income in excess of three times the average industrial wage (€100,000) per annum.
Raises €410million.
d)  Standardise all discretionary taxation expenditures (tax reliefs paid at either the standard or marginal rate depending on income) with a view to ultimately eradicating tax reliefs that do not return a value for society.
Raises €1.1billion.
e)  Increase ‘wealth taxes’: Capital Gains Tax to rise to 40% (15% increase) – raises €240million; and increase Capital Acquisitions Tax to 35% (10% increase).
Raises €96million.
f)   Abolish mortgage interest relief for landlords. Raises €285million (2009 figure).
g)  Increase tax on second homes to €600 and introduce a tiered tax increase on subsequent homes: e.g. €700 for third homes, €800 for fourth and fifth homes - potential to raise €120million.
h)  Hardship appeals system: Examine the introduction of an income-linked waiver for individuals with second homes who cannot sell them in the current climate, are struggling to meet mortgage repayments or are in financial difficulties.
i)  Abolish exemptions including PRSI exemption for share options. Raises €18million.
j)  Abolish the income tax exemption for share-option schemes. Raises €3million.
k)  Adjust PRSI on share-based remuneration and Capital Gains). Raises €79million.
l)  Abolish legacy amounts of property tax reliefs. Potential to raise €400million per annum.
m) In the longer-term, see progressive multiple bands and rates to ensure that those who have the most pay the most.
We commit to keeping minimum-wage earners out of the tax net and restoring the standard rate tax band to its 2010 levels.
n)  Reverse the Universal Social Charge and ensure that social insurance is progressive, so that those who have more pay more.
o)  Reduce dependence on regressive indirect taxes.
Rebalance the tax system to so that it is less dependent on regressive ‘indirect’ taxes such as VAT and stamp duty.
p)  End tax breaks and close loopholes abused by higher-earners.
Vigorously pursue tax avoiders and change the laws so that tax exiles lose their citizenship.
q)  No introduction of water charges or of property taxes for primary homes.
r)  The introduction of an international tax on speculative currency transactions (a ‘Tobin Tax’) to increase global economic stability.
s)  Ensure the State finances benefit from natural resources by increasing licence fees for off-shore exploration companies.
The State to take a 51% shareholding in these resources.
An immediate levy of 48% and a royalty of 7.5% should be applied on landed gas and oil.
t)  Keep the ESB and all other public companies in public ownership.
Part 2 PublIc SErvIcES
thE hEalth SyStEM tranSForMEd
Sinn Féin’s vision is of a new Irish health system with care for all based on need alone.
Our public healthcare system is in crisis because Fianna Fáil-led governments for the past 13 years have been about privatising the health service, and imposing savage cuts.
Operations are being cancelled, public hospital beds are being closed, services are being slashed, frontline healthcare jobs are being cut back and patients are suffering.
All this is happening in a two-tier system where wealth can buy you better care in the private health sector – a private sector subsidised by the Government at the expense of the public system.
Even at the height of the boom the health system continued to struggle from crisis to crisis, never properly recovering from the cuts of the 1980s imposed by Governments involving Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.
The HSE has failed because it is top heavy with expensive bureaucracy
and is trying to operate an inherently inequitable and inefficient system based on fundamentally flawed policy.
Too often the health system has failed the most vulnerable young people in its care.
It has failed patients whose illnesses have been misdiagnosed and those who have been left on waiting lists so long that their illness has become terminal.
Such failures cannot be accepted.
The health system will only be transformed if we have a clear vision of the kind of healthcare citizens deserve.
Doctors, nurses and other health professionals do a great job in circumstances that are increasingly intolerable.
It is time to start building a health service that meets the needs of all citizens and that treats them all on a basis of equality.
We need a system that has primary and preventative healthcare at its core.
A refocus on primary and preventative healthcare, together with  complementary measures to address the social determinants of ill-health, will over time produce healthcare savings to the Exchequer by reducing the necessity for higher cost acute care in many cases.
We will all benefit – the economy will benefit in the long run – if we build a world-class health system.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)  A new universal public health system that provides care to all free at the point of delivery, on the basis of need alone, and funded from general fair and progressive taxation.
b)  End the ‘two tier system’.
Introducing comprehensive community-based primary health and social care services for all, free at the point of delivery, including General Practitioner and dental services and abolishing all prescription charges.
c)  Restore direct Ministerial and Departmental responsibility for health services which are funded by public money.
d)  A Health Funding Commission to plan the transition to a new single-tier healthcare system.
e)  Reverse the current health cuts.
Fund health in the context of reformed taxation and a progressive economic strategy.
Roll out the promised Primary Care Centres throughout the State on an accelerated timetable.
No more cuts to services at local hospitals and restore those services already cut.
f)  Fewer bureaucrats, more frontline health workers.
Carry out a review of managerial and administrative posts within the health service and the Department of Health, with a view towards eliminating those positions that are surplus to requirement and using the money saved to hire more frontline health professionals.
g)  An end to public subsidies for private healthcare.
Invest all health funding in the public system, immediately end tax breaks for private hospitals and the land gift scheme, phase out public subsidisation of and ultimately replace the private system within an agreed timetable.
Abolish the National Treatment Purchase Fund and return its funding to the public health system
h)  End private hospital co-location scheme.
Potential to save €100million
i)  Apply charges based on the full economic cost to all use of all beds in public and voluntary hospitals in the State for the purposes of private medical practice. Saves €305million.
j)  Action should be taken to regulate excessive GP fees.
Roll out the promised Primary Care Centres throughout the State on an accelerated timetable.
k)  Reduce the cost of medicines in our health system, establishing a state company for the wholesale distribution of drugs, using lower-cost generic drugs, and tackling over-prescription and wastage.
Saves €200million (figure provided by the Department of Health in 2009).
l)  A regular, free, full health screening for every citizens as part of a fundamental reorientation of the health system adopting a central focus on prevention, health promotion and primary care (including mental health care).
This will save people from needless suffering and is the best way to avoid more expensive treatments later.
It will also help reduce lost working hours, saving money for workers, businesses and the healthcare system.
m) An end to the over-centralisation of hospital facilities and a reversal of cutbacks in services at local hospitals.
Provide cancer care on a truly nationwide basis, with access to radiation oncology and other cancer services in all the regions.
n)  Plan for enhanced provision of essential public nursing home beds, community care facilities and home care.
o)  Develop health services on an all-Ireland basis, progressing from increased cooperation to integration of services on the island.
p)   Improving accountability and transparency in planning and financing mental health service reform.
q)  Modernise mental health legislation in line with the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
r)  Promoting cross-departmental action to combat social exclusion, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental health problems.
s)  Ring-fence 12% of annual Department of Health budget for mental health services in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.
t)  Develop and promote suicide prevention strategies.
u)  Ensure provision of required child and adolescent community-based mental health services and end the placement of children in adult in-patient facilities.
v)  Develop neurological care services, prioritising implementation of the National Rehabilitation Strategy, including acute neurology and stroke services.
w) A Supplementary Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme, acknowledging and compensating the remaining 35women victims of Michael Neary, to be undertaken and completed within the current calendar year.
x)  A Commission of Inquiry into the practice of symphysiotomy and take all appropriate steps to help bring closure for the women survivors of this barbaric practice.
y)  Equity in access to hospice and palliative care services.
EducatIon and chIldrEn – thE bESt Start For our chIldrEn
Sinn Féin believes that children’s rights should be enshrined in the Constitution.
Every parent aspires to the best start for their children.
We are committed to ensuring that is more than an aspiration – we are committed to delivering the best start for our children.
Free primary, secondary and third-level education is a top priority for Sinn Féin.
This will mean eliminating the growing parental contributions and other costs that have undermined the entitlement to free education.
We will focus on improving childcare choices for parents in the earliest years of their children’s lives including through the introduction of what is the norm in most European states – a state pre-school system.
We will improve the care given to the most vulnerable children.
The best start for children today offers the best future for us all as a society and for the economy.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)  A Constitutional referendum to enshrine fully the rights of children in the Constitution.
b)  Introduce a robust system of child protection, ensuring that every child in care is allocated a social worker with whom they would have ongoing contact with, and resource the care system according to need;
put Children First guidelines on a statutory footing; ensure that children are listened to, and the child’s best interests are paramount in all matters concerning them;
legislate to ensure that children have a statutory right to aftercare services on leaving care.
c)   Ensure the public provision of comprehensive child-centred childcare services.
These need to be developed in consultation with parents and communities, reflecting the needs of children and families, and recognising the importance of childcare for social cohesion and economic development and the true value of the labour of childcare workers.
d)  A return to free education.
End the system where schools are reliant on voluntary contributions from parents by raising the capitation grants to cover the real cost of running a school.
Abolish the charge for the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert and for the mocks.
Establish a booklending scheme across all primary and secondary schools.
e)  A minimum of 150 school building projects to enter the architectural and planning stage each year so that schools are ready to proceed as quickly as possible to the construction phases.
End wasteful spending on the use of prefabs.
f)  Enhance Irish-medium education and Irish-language learning by giving the Department of Education and Skills responsibility to create and service the demand for Gaelscoileanna, including the immediate building of Irish primary and secondary schools where the demand has already been shown.
g)  Restore special needs assistants, resource hours, and language resource teachers and Traveller education supports.
Recognise and resource Educate Together and other nondenominational schools at primary and secondary level where there is demand for them.
h)  The creation of 500 new teaching posts and the reduction of class sizes to 20 pupils per teacher.
i)  The extension of breakfast clubs, homework clubs and school meals to all schools in disadvantaged areas
j)  An end to the state subsidy of private education.
k)  Recreational and leisure facilities to be more widely available including playgrounds, youth cafes, and skate parks and tennis/basketball courts.
l)  Prioritise action on autism to ensure the earliest intervention for all who need it, access to Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and enhanced funding for people with autism, their carers and support organisations
m) Oppose the reintroduction of third-level fees through any guise and reform the grants system to take into account the real costs of going to college.
thE wronGS oF thE cEltIc tIGEr Put rIGht
For more than a decade, Fianna Fáil-led government policies supported and fuelled the development of an unsustainable economic model which became known as the Celtic Tiger.
Many of these policies have left us with serious social and economic problems that cannot be left unaddressed.
The legacy of the Celtic Tiger includes ‘ghost’ housing estates, negative equity, an unprecedented banking crisis, unemployment, a personal debt crisis, badly planned towns and a huge Exchequer deficit.
These legacy issues for which Government policy is largely responsible have to be addressed if we want to avoid even greater social and economic difficulties into the future.
Increasing numbers of homeowners are struggling to pay off mortgages with many others experiencing negative equity.
Without intervention, mortgage default is likely to become a major issue in the time ahead.
While other economies are slowly coming out of recession, if our homeowner debt situation is not addressed it could greatly hamper our chances of recovery.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
1) The wind-down of NAMA.
a)   The State must take the properties already transferred to NAMA.
A redirection of some of this stock must be made, where possible, to eradicate the current housing waiting list and for social good.
In other cases, estates must be finished to a high standard and sold where possible.
Clear or demolish unviable house starts.
Examination must be made of the proposals for apartment blocks and hotels, etc, acquired by NAMA to be used for schools, homeless shelters, state-run nursing homes and stepdown facilities.
2) Help people – not bail out banks.
a)  Examine models for mortgage debt forgiveness for those on low and average incomes who are in negative equity and who are in arrears.
This would include looking at making available a system of recourse for those struggling to pay their mortgages whose difficulties are primarily the result of reckless lending by financial institutions.
Under such a scheme householders should be permitted to hand back the keys and walk away from the mortgage without the debt following them.
b)  Nationalise the Bank of Ireland and AIB, amalgamate them and turn them into a state bank.
Wind down Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide which cannot exist without State help.
c) Legislate if necessary to ensure all those responsible for reckless and corrupt behaviour in the banks and auditing firms are held to account.
d)  Hold developers to account.
We will ensure that ghost estates are completed where appropriate.
e) Enforce a requirement for all future developments to follow a strict procedure for planning that includes the provision of essential infrastructure such as transport, schools, health clinics and shops, increase the bond which developers are required to provide to local authorities and require all work to be completed to a certified standard.
f)  Prevent future property bubbles by capping land prices zoned for housing and increasing the regulation of banks and all those involved in the property sector.
Increasing Capital Gains Tax as proposed earlier would also curb the development of future property bubbles.
g)  A Housing Ombudsman with a remit to monitor and enforce the relevant codes of conduct, provide an effective remedy short of the courts, monitor the implementation of housing and planning legislation, monitor changes in house prices, mortgage payments in arrears, mortgage interest rates and professional fees, and repossessions.
h) Complete the stalled regeneration projects.
i)  End long-term homelessness within two years of taking office – do this through the provision of social housing and provide a dedicated revenue stream for supported accommodation for the homeless; implement a new strategy on youth homelessness; provide for a reliable annual count of all people in homeless services using ‘Counted-In’ methodology.
j)  A Tenants’ Rights Charter including rent controls and strengthen the enforcement of existing tenancy laws.
thE rural way oF lIFE ProtEctEd and dEvEloPEd
Rural communities have been put under threat as a result of Government policy.
The erosion of crucial services and the failure to create jobs has meant that emigration and depopulation is a live issue for many parts of rural Ireland once again.
The importance of the rural economy – of farming, fishing, tourism and the growth potential of the renewable energy sector – has not been recognised nor their potential fully developed.
Sinn Féin has been very critical of Government policy but we have also put forward our own alternative.
Sinn Féin produced three major Oireachtas reports: Awakening the West – Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality; Report on the Future of Farming and Fishing in the West; and Report on the Agri-food Sector.
Sinn Féin is committed to protecting the rural way of life, including vital rural services such as bus services, post offices, Garda stations and primary schools.
We have put forward realistic proposals to maintain jobs in rural communities.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND CREATING JOBS
a)   Total opposition to the sale of Coillte into private hands.
It holds lands valued at €1.2billion and made €300million profit since 1989.
It is a vital State asset that needs to be developed and not sold into private hands.
b)  Restoration of the sugar beet processing industry either for sugar or ethanol production or both.
At the time, Sinn Féin argued against the closure and highlighted the potential of converting the industry to dual production of sugar and ethanol.
c)  Increase investment in public transport at affordable prices.
Reject privatisation.
More frequent services linking rural areas to urban centres.
Introduce smaller vehicles for rural communities and a demand-responsive dial-up transit system.
d)   A secure future for rural post offices.
To save a number of post offices at risk of imminent closure, immediately intervene in the form of a public service obligation order (PSO) requiring An Post to continue to provide postal services in those areas under threat.
Transform the rural postal network to make rural post offices a ‘one stop shop’ for a range of services including postal services, banking services, council services and citizens’ information.
We will look at the feasibility of reopening as many as possible of the 344 post offices that were closed between 2001 and 2008.
e)  Uphold the Universal Service Obligation and oppose privatisation of postal services.
f)  End the policy of closing rural schools.
g)  Reform planning laws to enable rural people to build or buy a home for themselves locally.
DEVELOP FARMING AND FISHING
a)   Ensure those with the lowest farm incomes benefit proportionally more from the single farm payment (SFP) and abolish the SFP for large businesses not directly involved in farming. Cap Single Farm Payments at €100,000.
b)  Reverse cuts to the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and the Early Retirement Scheme.
c)  Develop employment potential through a range of measures including the promotion of traditional cattle and sheep breeds, an increase in the energy crop grant to €125 per hectare and the promotion of community-based windenergy projects.
d)  Establish a Rural Enterprise Fund to support new micro enterprises and co-ops being set up in rural areas, particularly in the agri-food sector.
e)   Full country of origin labelling for meat, fish, poultry products and all agricultural products sold here.
f) Negotiate a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy as part of current review.
g)  Greater resources devoted to combating illegal fishing by non-Irish vessels.
h)  Introduce administrative sanctions for fisheries offences.
i) Measures to address the issue of fish discard.
j)  Implement Ombudsman’s recommendations on the Lost at Sea Scheme.
k)  Oppose any move at EU or WTO level that undermines the Irish food sector; continued ban on Brazilian beef imports.
local coMMunItIES MadE SaFE
People have the right to feel safe in their homes and communities.
Sinn Féin will prioritise making communities tormented by anti-social behaviour, crime and drugs safer communities.
We will increase the number of Gardaí and community Gardaí on the ground, focusing on building better relationships between the community and the Gardaí.
We will put resources into diverting young people away from involvement in drugs, crime and anti-social behaviour.
Older people and those living on their own or in isolated areas must feel secure in their homes.
Women have the right to feel safe in their community and in our towns and cities, day and night.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a) Boost Garda numbers by ending current recruitment, promotion and overtime embargoes.
A far-reaching process of civilianisation to free-up fully trained Gardaí from administrative and other duties to fight crime is essential and must be expedited.
b)  Increase Garda resources in rural Ireland to allow Gardaí to serve the community fully and end the policy of closing rural Garda stations.
c)  Scrap the Garda Reserve and use the money saved to employ full-time Gardaí.
d)  Increase funding for Garda Drugs Units with enhanced community input into their use and priorities and guarantee the future of the ‘Dial to Stop Drug Dealing’ non-Garda confidential phoneline.
e)  Raise Garda visibility and activity in areas and at times needed by reassigning Gardai from desk duties to the beat.
Secure a greater number of sniffer dogs and handlers skilled in the detection of drugs and firearms.
f)   Properly resource and equip An Garda Síochána, the office of the DPP, the Courts Service and the State Forensic Laboratory to detect, investigate and secure sound convictions.
This must include a secure digital radio system and appointment of more Criminal Asset Profilers.
g)  Addressing the large number of alcohol outlets by imposing further restrictions on them and giving more power to Joint Policing Committees and local authorities to decide on location and opening hours.
h)  Tackle organised crime – Ensure existing laws are used more effectively together with sufficient resources to ensure more robust and systematic investigations to target organised crime.
i)  Invest all monies confiscated by the Criminal Assets Bureau in the communities worst affected by crime.
j)  Keep victims of crime, especially of violent crime, fully informed throughout the investigation and prosecution process and at pre-release stage.
k)  Ensure consistent prosecution of sexual assault, rape and domestic violence.
Enlarge the network of Sexual Assault Treatment Centres and increase funding to sexual assault victim support services.
Where appropriate, ensure attachment of conditions of release that prevent an offender from returning to an area where a victim lives or works and implement swift sanctions for sex offenders who break these or other conditions.
l)  Introduce practical protections for juries and witnesses.
Develop and place a revamped Witness Protection Programme on a statutory footing.
m) Speed up the trial process to reduce the windows of opportunity to intimidate and threaten witnesses, including by reducing court holidays to four weeks per year.
n)  Enhance the intelligence-gathering capacity of An Garda Síochána and consequently the potential for successful investigations and prosecutions of gangland criminals by developing and maintaining strong links between Gardaí and the communities they serve.
o)  Introduce sentencing guidelines and judicial training to ensure that sentences handed down are appropriate to the crime committed and the harm caused to the victim and the community.
Part 3 towardS a nEw rEPublIc
PolItIcal rEForM – an End to cronyISM, corruPtIon and PrIvIlEGE
The political system has failed the people of Ireland.
Public disillusionment with politics has grown as the role of the Government and the Establishment parties in bringing about the economic crisis has become more apparent.
This has been exacerbated by revelations of corruption, outrageous expenses claims and an ineffectual Oireachtas.
The political system is dominated and corrupted by the privileged, paralysed by clientelism and dynastic politics, and resistant to change.
The Oireachtas has consistently failed to exert sufficient scrutiny over the Government and public bodies.
Sinn Féin believes that it is time for fundamental political reform.
The current system is not fit for purpose.
It has brought us ‘boom/bust’ economics and has failed to create a fair society where there is genuine equality of opportunity and outcome.
It has not delivered the adequate provision of the essential building blocks of a vibrant and fair society nor the ability to underpin that society with a robust and sustainable economy.
For many citizens, the political institutions on this island are exclusive, inaccessible and unaccountable.
A large proportion of those eligible to vote don’t vote.
Other Irish citizens, including those living in the Six Counties and those working and living abroad, are denied the right to vote.
Partition has had a corrosive and deeply damaging impact on our politics, economy and society.
The all-Ireland structures of the Good Friday Agreement should be developed and enhanced and additional ones established.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)   Frame a new Constitution.
Establishing an all-Ireland Constitutional Forum drawn from representatives of both legislatures on this island, civic society, business and trade unions to discuss and bring forward a Draft Constitution.
The Forum would involve consultation at grassroots level and ensure participatory governance.
Its goal would be to produce a Constitution fully reflective of the values and aspirations of the Irish people today, soundly based on democratic principles and international human rights standards,
and which would form the basis for a future 32-county Republic.
b)  Increase voter participation.
Hold elections at weekends.
Reduce the voting age to 16.
Establish an Independent Electoral Commission to be responsible for voter registration and education.
Automatically register voters as soon as they become eligible to vote using PPS numbers to avoid fraud.
c)  Extend the right to vote to Irish citizens living and working outside of the jurisdiction as is the norm in most modern democracies.
Models in place in other countries should be examined to find the best model to apply here that could involve restrictions based on the length of time that a person has been abroad.
d)  Extend voting rights to non-citizens legally resident in the country for at least five years.
e)  Reform how the Dáil is elected.
Elect one-third of the Dáil from a list system; the other two-thirds from six-seat constituencies based on PRSTV.
f)  Abolish the Seanad in its current form.
g)  Cap ministerial salaries at €100,000; TDs’ salaries at €75,000.
h)  Make the Dáil more accessible to the public, increase the number of days the Dáil sits and introduce family-friendly sitting hours.
i)  Increase the power of TDs to hold the Government to account and to question the Taoiseach and ministers on issues of importance without giving prior notice of questions.
j)  Give Dáil committees investigative powers and allocate committee chairs proportionally on the basis of party strength
with no additional financial reward attached to them.
k)  Northern representation in the Dáil – The existing 18 Westminster MPs to automatically be accorded membership of the Oireachtas.
Voting rights in Presidential elections to be extended to citizens in the Six Counties.
l)  Enhance Citizens’ Information Centres and MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) offices around the country.
m) Increase the availability of social workers and other independent advocates to ensure that fair treatment and full access to rights and entitlements no longer depend on wealth or social or political connections.
n)  A significant cull of QUANGOs and unelected bodies to cut back on waste and improve transparency and efficiency in decision-making, retaining only those agencies whose independent function is essential to the public interest.
o)   All State boards to be answerable to the Oireachtas through relevant committees and ministers with transparency and efficiency in decision-making.
p)  Establish an All-Ireland Parliamentary and Consultative Civic Forum and complete the Review of the All-Ireland Implementation bodies with particular consideration of the case for additional bodies.
q)  End political appointments to State boards – there needs to be an open and transparent system of appointments to State bodies.
r)  Change the law to allow for the impeachment or removal from the Dáil any TD involved in corruption, deliberate misuse of public money or fraud.
buIldInG an IrEland oF EqualS
Inequality and discrimination remain a fact of life for many in Ireland.
While the gap has widened between those with massive wealth and those who are forced to work long hours and have poor quality of life as a direct result of Fianna Fáil policy, this crisis is about more than the economy.
The number of children living in consistent poverty is increasing, as well as the number of people in need of social housing.
The Celtic Tiger bypassed many people and they are worst affected by the cuts, both economically and socially.
The republican vision is about building of ‘An Ireland of Equals’
It is at the core of our agenda for change.
For this reason we need a new type of politics based on inclusion, equality and fairness.
Investing in equality is what will help Ireland recover.
Inequality costs society more.
The elimination of inequality is possible.
Investing in economic equality will be a key part of bringing the 26 Counties out of recession and ensuring that people’s quality of life is of the highest standard.
This is not just rhetorical – we bring equality and human rights in to every area of our policy.
Sinn Féin fought hard for the equality and human rights protections introduced as a consequence of the Good Friday Agreement and we will continue to press for the fulfilment of the principle of equivalence in human rights and equality protections between the Six Counties and 26 Counties and for their continual improvement.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)  Build an Ireland of Equals where everyone’s rights are guaranteed, free of divisions caused by partition, sectarianism, racism and other forms of discrimination, and free from poverty and economic inequality.
b)  An all-Ireland ‘Strategy for Women’s Equality’.
c)  Bind gender targets of at least 40% for either gender on the boards of State and semi-State bodies, the judiciary, and the Cabinet.
Consider extending such targets to private-sector bodies in receipt of Government funding within a given timeframe.
d)  Publish the National Positive Ageing Strategy following consultation and direct participation of older people themselves, establish a proactive Ombudsman for Older People, prioritise the protection of vulnerable older people including through the introduction of modern mental capacity legislation.
e)  Review the current Disability Act with a view to the introduction of a new rightsbased Disability Act alongside robust enforcement mechanisms and establish a Disability Ombudsman and a National Disability Strategy within the Department of the Taoiseach to set annual targets towards full delivery by 2016.
f)  A major pilot study on direct payments to include individuals from across the disability spectrum.
Define people’s qualifications for personal assistance services, supporting independent living for disabled people, and regulate in law the provision of these services to ensure proper standards.
g)  Publish a National Carers’ Strategy to secure an adequate income, employment and social opportunities, health and wellbeing supports for all family carers.
h)  Legislation to permit and recognise same-sex marriage.
Provide full and equal recognition of all civil partnerships in law.
i)  Stronger hate crime legislation.
Reinstate previous funding levels for anti-racism initiatives and provide annual increases as necessary.
Fully implement and resource the National Action Plan Against Racism.
j)  Official recognise Travelling people as an ethnic minority deserving of protection under the UN Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Repeal the sections of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 that criminalise the Traveller way of life.
k)  A fully independent and transparent Immigration Appeals Tribunal.
Ensure that Irish citizens have family reunification rights equal to those of other EU citizens resident in Ireland.
l)  A new ‘Equality Strategy’ that draws together previously fragmented strategies to eliminate discrimination and introduce real equality and establish an Oireachtas Committee on Equality and Human Rights to monitor implementation of our new equality and human rights laws.
m) Ensure that the Irish Human Rights Commission remains as a stand-alone body.
Expand the Equality Authority to address poverty, and ensure that appointments to the boards of both organisations are through an open and transparent process.
n)  A statutory duty to equality-proof all law and policy including budgets to promote equality at least equivalent to that operates in the Six Counties.
o)   Multi-annual funding being made available to the community and voluntary sector and ensure organisations are supported to fulfil their obligations under the Charities Act 2009.
Introduce a VAT refund scheme for charities and protect the community and voluntary sectors right to engage in advocacy.
an GhaEIlGE aGuS na GaEltachtaí
Sinn Féin supports the restoration of the Irish language as the spoken language among the majority of people in Ireland and the creation of a truly bilingual society.
We believe that there should be an Aire Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta in Cabinet with responsibility to deliver on the 20-year strategy.
Equality is an integral part of a democratic society and this includes upholding the rights of Irish-language speakers.
Gaeltacht areas must be protected, supported and developed.
The future of the Irish language is dependent upon the continuing existence of sustainable Gaeltacht communities where Irish remains the primary language of the community.
These communities require a clear Government strategy for their survival and development.
Sinn Féin believes that the Irish language must be fully supported and resourced in the education system and the right to be educated through the Irish language should be constitutionally and legally enshrined.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a)  Implementation of a comprehensive strategy to roll back the erosion of the primacy of Irish in Gaeltacht areas and to create new Gaeltacht areas, particularly in urban centres, across the island
b)  Sinn Féin supports the Guth na Gaeltachta campaign and believes that cuts to the payments made to Mná Tí under the Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaelige will not only seriously deter young people from attending Gaeltacth colleges but will negatively impact upon the Gaeltacht itself.
c)  Reconstitute COGG as a statutory body with defined powers to represent the views and recommendations of stakeholders for formulating educational policies for the Gaeltacht, Irish-speaking communities and Irish – medium schools.
d)  Industrial centres of excellence under the auspices of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht regions to foster employment for local communities.
e)  The incoming Irish Government must ensure that they and the British Government follow through on their commitments to introduce a fully-resourced and rights-based Irish Language Act in the North of Ireland.
f)  Full implementation of the 20-year Strategy on the Irish Language, including the recommendations made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.
g)  Adequate funding for Irish-medium education from early years through to third level is essential.
We also support the development of an Irish-medium teacher training college based in the Gaeltacht.
h)  Syllabus reform in respect of Irish.
It needs to be changed in order to make it more communicative and a shift in the balance of marks awarded in examinations in favour of oral and aural competence.
i)  Keep Irish a compulsory subject in primary and second-level education.
unItInG IrEland
The achievement of a united Ireland is within our reach.
Unity offers the best future for all people of Ireland.
In a time of unprecedented economic difficulties, partition makes no economic sense and is a barrier to the creation of jobs and the building of prosperity.
Differences in VAT, Corporation Tax, excise duties and currency create barriers to economic development on both sides of the border and therefore cost millions in lost tax revenue.
The removal of such impediments will create efficiencies, employment, wealth and opportunities across this island and will hasten the reunification of Ireland.
Ninety years after partition, as communities divided by the border become increasingly reintegrated, the logic and inevitability of reunification demands that we should.
It is going to happen; we should plan for it .
Since the Good Friday Agreement, crossborder trade has steadily increased.
Hundreds of thousands of people live in one jurisdiction while they shop, study or work in the other.
As old allegiances change within unionism, particularly within the working class, the potential for positive dialogue with those from the unionist community about their place in a united Ireland becomes possible.
It is time to begin the transition towards a united Ireland.
Sinn Féin believes a new start is needed in Ireland.
There is wasteful duplication in public services: there are two currencies, two tax systems, two social services structures, and two different sets of laws and regulations.
Unity is not an issue of the past it is the future.
Partition does a massive disservice to the people who live on this island.
Irish unity makes sense.
thE PEoPlE oF a unIFIEd IrEland would bEnEFIt FroM havInG:
1)  Democratic control over all monetary and fiscal policies;
2) An equitable and progressive tax regime;
3)  A fully integrated energy, transport and ICT infrastructure to support the growth of island-wide prosperity based on the principles of environmental sustainability;
4) Universal access to quality public services;
5)  Public ownership of infrastructure, run efficiently in the public interest;
6)  All-Ireland enterprise development and economic planning.
Building a better Ireland must include unification of the island.
SInn FéIn IS coMMIttEd to:
a) A referendum on Irish unity.
b)  An all-Ireland Charter of Rights as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement.
c)  The integration of public services and infrastructure on an all-Ireland basis, enabling people to access services such as health and education nearest to them, regardless of which side of the border they are on.
d)  Co-ordinate economic planning on an all-Ireland basis.
Harmonise taxation policy and regulation across the island.
e)  A Government minister with specific responsibility for driving forward the measures required to ensure a successful transition towards a united Ireland, the referendum on Irish unity and negotiations with the British Government and elected representatives from the North.
f)  The transfer of fiscal powers from Westminster to the North.
g)  Ensuring that the unionist community is included at the centre of the debate about the kind of Ireland we want and their place within a united Ireland.
h)  Implementing the other outstanding elements of the Good Friday Agreement, including the North-South Parliamentary Forum and the All-Ireland Consultative Civic Forum.
i)  Requiring the British Government to comply with the unanimous request of the Oireachtas in 2008 to allow independent, international access to all original documents held by the British Government relating to fatal attacks in the 26 Counties involving collusion between crown forces and unionist paramilitaries.
think ahead, act now
General Election Manifesto 2016
Progressive, practical, and sustainable politics for the 32nd Dáil
Domestic Context
Our economy is starting to grow again but the recovery remains fragile and is not shared evenly across our island.
Our current rapid rate of economic growth has been supported by the weakness of the euro, low interest rates and a historically low price of oil.
As a small open economy, these are all factors outside of our control and leave Ireland vulnerable to changes in global geopolitical and economic conditions.
We need to eliminate the boom and bust short term economic model of the past
but also address the shortfalls in infrastructure and public services which are the greatest constraint on our future development.
We need to get the balance right between making these necessary investments
and at the same time ensuring that we adopt a counter-cyclical economic policy so that ongoing spending commitments can be paid for by a stable tax base.
Rather than committing to across the board tax cuts and spending increases we believe that priority should be given to investment in housing, transport, energy, water and communications infrastructure, where additional lending can be raised, outside the strict confines of the European Fiscal compact rules.
We are proposing a major increase in the provision of social housing, using the new ‘cost rental’ financing model proposed by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) model.
We believe that such lending, which is financed by future rental income streams, can be accounted for in a way which allows us to make a necessary increase in our overall capital budget.
The European Union has also outlined how member states can increase capital spending beyond the limits of existing fiscal compact rules, where investment is made in productive infrastructure as defined by the Juncker Investment plan, with the support of lending from the European Investment bank and from private sector funds.
We will revitalise the €30 billion clean energy investment programme involving semi state companies such as the ESB, Eirgrid, Ervia, Bord na Mona and Coillte which the Green Party in Government had initiated and started to deliver.
Combined with investment by the private sector, this programme can help us make the necessary transition to a new low carbon economy,
characterised by the delivery of a real growth in productivity, which is the best way of protecting our international competitiveness.
We also need to ensure that we are more efficient in everything we do in the provision of public services in health, education and social welfare.
We need to reform how we deliver such services to get a better outcome for patients, students and parents and not just rely on putting ever increasing resources into a system that is in need of reform.
We heed the advice of the Fiscal Advisory Council of the need for caution in promising new spending commitments and believe the uncertain state of the global economy requires us to hold back on substantial commitments to reduce the tax base until we are certain that recent increases in corporate tax revenues can provide us a stable future income stream.
Within the constraints of our budget situation we believe there is a particular responsibility to target additional revenue streams we may have to the younger generation including parents of young children, who face particular difficulties in getting access to education, housing and essential care services.
We argue that the application of more transparent tax rules on corporate taxes on multinational companies can deliver us additional tax revenues of at least €1.5 billion within the lifetime of the next Government.
We also argue that the transition from the existing property tax system to a system of site value taxation, which includes tax on all development and commercial lands can also raise additional revenue of €100m per annum
and that such a change will promote the development of the new building stock that we need.
Along with smaller additional revenue streams from measures such as the introduction of a ‘sugar tax’ there is the possibility of increasing the fiscal space as calculated by the Fiscal Advisory Council to an annual budget increase of €1.1 billion over existing spending commitments, with a necessary review of our position at the end of 2107, when the economic position will no doubt have changed.
We agree with the outgoing Minister of Finance that a further amount of €500m per annum can be allocated for a future orientated fund but argue that two thirds of that provision should be allocated to a National Citizens Trust Fund as proposed in this manifesto.
We argue that the remaining contingency fund should be orientated to providing for the adaptation we are likely to have to make to the increasing extreme weather events that we are already starting to see due to climate change.
Global Context
The only long term economic plan which will succeed is one that puts climate change at the centre of the risks we must manage, not in the distant future but right now.
The greatest threat to any recovery will be the economic and human cost of climate change.
The World Economic Forum, for the first time since its foundation, has placed failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change as the number 1 risk to global economic stability in its 2016 forecast.
It places climate change risk as higher than the spread of weapons of mass destruction, water crises, migration and a severe energy price shock.
The refugee and migrant crisis engulfing the world is likely to worsen.
At least 22.5 million of the near 50 million refugees globally are fleeing natural disasters including storms, floods and droughts.
International agencies warn that natural disasters are displacing an equal number of people as violent conflict.
As extreme weather events become more frequent and forceful, this number is expected to rise.
Drought and environmental factors are causing famine and food shortages in the developing world leading to instability, violent conflict and in some cases for quasi-state terrorist groups to gain a foothold.
Climate change is undoubtedly a contributory factor in increased global instability and terror.
Failed states in the broader Middle East region, the rise of ISIS and increased global economic instability will see a rise in intra and inter-state conflict in 2016 and a dramatically more fragmented world than at any point since World War II.
Displacement of vast populations due to war and climate change is tearing the very fabric of the European Union.
The rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric and far right parties has the potential to pull the EU asunder and is already a significant factor in Britain’s re-negotiation and possible exit of the EU.
Retreat to nationalism and the closure of borders is precisely the wrong direction for a Europe and a world that must recognise global interdependence and inter-relation of the challenges we must face together rather than alone.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) as currently designed will be a major retrograde step.
This was a deal designed for and by global corporations with little or no benefits for the citizen.
TTIP threatens us with lower food standards, fracking in rural Ireland, and intervention by multinational corporations in our health and education sectors.
Fulfilling the SustainableDevelopment Goals recently agreed by the UN, where Ireland played a central role, will be the greatest force for security and equality across the globe.
Ireland has a proud history in leading the fight against global poverty, acting as a champion for human rights and disarmament.
We need to regain this spirit and this stance and act as an ‘honest broker’ in all our multilateral engagements.
Looking globally, we will: Legislate for binding targets on climate change in line with the Paris Agreement
Lead the charge for the reform of the United Nations Security Council, in particular that in cases of genocide and crimes against humanity permanent members of the Security Council will no longer be able to exercise a veto
Support the introduction of Humanitarian Visas which would permit the issuing of visas at embassies and consulates
Increase the number of people under resettlement and relocation as part of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme
Keep the number of relocated and resettled people under review with a view to increasing the number to a target of five thousand by 2017
Support the suspension of the Dublin III regulations with Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia to reduce the unfair burden on the Mediterranean states of the European Union
Continue and increase the involvement of the Irish naval and defence forces in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean
Stop Returns and Return Orders for countries with ongoing armed conflicts, except in cases where the individual poses a security threat, and provide mechanisms which would regularise the stay of nationals from those countries
Support the creation of an EU Asylum service to centralise asylum claims to ensure all states play their part in addressing the refugee crisis
Ensure Ireland’s expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance reaches 0.7% of GNI by 2020
Develop a tax and human rights policy for Ireland
Mobilise against TTIP, in particular the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism as an affront to the democratic process
Citizen Trust Fund
For young people and their parents, the post-school or post college phase is fraught with difficulty, financial and otherwise.
Many are unsure of the direction in which they want to take their lives.
They may wish to pursue opportunities that appear beyond their and their family’s financial grasp.
Most of all they need life experience, travel, study or to be assisted with business ideas they may wish to pursue.
We want to assist young people in the 20-26 age group with gaining the experiences they need to make important life decisions which will determine their future.
We want to encourage and facilitate learning and travel to create true global citizens who understand the wider world around them and their place within it.
It would allow young people, regardless of background, to make decisions about their futures independent of their family circumstances.
In order to help young people get the meaningful and enriching life experiences to set them on the path of achievement and genuine contribution to society, we will invest €5,000 into a special fund for every child born in the state.
The NTMA would manage the fund.
For example, with a 5/7% rate of return, by the time the child is 20 years of age their investment would mature to between €15,000/20,000.
67,472 babies were born in Ireland in 2014. If such a scheme were operational in 2014, the State would have invested €337.36m into the fund in this year.
The matured investment would be managed and accessible through the Department of Education and Skills.
This fund could be drawn down only if the young person chose to pursue a route as set out by the Department.
This fund could be used for: A year of volunteer work with a registered charity in Ireland or with a recognised NGO working in the developing word
An Erasmus or Socrates year abroad during their college studies
One year postgraduate, professional or other course of further learning
Seed funding for a business startup / act as guarantee for loan for entrepreneurship
Special resource or residential access for young adults with special needs
The fund will be voluntarily drawn-down and managed by the Department and not given to the young person in question.
Fees, accommodation and travel costs would be paid directly by the Government or via vouched expenses.
1. A New National Plan
At the moment there is no plan to set out the future direction and development of our country.
One of the first tasks of the new Government should be to set out a new plan which incorporates both a climate and a national spatial strategy.
The plan needs to set out where our population is going to live, the nature of the economy we seek to develop in each area,
the infrastructure we will need to put in place
and the way we manage our land and our environment.
Previous spatial plans have not worked because they only came as an afterthought to decisions that had already been taken on critical infrastructure
and because they were corrupted by bad planning at a local level and by the excessive centralisation of the Irish administrative system.
We need to heed the lessons learnt from the Mahon tribunal and put in place a proper structure of regional and local governance so that there is widespread local involvement in the preparation and implementation of the plan.
The development of the plan has to be co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach and involve all Government Departments.
The proposed National Dialogue on Climate change can be used as a vehicle for public consultation for the plan as the key infrastructural, land use and economic issues also have to be considered in our long term transition to a new low carbon future.
We need a new regional governance structure to shape and deliver this new plan.
Rather than relying on the three regional authorities that the last Government put in place that have no real powers or strategic coherence,
we will implement the recommendations of the Mahon Tribunal and introduce directly elected authorities for five regional areas as set out in the map above.
We would introduce the direct election for a Mayor for the Greater Dublin area which will have direct responsibility for the coordination of transport and planning in the Dublin region.
Directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford would have similar responsibility to reverse the hollowing out of our city centres that has occurred over the last fifty years.
Central to the plan should be an ambition to return life to the centre of our villages, towns and cities so that people have easy access to their local schools, places of employment and community centres.
We need to restore greater powers to local government so that councils can deliver key aspects of the plan in a flexible manner which allows for variation in policies to suit local circumstances.
We also need to resource a new community activism which sees local organisations managing poverty reduction and the protection and enhancement of the local environment.
We need the community to take a lead in deciding how local services are provided and give them a lead role in planning decisions, which are made in a more transparent, accountable and democratic way.
1.1 Our trading economy
Our country has grown on the back of our decision to become a very open trading economy with the rest of the world.
Our trade is centred around six main sectors, three of which depend on the use of our natural resources and three of which have depended on our ability to deliver high quality manufacturing and international services.
Natural Resources
Our agriculture, fisheries and food industry employs over 230,000 people and we export some €9 billion of food produce to the rest of the world.
In tourism and related hospitality services we employ 205,000 people and visitors bring €6 billion into our economy each year.
In construction and energy related industries 175,000 people are employed and we have the potential to eliminate our annual €6 billion fossil fuel import bill, if we make the switch to a new efficient and clean energy system.
The development of each of these three sectors provides the greatest opportunity for the development of our rural economy.
We need to add a fourth employment opportunity in rural areas by providing high quality broadband to every part of the country,
so that location is not a bar to participation in the new global internet economy.
In each of these sectors Ireland has everything to gain by advancing a more sustainable business approach.
The Green brand is the right fit for our country and we can trade on a reputation for being sustainable in everything we do.
Public Banking
To enhance this new regional and rural green economy the Green Party is proposing to introduce a public banking model which can provide lending for small and medium enterprises from the use of deposits raised in a region in the same region.
We will introduce a new network of regional public banks with a specific remit of lending to the local enterprise sector to create jobs in the smaller towns in Ireland.
Profits generated will be folded back into core capital with a portion for Local Authority common good projects.
While demand for credit is not currently being met by our existing banks, Article 123(2) TFEU makes provision for the European Central Bank to lend to public banks.
Germany has a longestablished Sparkassen model of publicly owned regional banks, which would serve as a template.
This network of publicly owned regional banking institutions, would retain any profits to build core capital and interest earned from regional lending would re-loaned in that region only.
They would be designed to take account of the distinct characteristics of the local region and to complement existing local saving institutions.
Manufacturing and traded services
Ireland has a deserved reputation in the manufacture of high quality bio-pharmaceuticals and medical technologies where over 75,000 people are employed.
We will continue to support strategic investment in Science Foundation Ireland, advancing research and development capabilities to attract continuing inward investment.
Digital services
105,000 people work in the tech sector in Ireland, both in large international companies and in a vibrant startup culture.
We can make those numbers grow by making Ireland a test bed location for the development of new digital services
that also help reduce our carbon footprint.
We need to counter the threat that the development of the proposed Northern powerhouse in the UK presents with the co-ordination of our own tech corridor between Dublin and Belfast, which can be a suitable first test zone from these ‘internet of things’ digital services.
In rural Ireland we will initiate a high speed broadband to the farm service, which will allow farmers to monitor and share data about soil, water and other environmental and growing conditions.
The sharing of such information could help make Ireland an advanced environmental monitoring centre, which can add to international understanding as to what is happening to the climate in the North Atlantic.
Financial services
The financial, insurance and real estate sectors employ 100,000 people.
We will relaunch the Green IFSC concept which was started in 2010 to expand environmental funds
The Green Party in government would amalgamate the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency to create the National Housing Authority, tasked with providing management, project financing and trading platforms that have already established within the Centre.
We will support the introduction of the Financial Transaction Tax being proposed in other European capitals in recognition that it will lead to a more responsible and less volatile financial services industry.
1.2 Housing
The Green Party’s vision for housing in Ireland is for affordable homes, a strong private rental sector and a social housing system based on a cost rental model as proposed by the National Economic and Social Council.
We want to build neighbourhoods that are people centred and include easy access to green spaces and community facilities.
The Green Party believes in focusing on housing for occupation, limiting the ability to use housing as a speculative asset.
In response to the severe housing shortages affecting large parts of the country, it is imperative that the Government take direct action to rectify the situation, rather than counting on small market interventions to solve the problem.
7,500 units of social and affordable housing per annum. Further, this new authority would take the existing expertise developed within NAMA as that agency winds down.
These units would be delivered through open tender, and would be managed by local authorities.
The National Housing Authority would borrow on the open market, secured against the future income streams of the housing stock to be provided.
The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) may allocate a certain portion of its funds to the development of social and affordable housing, by purchasing National Housing Authority bonds.
It is estimated that the total size of this fund is approximately €7 billion.
We would allocate 2% of the ISIF to these bonds.
In any pension fund there is at least a small allocation to fixed income bonds (usually sovereign bonds).
We would allow a portion of this allocation be held in National Housing Authority bonds rather than foreign bonds.
It is estimated that the assets of Irish Pension Schemes total approximately €90 billion.
This proposed investment vehicle is similar in principle to LPHAs which operate in Austria, which own 22% of primary residences in that state.
The following would ensure sustainable development and avoid a rerun of the property bubble.
On housing, we will:
Hold a referendum to enshrine housing as a social right in the Constitution
Create a National Housing Authority which, in conjunction with local authorities, would be responsible for housing, housing finance, planning, land development and construction in each local authority area
Convert State controlled lands including some of those 800 sites identified by the Irish Council for Social Housing as being available into social and student accommodation use
Restore the 80% rezoning windfall tax
Replace property tax with a new tax levied annually at a progressive rate on the site value of lands suitable for building (Site Valuation Tax)
Tackle the under-use and hoarding of derelict land by the state, semi-state and private sectors by reforming the Derelict Sites Act
Promote higher urban densities in terms of housing design, particularly in public transport corridors, through a new National Spatial Plan
Discourage unsustainable “one-off housing” sprawl, favouring villages or other traditional housing clusters in rural areas through a new National Spatial Plan
Prioritise brownfields sites for new developments and preserve green field sites for recreational purposes and green infrastructure, through a new National Spatial Plan
Target that 20% of all new houses should be passive standard, achieving the highest standards of energy efficiency and minimal impact on the environment
Restore the Part (V) requirements for social housing provision in housing developments to 20%
Limit the amount by which a landlord can raise rent in any year to 7%
Allocate an extra €1m in funding to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, to ensure tenancy rights are being upheld
Amend equality legislation to prevent tenants being rejected solely on the basis of receiving rent supplement
Create an online portal to facilitate the transfer of social housing between tenants - ultimately handled by the local housing department
1.3 Transport
A Green Vision
For the last fifty years national transport policy has favoured the development of private car transport over walking, cycling and public transport alternatives.
We closed our railway lines, turned a blind eye to air pollution
and road deaths as we allowed our cities and towns sprawl out into the countryside.
We have ended up in a situation where the average Irish worker now spends eight hours each week travelling 278km to and from work.
That has a huge cost in time money and lives.
Transport emissions are the fastest rising greenhouse gas emissions, leaving a terrible legacy for future generations.
We have reached the end of the road in this policy approach.
All the motorways lead to Dublin and all that traffic is coming onto an M50 motorway which is about to gridlock.
We know that we have to fully decarbonise our transport system if we are to live up to the climate change commitment we entered into in the Paris Agreement.
We know we have to build at least 20,000 new houses a year to meet the needs of our rising population.
We cannot afford to build them in the wrong place and make it even more difficult for everyone to get about.
The National Transport Authority must have a central role influencing the land use, planning and strategic direction that this plan sets out.
It will have to concentrate new development in the centre of our cities, towns and villages so that people have easier local access to their workplaces, schools, shops and other community facilities.
The NTA’s target date of 2035 for implementation of its strategies for the Greater Dublin Area and Fingal/North Dublin must be brought forward, or at least be supplemented by interim targets for such as emissions, modal share, low cost non-infrastructural measures and minimising congestion.
To change the way we invest in transport systems if we are to move to a more sustainable future.
The outgoing Government’s Capital investment plan 2016-2021 allocated €5.9 billion on roads spending, €3.6 billion on public transport and had no budget for local investment in bus routes, cycling and walking.
We will reallocate €1.6 billion of that roads budget to invest in more sustainable solutions.
Walking
Pedestrians currently account for 15% of all trips and there has been a 45% rise in pedestrian fatalities over the last two years.
If a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 50kph they only have a 15% chance of surviving but if the speed is 30kph the chances of surviving rise to 90%.
We will introduce a scheme of introducing 30kph speed zones in all residential and city centre areas.
The timing of pedestrian signals and the short crossing times is a further problem.
30% of older people find themselves unable to cross the road in the allotted green time and pedestrians are often left waiting 90 seconds between pressing the button and getting a green man.
We will introduce new regulations to reduce the waiting time to a maximum of 30 seconds and ensure that all pedestrians have adequate time to cross the road.
Over €4 billion of the roads budget is allocated for upkeep and maintenance.
We will allocate €100m from this budget to implement a scheme of building new footpaths on the approach roads to Irish towns to improve the connection between houses on the edge of the town and the centre.
We support the establishment of a Freedom to Roam over mountain commonage and other areas of rough grazing.
Routes walked without hindrance for 12 years should be designated as right-of-way.
30% of the journeys in morning rush hour involve the transport of children to school by car.
We will reinstate a safe routes to school programme to make it safer for children to make their own way to school which will improve their health and reduce road congestion for everyone.
Cycling
The National Cycling Framework published by the Department of Transport in 2009 includes a target of 10% commuting by bike by 2020 but the current Capital investment plan up to that date has no provision for the measures that are needed to deliver such a target.
We will allocate 10% of the overall capital transport budget for cycling including design and delivery of a network of urban cycling routes.
On walking and cycling, we will:
Accelerate the development of a network of pedestrian and cycling greenways across the country which will work for leisure, tourism and commuting needs
Introduce a programme of bicycle maintenance and safe cycling education in schools to improve cycling behaviour and to improve the safety of bicycles on the road
Ensure that every county and city council has a high quality cycling policy, to include infrastructural and promotional elements.
The quality of its cycling provision must be graded it should have to perform an annual audit detailing the number and location of fatalities and injuries to cyclists and pedestrians and report it publicly
Ensure that the top 50 most dangerous junctions in the country be identified and retrofitted within two years to the standards set out in the National Transport Authority’s National Cycle Manual and the Department of Transport’s ‘Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets’ (DMURS) at a minimum.
Junctions to be retrofitted with, inter alia, priority traffic lights for cyclists and convex mirrors that allow truck drivers to see cyclists on their near-side, where appropriate
Ensure that all road upgrades and new roads include provision for cycling built to standards set out in the National Cycle Manual
Ensure that cycle safety becomes a core part of the driving test, particularly for HGV and LPSV drivers
Allow contra-flow cycling in one-way streets with low volumes of traffic and specifically signed, as is the norm in most European cities
Allow cyclists to make a left turn when traffic lights are red, but giving way to pedestrians walking on a green man, as is the case in most European countries
Have traffic lights programmed to give cyclists a head start, where appropriate, and ‘green waves’ provided for cyclists on heavily cycled routes
Require all trucks to be required by law to fit sensors, audible turning alarms, extra mirrors and side-safety bars to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians
Buses
Given that the introduction of large rail based transport systems is going to take more than five years to deliver we would allocate €1 billion of the transfer from the existing roads budget to the building of high quality bus rapid transport systems.
We believe that physical infrastructure such as roads, rail lines, airports, city bus stations and port facilities must remain in public ownership
– but we are open to the involvement of private operators in the provision of transport services where appropriate.
We will conduct an independent review of all bus routes to ensure that the best possible service is provided.
The new bus routes will include the introduction of orbital routes which facilitate movement between suburbs to complement the existing radial routes which serve town centres and the introduction of local bus services for shorter trips.
We advocate increasing subvention to public transport operators.
Furthermore, as fare pricing has a significant impact on public transport usage and consequently on revenue for operators, fares should not be allowed to increase beyond the point where overall revenues diminish.
Implementing our policies will require increased State subsidy for transport infrastructure and services for the common good.
On buses, we propose: A 5% reduction in fares could be achieved by increasing the subvention to operators by €40m which should be linked to fare reductions
That PSO contract payments should be increased to 2013 levels to facilitate service improvements, at a total cost of €17m
To maximise connectivity between and within different modes of transport we need: More Park and Ride facilities on routes into cities that are not adequately served by public transport, as an interim measure
Designation of principal stations as transport hubs linking with buses
The simplification and integration of ticketing and fare structures
A new bus station west of Dublin city centre, with access for private operators too
Rail
We favour greater investmentin rail infrastructure as a more environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to road and air transport.
This requires: Giving priority to the completion of the Kildare Route Project Phase 2, and the Navan Railway Line (extension from M3 Parkway station to Navan)
Advance the planning for the Interconnector (DART Underground) between Spencer dock and Inchicore and the Metro North from St. Stephen’s Green to Swords
Encouraging greater use of rail freight
The extension of Luas to Finglas and development of light rail service for Galway
Better station facilities for travellers, including restoration of neglected station buildings
Sea and Air Transport
We support the relocation of existing storage facilities on the South Docks in Dublin to make way for new residential development in the area and the development of other existing and new port services on the east coast to reduce the pressure on the Dublin Port.
We will lobby the EU to include the shipping and aviation sector in either the Emissions Trading System or the Effort Sharing Decision and work with the UK and France to declare all waters surrounding Ireland to be a Sulphur Emissions Control Area (SECA).
The volume of ferry usage for passenger traffic can be increased by improving transport links  to ports and making timetables more convenient for users of the various modes of transport.
1.4 Energy
Ireland must decarbonise its energy system in the next three decades if we are to play our part in meeting European and global efforts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (2° C).
To achieve this, Ireland needs greater consensus on the way we will achieve this policy goal.
We have everything to gain from making the switch away from the use of fossil fuels.
We currently spend over €6 billion each year on imported fossil fuels and over 3,000 die prematurely each year due to the air pollution caused by the burning of these fuels.
By turning to our own power supplies we can create jobs, clean up our air, strengthen our energy security and stop propping up corrupt regimes.
The world is already starting to change and is switching to a renewable future.
The cost of solar and wind power is falling and spending on renewable power is overtaken fossil fuel investment, even with the fall in global oil prices.
We in Ireland have a chance to lead this energy revolution, we can combine the skills of our technology industries with our energy companies to be hyper efficient in everything we do.
We can make sure that the transition is a just one which insures the ownership of new power supplies is held in community and public hands.
Moneypoint power plant and the three existing peat fired power stations should be closed in the lifetime of the next Government.
We will establish a new marine energy centre in Moneypoint to avail of the transmission infrastructure in the area and institute a programme of retrofitting of buildings in the midlands to create employment to replace any jobs lost in the power stations.
We can power our country with a mix of renewable power, gas fired generation and interconnection in the short run as we ramp up the level of renewable power supplies.
We are already on course to meeting 40% or our needs from onshore wind power and the next phase of development should see the extensive roll-out of solar and offshore wind power following an extensive national dialogue on the future power options for the country.
We will reintroduce a support mechanism to allow householders and businesses to  sell their own solar generated electricity back to the grid.
We will initiate a programme of introducing a photovoltaic panel on every suitable public building and introduce an auction process to allow for solar panels to be developed by farmers in their fields.
We will insure that new electricity interconnectors, due to be funded under the EU Juncker Investment plan are designed in a way that connects with offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea.
We will advance the development of anaerobic digestion to use municipal and farm waste and introduce greater incentives for the development of advanced wood fired combined heat and power plants within Irish industry.
By introducing a new market mechanism, centered around balancing variable power supplies and variable demand response measures we can switch to this renewable future without the need for subsidies for conventional renewable power supplies such as onshore wind power.
The marginal price of renewable power is near zero so the return for investors will be paid for the energy services these generators provide in providing capacity, frequency and voltage stability on this new balancing grid.
We need to initiate a new model of community ownership of renewable energy resources which can be based on the co-operative model already operating in Belgium Ecopower Co-operative which is both an energy provider and developer of new renewable power where members can join by taking out a small share in the enterprise.
The presence of so many technology companies in Ireland and our small size and high quality distribution grid will allow us become a test location for the development of new low carbon energy efficiency solutions.
We will introduce a support scheme for the promotion of renewable heat power and strengthen the advertising requirements for Building energy rating certificates to promote more efficient buildings.
We will set a requirement for all onshore wind farms to have at least a 15% requirement of community ownership in all new developments.
Over one million houses in Ireland are heated by oil fired central heating systems.
We will encourage the switch to heat pump and wood fired heating systems by expanding the SEAI Better Energy Warmer homes scheme, with an additional ost of €10m per annum.
We will support the introduction of a Dutch Energiesprong deep retrofit energy efficiency scheme in Ireland.
We will seek European Investment Bank funding support for such an initiative with repayments on social housing coming from future fuel allowance payments.
We will advance the roll-out of electric vehicles by directing the Commission for energy regulation and the ESB to further advance the roll-out of electric charging points.
We know that four fifths of known fossil fuels will have to remain underground if we are to have a chance of avoiding dangerous levels of global warming.
Ireland should show a lead by committing to a ban on hydraulic fracking for oil or gas and by ending the programme for licensing for oil and gas exploration in Irish territorial waters.
1.5 Tourism
The success of the Wild Atlantic Way has demonstrated the potential for marketing Ireland as a clean green holiday destination.
We envisage a variety of ways of making and marketing Ireland as an eco-tourism centre.
These ways include: Create an All-Ireland Walkways Development Plan to establish long distance off-road walking and cycling routes as well as promoting sustainable, outdoor/adventure tourism.
Develop Food Trails to build on our reputation for high quality produce.
Promote youth and child friendly water sports to encourage activity and awareness of our maritime heritage.
Develop ‘Proud Cities’ with traffic-free areas and new parks to benefit residents and tourists.
Designating at least two new national parks to attract tourism
Connect Rosslare to Larne and Rosslare to Galway as two new tourist rail routes
Keep VAT at 9% for the Tourism and Hospitality sector
1.6 Climate Change & Environmental    Protection
The need to address long-term problems, such as climate change, is an overarching value of the Green Party.
We support the enactment of national legislation to respond to climate change and transition to a lowcarbon, climate-resilient economy.
This will reduce our over-dependence on imported sources of fossil fuel energy.
Global events related to extreme weather, such as storms and droughts, could compromise our food security and lead to increased forced migration into Ireland by ‘climate refugees’.
Our climate policies include: By 2050, Ireland’s power, heat and transport systems should no longer rely on fossil fuels and our agricultural system should achieve carbon neutrality.
This is technologically possible, and would result in greater employment, energy efficiency, security, an improved economy, and improved public health, in addition to contributing to a healthier climate
We need to establish ambitious but realistic binding national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2030 and aim for 100% decarbonisation of the power system and an 80% overall reduction in national emissions by 2050
The development of a new national planning process encompassing both climate mitigation and adaptation is essential
There should be a requirement for annual reporting on national climate action plans to the Oireachtas
We support the development of local food production systems to decrease reliance on food imports
There should be greater consideration on the asylum status of refugees fleeing environmental disasters in addition to armed conflict
A massive increase in afforestation consisting of native and continuous cover woodlands to help offset our carbon emissions.
Only 10% of land in Ireland is under forestry which represents the second lowest proportional percentage of any country in Europe
The systems for the protection of our environment need to be strengthened.
We would: Ensure greater coordination between, environmental  regulation and planning control.
Establish a National Environmental Action Plan
Develop an all-island structure for environmental protection and enforcement
Review the levels of fines and range of sanctions available to courts
Allocate additional resources to the EPA, with a particular emphasis on investment in monitoring and enforcement activities
Properly resource the enforcement division of the EPA so that it is able to prosecute serious offences on indictment rather than summarily.
Provide in licensing conditions for the problems created by companies going insolvent
Strengthen the role and membership of the EPA’s Advisory Board to have more expertise and greater input into the agency’s strategy
Establish a forum of appeal for the Integration Pollution Prevention and Control license system
Introduce annual audits of local authority environmental performance and invest in local government environmental enforcement capacity e.g. training, consistent approach to enforcement, minimum inspection criteria and best practice
The Irish Constitution should be amended to recognise the intrinsic worth of the environment, such as the provision in the Ecuadorian Constitution acknowledging that Nature has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles
The Green Party supports the proposition that a crime of ecocide be created in international law, as a crime against nature, humanity and future generations, to be defined as ‘the extensive damage to, destruction of or loss of ecosystem(s) of a given territory, whether by human agency or other causes, to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants (human and non-human) of that territory has been or will be severely diminished’; and that the proposed crime of ecocide be formally recognised as a Crime against Peace subject to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
1.7  Water
Conservation, investment, and fairness should be at the heart of our water services.
Public confidence in Irish Water is badly damaged and needs to be repaired.
In Ireland, at present, over 50% of treated water is lost through leaks, raw sewage is discharged in 45 locations around the country, we only have capacity to treat 50% of the sludge produced by septic tanks, and 30% of private wells are polluted with E. coli.
Significant investment is needed in our water and waste treatment infrastructure
– investment that Irish Water is not delivering.
Despite the elaborate mechanisms designed to keep borrowing off the national balance sheet, investment in water infrastructure by this government has been less than half than in 2010, when the Green Party were in Government.
On water, we propose: A referendum to enshrine both the right to water and the public ownership of water infrastructure into the constitution
A total overhaul of Irish Water, reducing the utilities role to overseeing and directing investment, like the National Roads Authority
Tasking the new Irish Water with managing water infrastructure on a regional basis, based around river catchment areas, in conjunction with local authorities
The continued installation of water meters to encourage conservation, and detect leaks
Smart meters are used to manage other utilities, such as electricity and gas, and can play a role in conserving water
Allocating a generous free allowance of water to every citizen to meet their basic everyday needs while recognising that certain medical conditions would require more.
Charge for excessive waste of water, and consistent breach of the free allowance
Abolishing the “Water Conservation Grant”, instead offering tax relief on water efficiency measures, such as rainwater harvesting systems
Investment should be provided via joint EU/Central exchequer funding along with charges for excessive use
1.8 Flooding
As climate change continues to lead to more turbulent weather activity, we need to be ready with a plan that will deal with the inevitable flooding that will come.
The Green Party has a plan for flooding, one that combines shortterm coordinated response to the crisis with long-term planning of our cities and towns.
The devastation of flooding doesn’t have to be inevitable.
To deal with flooding, we propose to: Create a single Emergency Response Agency involving local authorities, Government departments, Gardaí, Defence Forces, Civil Defence and emergency services in coordinated planning and response to emergency situations
Adopt ecological measures to manage our river catchments to benefit communities who live and work near vulnerable areas.
This is preferable to Kilkenny style Flood Relief Scheme due to costs and time pressures
Develop land use management plans for each river catchment in the State and begin a process of utilising land to attenuate flood waters, build natural revetment barriers and plant broadleaf forestry and willow for coppicing.
Prevent poorly regulated urbanisation which has led to construction on flood plains.
This must end.
End denudation of our upland and blanket bogs.
Draining and farming practices must be better managed with flooding in mind
Alter the GLAS Agri-Environment Scheme to fund local projects to give revenue to farmers and future proof their lands from degradation
1.9  Food and Agriculture
Public awareness of issues relating to food is increasing with regular discussion in the media of issues such as food security – threatened by our dependence on imports; the related issue of food miles – very relevant to climate change; concerns about poor diet and obesity; and food waste.
Agri-food is also Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and themain economic driver in many rural areas.
There is still great potential to expand this sector by providingpremium quality food, more jobs and added value through lower intensity farming.
We need to: Promote organic food production, especially focusing on import substitution, to achieve a target of 5% of land in organic agriculture by 2021
Keep Ireland GMO free.
The consequences of these technologies are not fully understood, they promote monoculture and the patenting of seeds threatens public access to safe and nutritious food
Develop publicly owned food markets in cities and towns to encourage more direct selling from producers to consumers
Support the generally extensive, grass-based nature of cattle, sheep and goat production in Ireland - the planned increase in production under the revised CAP must be achieved without compromising that
Support methods of adding value to beef production – such as finishing young bull beef and veal production at home – which can add value in the region of €300m and reduce live exports
Give higher priority to habitat creation and protection in farming policy, rural environment schemes and development planning
Scrap green/marked diesel regime in favour of a tax rebate payable to farmers or other persons now entitled to use marked fuel
Encourage farmers to move to a polycultural grazing systems which reduce carbon emissions and help pollinators
Encourage community involvement in food growing through community gardens, school gardens and allotments provided by local authorities at affordable rents
Press for local food procurement policies to be allowable under EU and World Trade Organisation rules as well as compulsory labelling of country of origin
including main ingredients in processed food
Support the development of a national soil strategy that prioritises soil protection and appropriate management practices
Introduce schemes across primary and secondary schools aimed at educating children about all aspects of food (selecting, meal planning, preparing and growing your own)
Introduce legislation to ensure that school vending machines only supply healthy snacks.
Reduce food waste by working with producers to reduce supply chains and through public education programmes
Promote the development of community supported agricultural systems and encourage access schemes for young farmers who do not have title to their own land
Zero food waste - introduce legislation to ensure that all misshapen and still edible foodstuffs are donated rather than dumped (as is the case in France)
1.10 Forestry
In dealing with forestry, we recognise the ecological and social value of forests, the economic value of timber for construction, manufacture andbiomass, Ireland’s superior climate for growing trees and the threats of climate change.
On forestry, we propose: Retaining the commercial forests of Coillte in public ownership and altering the aims and objectives of the company to recognise the vital role the company plays in providing public amenity, environmental protection, biodiversity and its commercial mandate.
Planting of protection forests bordering rivers and lakes to protect water quality and assist in managing flood risks
Promoting a graduated move to Close to Nature-Continuous Cover permanent forestry silvicultural systems and management (without clear felling) to ultimately create permanent biodiverse forests containing trees of all ages, provide a more sustainable flow of products and maintain the “capital” of mature and diverse forests to resist the threat and risks associated with climate change
Regulation of imports in relation to illegally logged timber and timber traceability and certification
Increase the planting of trees to 15,000 ha per annum by 2030 which will be provided for with €30m per annum additional forestry subsidies.
1.11 Waste
At present Ireland sends over 700,000 tonnes of waste to landfill each year. Landfill is now recognised as the last resort.
Much of this wastecould be prevented, reused, recycled, recovered for energy or composted.
Zero Waste To Landfill by 2030 can be achieved.
We can achieve this if we: Target at least a 70% recycling and composting target by 2025
Make Ireland a leader in this sector by sponsoring post-graduate programmes and introducing PPP schemes to develop potentially cleaner alternatives to incineration such as gasification, pyrolysis, mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) and bio-refineries
Continue to increase the landfill levy which has been effective at diverting waste from landfills
Implement a levy on incineration and other waste treatment processes based on pollutant emissions
Apply a carbon tax to all waste installations to encourage low carbon solutions
Ensure that any incinerators built shall connect to district heating systems and lead to substantial greenhouse gas savings
Set up expert panel to establish what infrastructure is needed and what changes manufacturers must make in order to meet the EU End of Life Vehicle and Battery directives for which  targets are currently on course to be breached
Introduce a ban on the sale of products containing plastic microbeads
2. Efficiency in Everything we do
The most equitable and productive investment of taxpayers’ money is the provision of high-quality public services that can be accessed byall on the basis of need.
Additional revenues will be invested into public services and public infrastructure.
2.1 Education
What do we want for our children?
Many children achieve impressive results in the Leaving Certificate but remain short-changed when it comes to the things that matter the most.
According to the World Health Organisation depression is 10 times more prevalent than in the 1960s.
The average age for the onset of depression in the 1960s was 36.
It is now 14 years of age.
This is a wake-up call for us.
We should work together to build a society and an education system that places the happiness of our children and our future adults at its heart.
Greater happiness increases productivity and reduces disease and disorder.
A key factor in enhancing and sustaining happiness is identifying and tapping into inner strengths.
Resilience is the ability to adapt to the challenges of life.
Building resilience in our children will prepare them for the challenges ahead, and to have the toolbox of skills to cope in crisis.
We need an education system in which children will learn to recognise and nurture their own strengths.
Rather than fitting our children into a rigid curriculum, education needs to be better matched to our children’s needs.
Education is not simply teaching “subjects”: it is much more important than that.
Children who learn resilience and confidence can make a difference: they can become the adults who will shape a more robust society.
How will we push to achieve this?
We will establish a taskforce to explore and engage with experts worldwide to build initiatives focussed on developing life skills.
We will reform primary teaching away from the current overloaded curriculum requirements, to give teachers greater freedom to help children identify and develop their particular skills.
We will provide teachers with the continuous training to enable this.
We will propose changes at both second and third level that will reduce the emphasis on the importance of the grades received in the Leaving Certificate examinations.
This will give greater freedom at second level to deepen understanding of both the subject areas and of the students’ own strengths, instead of primarily teaching how to pass the exam.
Third level education will also benefit, as students will enter with a less examfocussed approach to advancingtheir true education, developing the kind of skills that employers and society need.
This is an investment that Ireland has to make.
A strong education system supports a sustainable and adaptable society capable of thriving in the face of multiple changes.
Investment in education benefits all of us.
We need to improve the conditions of pre-school, primary and secondary education.
We will: Plan to reduce staff-student ratios across all levels, allowing more smallgroup learning opportunities at primary and secondary
Reintroduce ex-quota status of guidance provision in secondary schools with an investment of €32m a year.
Guidance counsellors support the mental health of students and are an essential support for young people from disadvantaged and immigrant backgrounds in particular
Make school dinners available for all school children as in other countries starting with initial funding of €25m per annum.
This improves school performance and benefits health and wellbeing
Invest in lifelong teacher training.
At the primary level, this will focus on promoting mental resilience, scientific observation and enquiry, as well as outdoor and sports activities.
At secondary level, it will additionally focus on developing critical thinking skills
Reform primary level skills development and reduce emphasis on homework.
International studies indicate that homework at primary level may offer little academic benefit and demotivate children.
A new approach to homework should look at building children’s strengths and confidence
In transition year, provide for children from different schools to spend two weeks in a “learning in nature” scheme where they are involved in preparing and planting land for harvest later that year.
It would be established on a pilot basis and expanded until every fourth year student could avail of the scheme. Initially with a €5m per annum budget
Support junior cycle reform, but delay assessments until third year, since overemphasis on assessment in second year may be counter-productive
Increase the proportion of our research budget supporting a greater number of PhD students.
Investing in human capital drives the knowledge economy
Access to education in Ireland is still not as equitable as it should be.
We have increasing student numbers at third level, and significant increases in primary and secondary level in certain geographic areas.
However, poor planning in the face of well-anticipated shifts in educational needs are creating problems now and will create problems in the future, unless they are tackled much more energetically.
Removing barriers to education, at all levels, is a key priority.
The Green Party proposes to: End any discrimination at school entry on the basis of religion or special education needs
Urgently review and tackle transport and housing costs of third level students
Ensure that children in Ireland who find themselves in Direct Provision will have the right of access to third level education
Support a second year of funded pre-school education, coupled with improved pre-school inspections
Support rural schools, with continued funding for schools with less than four teachers, where student travel costs of time and money justify this
Oppose any cuts to student grants or increases in fees
Overhaul CAO third level entry and leaving certificate examination.
Other skills in addition to memory work and exam technique will be increasingly assessed
Increase third level student mobility between courses and institutions after entry.
This gives students more options and reduces emphasis on leaving cert results
Invest in online educational programmes to support more flexible education of students from home and abroad
Increase direct state funding for third level by €300m per annum to prevent increases in registration fees
Increase participation in Further Education,
especially for disadvantaged communities.
Increase the standard and scope of post-leaving certificate and vocational training, and remove the cap on plc places
These proposed changes are intended to enhance the well-being of children and students now.
They are intended to develop the future generations that will be ready to take on the challenge of leading Ireland into the middle of the twenty-first century and beyond.
We believe they are worth the investment.
2.2 Health
Health is an important aspect of quality of life, which is linked to the environment we live in.
Good health begins with exercise, good diet and a healthy lifestyle.
By enabling people to live healthier lives we can reduce the cost of health care and improve the quality of everyone’s lives.
Our goal is to develop patientcentred care, to prevent problems before they occur, and to create a world class health care system that is cheaper and more efficient.
Our healthcare system is in trouble.
Too much emphasis has been put on short-term cost
and the idea that competition will solve problems has meant that patients and their care has been left behind.
Sick people should not be viewed as a market for making profit.
We need to change this.
We need to develop incentives for patients and those who provide health-care so that the whole system works together with the aim of doing the best for the patient.
This concept is known as patient-centred care, where doctors, nurses, hospitals and clinics work with patients to help prevent problems before they become acute and need expensive treatment.
This will create a world class health care system that is cheaper and more efficient, and where decisions are made at the lowest possible level.
Patient Centred Health
The Green Party wants everybody to be able to access care as close to their home as possible.
This can be achieved with the following services: Public Health Nurses at an advanced level who would look after patients in their own home.
These nurses would have the power to get extra services for patients based on medical need
Telephone and Internet services to help patients deal with illness.
These services would be provided by experienced nurses, doctors or pharmacists who would be able to arrange care for patients in the appropriate place, at the appropriate time.
For example, some patients would be fast-tracked into hospital beds, while others could have appointments made for them with their family doctor at the earliest opportunity
Increased numbers of advanced Paramedics who could treat patients in their own homes, so that they would not need to come to hospital
Extended services in community pharmacy, so that some services could be provided working with family doctors, and taking the pressure off them
Community “polyclinics” such as those found across Europe, where people could access a range of health and mental health services, on a drop-in basis
More investment in family doctor (General Practice) services to allow for minor procedures and specialist services to take place outside of hospitals
Health funding
We recognise that the health-care we provide is costly to the state and to its citizens.
More efficient patient-centred healthcare costs less because people are empowered to make choices that benefit them in the long term.
The correct incentives should also be in place to ensure that different services are integrated to deliver the best results.
The Green Party strongly disagrees with other parties who prioritise tax cuts over solving the crisis in the Health Service.
This approach appears to be costly in the short term, but when waste, duplication of services caused by competition and perverse incentives in the current two-tier system are removed, there will be significant savings.
The Green Party: Believes in a single-tier health system based on need rather than the ability to pay.
The fairest and most progressive way to achieve this is by funding from general taxation
Supports multi-annual budgeting, Activity Based Costing and blended Capitation Schemes to incentivise efficient targeted use of resources throughout our health system
Supports the introduction of small charges for all medical services, to be paid at point of use of those services, subject to a person’s medical need and their ability to pay
Will phase out all tax incentives and public sector concessions for those who purchase or provide private health care services and private healthcare insurance.
Negotiate medication costs regionally based on EU procurement best practices, with specialist advice to ensure that we get the best medications at the most cost-effective price, without the risks of drug shortages
Introduce a National Carers Register to provide a clear basis for the assessment and planning of services to meet their needs
Supports the concept that health is considered in all policy decisions (“HIAP”)
Proposes that local authorities will play an important role in promoting health through the provision of safe walking / cycling routes, public parks, playgrounds, pitches, swimming pools and leisure centres
Supports measures to ensure clear and meaningful labelling of foods so that people can make an informed choice regarding what they eat
Supports targeted public programmes to improve education and practice related to oral hygiene and to improve access to dental care
The Health Service
The Green Party would replace the Health Service Executive with local community health organisations (CHOs) which will include a balance of community and patient participation advised by healthcare professionals.
These CHOs will find solutions to local needs, based on accurate information on outcomes from services provided and will be able to direct funding into the most cost effective providers.
It also will enable transfer of service provision to the lowest level of complexity.
Steps would be taken to ensure that patients and not local politicians would be involved in decision making.
The Green Party supports regional and national centres for care of complex disease where there is evidence or a persuasive body of opinion that this results in better patient outcomes and more efficient service delivery
Health Performance Measurement and incentivisation of better outcomes in health services should be promoted in preference to reporting on structures and processes.
This is a necessary part of ensuring that the health system is accountable to its citizens
Health information and marketing: We oppose any change to EU legislation, which would permit direct marketing of prescription drugs
We support the International Obesity Task Force’s “Sydney Principles” as a basis to restrict commercial marketing of foods to children
We advocate planning restrictions on outlets selling high calorie “junkfood” and beverages within or adjacent to schools and a ban on their sale in schools and other public buildings frequently used by children
We support minimum pricing for alcohol and a ban on advertising of alcohol on television and radio and in association with sporting events.
We advocate greater restrictions on access to forms of gambling which appear to be particularly addictive or particularly attractive to children
Health choices: The Green Party supports the implementation of a Sugar Tax
The Green Party supports conventional health care based on biological, psychological and social science as the principal model for health care delivery in Ireland and the integration of alternative/complementary health care into publicly funded health care systems
Excessive “medicalisation” of life can create unnecessary fear and misdirect public policy emphasis towards drugs and treatments and away from the core of a sustainable health policy
Subject to meeting a series of conditions including broad public support the Green Party would support a system of presumed consent for organ donation
The Green Party supports a move away from a criminal-justice based approach to a health-based approach to Drug policy.
The primary goal of our policy should be to minimize harm caused by drug use alongside demand reduction measures.
The decriminalization of drug use is a good first step toward achieving this, but only a first step
Disability
The Green Party considers disability Disability inclusion needs to be to be a natural part of the human embraced by all Government condition, which some people may departments and public bodies.
experience from birth and others acquire as part of life’s journey.
The Green Party supports: The ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Ireland signed in 2007
An Irish Sign Language Bill to accord it official recognition
An increase in the Disability Allowance
An increase in the budget for disability services, including Home Support and Personal Assistance
Financial incentives for employers that employ an individual with a disability
Making rehabilitation services quicker and easier to access
Addressing the large unmet need for speech and language, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy
Extending the funding supports for people with disabilities in education to part-time students
Specific inclusion of the needs of people with disabilities in future housing policies
Ensuring that new transport subsidy schemes provide for people with mobility needs, including those who would have been eligible for the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance Schemes prior to their closure.
A sufficient quota of the national taxi pool to be fully accessible and available to people with disabilities by 2017.
The disability spending above will be provisioned by an additional €90m per annum
2.3 Mental health
We would require the Department of Health to oversee the full implementation and resourcing at national level of the policies of 2006  ‘Vision for Change’ into mental health care;
the emphasis being on recovery as far as is possible and on facilitating full information and choice for patients around all forms of treatment including talking therapies
Care in the community should be provided and adequately resourced where possible with hospital admission as a last resort
Psychotherapy, Counselling and Psychology services should be regulated by an independent body (similar to the Teaching Council) attached to the Dept. of Health with guidance from the Psychological Society of Ireland and the IMO to ensure standards and minimum qualifications within these professions
We support the integration of access to psychotherapy, counselling and social care services into all Community Mental Health Teams and primary care teams, including the Child and Adolescent service
We should resource provision of early childhood and family interventions for families experiencing parenting difficulties
The appointment of a Mental Health Promotion Officer in schools is needed to provide mental/emotional health programmes
We support the adequate resourcing of Authorized Officers to implement necessary detention orders and the removal of section 9 (a) from the Mental Health Act 2001 which allows a family member to instigate involuntary detention
We would support nationwide implementation of the SCAN crisis response service for suicidal persons
Addiction services should be integrated with mental health care and social care.
A full range of therapeutic services should be available to women during pregnancy and in the peri-natal period
We will begin implementation of mental health reform with an additional €35m per annum
2.4 Childcare
Parents in Ireland struggle to meet most of the cost of childcare, with state support for parents lagging well behind our European neighbours.
The Green Party believes that the state must take up responsibility of sharing the cost of childcare with parents and in the medium to long term parents should not have to spend more than 15 percent of their income on childcare.
The quality of childcare needs to be urgently addressed so that all children get the best start in life.
To help parents look after children both in the home and in childcare we will:
Introduce six months paid parental leave, to be shared between parents during the first year after birth, in addition to existing maternity leave.
There is strong evidence that children benefit most from spending the first year of their lives with a parent.
This change should be introduced gradually over a five year period with an investment of €273m
Provide the right to unpaid parental leave for both parents up to the child’s third birthday, similar to that available in Germany, with appropriate requirements for providing notice to employers
Introduce a ‘childcare subsidy’, where the state pays part of the cost of childcare for children under three before they are eligible for a pre-school place.
This subsidy should be introduced in 2017 to initially benefit lower-income families, and should be expanded gradually to include all children in quality childcare.
These supports would only be available to childcare providers that sign up to high quality curriculum and quality standards, based on the existing Aistear and Siolta framework, with provisions to ensure that fees are not excessive
Make sure all children get the best start in life by ensuring that high quality pervades all aspects of our childcare provision.
We will establish a comprehensive framework for the early education profession, including qualifications, professional development and remuneration.
We will link qualifications to pay, ensuring that early education professionals are incentivised to stay in the sector after graduation
Insist on new schools providing appropriate pre-school facilities to assist in transition and help parents avoid multiple drop-off points
Ensure that all children with disabilities or who have other additional needs get support to access childcare, based on the recommendations in the second report of the Interdepartmental Working Group, including speech and language therapists and other appropriate early intervention
3. A Just Society
3.1 Justice
The justice system plays a vital role in creating a peaceful and safe society for citizens to enjoy.
Citizens deserve to enjoy the rule of law in a fair and equal manner.
The justice system does not just refer to the Gardai and court system, however.
For a truly fair society, justice must pervade every aspect of daily life.
With regard to the Garda Síochána, the Green Party will: Commit to funding the recruitment of 2,000 new Gardaí in the lifetime of the next Government.
Support the resourcing of the Gardaí, particularly through the provision of new vehicles and safety equipment
Increase the use of targeted burglary response units across the country and enhance the prosecution rates of those involved in these crimes by assigning them case managers as their offences move through the courts
Seek to improve the newly formed Policing Authority by removing any political role in the appointment of the chair and the members, giving it a role in reviewing policing priorities and having it oversee the implementation of human rights by the Gardaí
Enhance the resources available to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and give it a role in investigation disciplinary as well as criminal breaches
With regard to the justice system, the Green Party will: Create an independent sentencing council which will produce guidelines for judges to follow in implementing sentences.
This council will bring together members of the judiciary, legal profession, and non-legal members.
It will also have a public consultation and education mandate
Set up a separate Planning, Environmental and Climate Justice Law Court managed by specialist Judges and adopting the Practice and Procedure, efficiencies and work ethics of the existing Commercial Court
Introduce legislation to stop corporations devising corporate structures in order to avoid paying debts and statutory obligations (e.g. Clery’s case) and to prevent foreign registered companies hiding beneficial ownership from public scrutiny
Provide a mechanism to fund necessary public interest litigation
Introduce ‘spent conviction’ legislation that provides for the lapsing of certain offences from an individual’s record after the passing of a set period of time
For victims of crime, the Green Party will: Fully Implement and resource the EU Victims of Crime Directive including the full provision of victim liaison officers
Establish a system of monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Victims’ Charter
Review the work of the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime and conduct an audit of the victims support services around the country in order to ensure greater coordination and cohesion between victims’ caring groups
Ensure widespread promotion of the National Crime Victims’ Helpline
Introduce legislation to criminalise the practice commonly referred to as “revenge porn”
On prisons, the Green Party will: Explore the possibility of developing an after prison support system, with one agency coordinating fully integrated supports for accommodation, education, employment
Increase the age limit for the application of the Garda Youth Diversion to 1824 year olds
Enhance accountability within prisons and other places of detention through ratifying and implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture
3.2 Immigration and Asylum
On asylum, the Green Party will: Dismantle the direct provision system and replace it with an efficient and humane system for determining the status of asylum seekers
Grant asylum seekers the right to work after 6 months
Create an independent appeals mechanism for asylum decisions and include the asylum and immigration systems within the remit of the Ombudsman and the Children’s Ombudsman
Ensure Ireland works closely with other EU member state to provide a fair and proportionate system of asylum provision for persons fleeing wartorn states
and continues to support rescue mission in the Mediterranean.
We would examine family sponsorship schemes that are successfully implemented in Germany and Austria
On immigration, the Green Party will: Introduce an Immigration Act to codify areas such as the right to family reunification, the rights of children and access to permanent residency in order to reduce the level of discretion left to the Minister for Justice
Implement a regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland
End labour exploitation by creating sector- based employment permits so workers may move between employers and ensure that all migrant workers are able to access the Labour Court
3.3 Pay and Pensions
Minimum wage
The increase to the minimum wage recommended by the Low Pay Commission was welcome, but there needs to be a means whereby those on this level of pay have longer term certainty regarding what they should be paid.
We would propose that, in order to reflect changes in the cost of living, the minimum wage rate should be tied to Consumer Price Index inflation on an annual basis.
There would be a base floor set at €9.15 per hour, meaning that even if the CPI dropped dramatically, the minimum wage would not drop below that figure.
We will introduce legislation which would link the hourly rate of the minimum wage to changes to the Consumer Price Index, with a base floor of €9.15, below which the wage could not fall
The Green Party supports the integration of the social welfare and tax systems in a manner which provides income support in recognition of the importance and value of unpaid work.
This process of integration should begin with the introduction of a refundable tax credit for those people who do not take up their full tax allowance.
This will be the first step to the adoption of the basic income scheme which would replace the current separation between the tax and social welfare system.
We believe that recent misguided cuts to one parent family payments should be reversed which will require an estimated €12m increase in the budget for next year.
Pensions
Ensure that pension pots are taxed at an equivalent rate to ensure equity in the tax treatment of pensions.
Give workers options at the pensionable age, where they can choose to accept a full pension; choose to work part time and receive a part pension; or continue to work full time with a special tax relief.
Introduce legislation to limit public service pensions to a rate of no more than twice the average industrial wage, or €75,000.
3.4 Digital
A progressive development plan for digital rights and infrastructure will position Ireland to benefit from the wide variety of cultural, environmental, and economic possibilities afforded by the ever growing digital space.
By forging a functional balance between exploring these new opportunities and protecting the people who use the systems, we can set a leading example in responsibly and effectively engaging with the digital world.
The Green Party will: Extend infrastructure to provide guaranteed 100mb internet connection to farms, along with support systems to allow farms to benefit from modern agricultural IT technology
Support net neutrality. The internet should remain an equal playing field.
Your ISP shouldn’t be allowed to charge you more to access selected parts of the internet
Adjust defamation legislation to protect the creators and publishers of legitimate critical, satirical, and parody content
Support the strengthening of fair use provisions in copyright law
Protect the privacy of individuals by limiting data retention by ISPs and state bodies
Oppose web blocking systems.
They are largely ineffective, driving illicit content further underground, as well as such systems being open to abuse
Protect the right to access to uncompromised encryption and other privacy tools
Increase Garda capacity for dealing with reports of online misconduct
Encourage foreign investment by providing explicit protection for personal data regardless of originating country
Promote education of children about online safety, what their data rights are, and why it’s important
Support tech literacy education for all ages across the country, to allow people of all ages and backgrounds to benefit from IT
3.5 Political Reform
Ireland has not just faced an economic crisis in recent years; we have faced a profound crisis in public confidence in politics.
Any democracy worthy of the name depends on trust between elected representatives and the people they are accountable to.
The lack of accountability in our political system has actually worsened over the last few years even though this was a key factor behind the financial crisis.
The principle behind the reforms outlined below is to put people at the centre of decision-making.
The Constitution
The Green Party believes theConstitutional  Conventiongenerated proposals that deserve a more substantive response from government.
In addition to our call to reconvene the Constitutional Convention, the Green Party supports their proposals for referendums on the following issues:
Allow citizens to directly initiate referendums to amend the Constitution, overturn legislation or even propose new legislation
Allow citizens to nominate Presidential candidates
Change to gender-neutral language and uphold equality between all genders
Remove the prohibition on blasphemy
Lower the voting age to 16
Add a constitutional provision for economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, particularly to pursue the universal provision of housing and healthcare - in the interim ESC rights should be strengthened by making them legally enforceable through the courts.
The Green Party also seeks referendums to: Prevent the privatisation or commercialisation of water services
Insert a clause on environmental protection that would oblige stewardship of our island’s ecosystem and all the life therein
Oireachtas Reform
The Green Party believes that the Oireachtas must be empowered to fulfil its constitutional role of holding the government to account.
The Green Party acknowledges the work of the Working Group on Seanad Reform.
However, we believe that further reform to democratise the Seanad is needed for the institution to be meaningful.
To this end we propose that the Seanad be elected by universal suffrage among all voters eligible to vote in Dáil elections and would introduce a referendum to this effect.
The Green Party supports the following refoms for the Seanad: The Seanad should be elected using an open list system with d’Hondt distribution elected on the same day as the Dáil
56 members should be elected from four regions in the state proportionate to population (Dublin, Leinster, Munster and Connacht/Ulster)
4 members should be elected by Irish citizens throughout the world
In order to maintain the independence of the Dáil and the Seanad (and prevent current abuses), a candidate for election to the Seanad cannot be a candidate for election to the Dáil on the same day
Given the importance of European legislation, the Seanad should be given an enhanced role of scrutiny over EU legislation and affairs and the hearing of MEPs
The Green Party supports the following refoms for the Dáil: Fewer but bigger constituencies; set the minimum number of TDs per constituency to 5 and the maximum to 8 in order to improve the diversity of representation in the Dáil whilst curbing “parish-pump” tendencies in national politicians
Introduce a more flexible whip system such as the three-whip system
Appoint committee chairs and their memberships proportionally using the D’Hondt distribution method so that people’s representatives are empowered to hold government accountable
Revise the portion of public funding that political parties receive for TDs and Senators yearly so that it reflects on the actual number of TDs and Senators each party had in that year (e.g. if a TD or Senator is ejected from a party then the party should stop receiving funding for that TD or Senator)
We also see the government itself as in need of reforms, including: Ending the practice of the Economic Management Council within Cabinet
Empowering the Oireachtas to oversee Ireland’s policy towards the EU and Ministers’ policy in Europe, along the lines of the model used in the Danish parliament
Allow half of board appointments to be made by Oireachtas committees, as the Green Party did in legislation appointing board members to RTÉ and other bodies
Have National Lottery monies allocated by State boards in order to end ministers’ powers to allocate them at will
Hold a referendum for a fixed-term Dáil, similar to the recent reforms in the United Kingdom, so that the date of general elections is not decided by the Taoiseach
Encouraging participation
The Green Party believes that voting is a fundamental right to be provided for.
Registering to vote and the act of voting should be as accessible as possible.
We foresee an Electoral Commission having a strong independent role in driving forward reform on these matters.
The Green Party believes that: Citizens should be placed on the electoral register automatically
Elections should be held at weekends with provision for an absentee ballot facility for any eligible voters currently living overseas
Persons with no fixed abode should also be accommodated by being allowed to register at an address that is convenient for them
Along with reducing the voting age to 16, we support educational reforms that will engage young people in politics through school and community programmes
Plastering our roads with election posters clutters our public space and wastefully bombards voters.
Candidates, parties and referendum campaigns should be restricted to one poster each in designated areas such as outside shopping centres, libraries etc.
Local government
The Green Party would oversee a radical democratisation of local government in this country.
There are currently too many county and city councils and none of them have sufficient power to adequately serve local citizens.
The most recent reforms to local government effectively abolished town councils but we see a role for smaller councils empowering communities on a local level.
The Green Party would: Restore Town councils as new district councils that encompass the rural hinterland of each town in such a way that every rural area is under a district council
Establish a regional tier of government with significant powers to coordinate transport, planning and other services between counties
Delegate many of the functions of central government to local and regional authorities including aspects of the administration of health, education and social welfare based on international best practice
Replace the unfair property tax with a Site Value Tax as a localised means of raising funds for such services.
Introduce directly elected mayors for the cities and regional assemblies.
Introduce the facility to call a regional or local referendum through the collection of a certain percentage of voters’ signatures (at a level set by legislation)
Avail of the recent changes in local authority planning procedures that allow for participatory budgeting -
Green Party councillors will take the lead in ensuring that it is implemented in their councils.
3.6  Northern Ireland
While restating deeply held concerns about the nature of so called ‘normal’ adversarial politics and endorsing all parliamentary methods that promote consensus decision making, we support the call by our elected representatives in Northern Ireland for the establishment of a recognised Opposition within the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Northern Ireland Executive should be formed by post-election inter-party negotiations that should also agree a Programme for Government.
Both the Executive Ministers and the Programme for Government should be subject to endorsement by the Assembly by a 66% majority.
Such a fundamental change to the principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement should be part of a wider political reform programme tackling other legacy issues arising from the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreements.
Such a political reform programme should be endorsed by a referendum put to the people of Northern Ireland.
3.7   International Affairs, Security   and Defence
Green Party principles assert that the need for world peace and justice overrides national and commercial interests.
There is no place for violence or threat of violence in the democratic political process.
International Law and the institutions that uphold it should be respected and strengthened.
There should be no impunity for those who break international law.
The Green Party seeks: A national debate to discuss Ireland’s role in today’s international community given our tradition of neutrality and an independent foreign policy.
A strengthening of the truly pan-European Organisation for Security and co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as well as the United Nations
An end to the use of Shannon Airport by US military forces involved in wars or any other military forces involved in military action that is not mandated by the above mentioned bodies, or that we consider to be an illegal or unjust action
To ensure that Ireland is not complicit in the illegal transport of prisoners by the CIA or anyone else
Increase oversight and reporting requirements for Dual Use Export Licences, including refusing licences to export to countries with questionable human rights records.
Europe
We recognise that Ireland has benefited enormously from our membership of the European Union.
Our aim is to create an ecologically sustainable, socially just and peaceful Union.
European Union policy and practice must prioritise the rights of the vulnerable over the interests of multinational companies.
In co-operation with Green Parties in other EU states, we will continue to: Press for greater democratisation of the Union through increasing the powers of the European Parliament as against the Council of Ministers
Improve Ireland’s poor record of compliance with EU Directives, especially in the areas of social and environmental legislation
Oppose the implementation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) - the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism is an affront to the democratic process while regulatory coherence is being used as a cover for the dismantling of environmental, health and precautionary principle standards
Terror
Terrorism can only be effectively tackled by dealing with the root causes.
Our own experience in Ireland has shown us that there is no military solution to terrorism.
Persistent interference by outside powers in the affairs of the Middle East has been the primary cause of global terrorism.
Draconian restrictions on basic freedoms in the name of the “war on terror” will only breed more terrorists.
Until people are able to determine their own destiny democratically, there will always be fuel for terrorists.
To combat global poverty we propose: Reform of the World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund and World Bank to make them accountable, transparent and democratic and to give a stronger voice and power for poorer countries in the system
Fairer trade arrangements that will allow countries to pull themselves out of the cycle of poverty
An approach that tackles the disease of poverty rather than the symptom of migration.
The promotion of Fair Trade and local goods and we will bring that stance into Government purchasing policy
Setting a firm deadline of 2020 to meet our UN commitment that Overseas Development Aid should be at least 0.7% of GNP
Defence
The contribution of all members of the Defence Forces and their families to the security and freedoms which we enjoy in Ireland and the promotion of peace abroad should be properly recognised and valued.
To do this, we propose to: Develop a system whereby all citizens would be encouraged to follow a path of service that contributes to their communities and contributes to the promotion of peace and defence in the world without necessarily making a commitment to full time contracts but through the reserve or civil defence services instead
Provide PRSI credits to employers who give unpaid leave for training or duty
Underpin military courses with civilian accreditation from educational bodies, to allow employers to benefit from better qualified staff
3.8 Animal welfare
We have a responsibility as the dominant species on earth to protect the diversity, habitats and welfare of other species.
The Green Party is proud of our record on this issue in Government and we wish to expand on this.
To improve animal welfare, we will: Introduce measures requiring all pigs and poultry to be provided with adequate space, natural light and opportunities to carry out their natural behaviours
Increase the numbers of officers authorised to enforce animal welfare laws, and provide additional resources to agencies, such as the ISPCA, whose inspectors have powers to investigate cruelty cases and initiate legal proceedings
Ban fur farming of all species (mink, fox etc.)  with a fair compensation scheme for existing fur farmers
End badger culling by snares and shooting and support alternative measures to minimise the spread of TB, such as oral vaccination
Ban all non-medical animal experiments
Ensure that only circuses which do not use animal acts will be eligible for public funding.
Support zoos in fulfilling a role in education and conservation, provided that they comply with the highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare
3.9  Social and Family Issues
Equality and Respect are core concepts within the Green Party constitution.
We will create a more equal Ireland where minority populations and the disenfranchised are given the full respect and support of the law.
We will: Legislate for fathers to have automatic guardianship of their child from the birth of the child
Legislate to ensure the registration of fathers’ names on the birth certificates of their child
Promote recognition of the problem of domestic violence experienced by female and male spouses and partners and reverse the cuts to organisations dealing with sexual violence
Provide forensic child protection services and sexual assault services delivered through close cooperation between the health service and An Garda Síochána throughout the country to ensure best practice in the protection of victims of abuse
Commission an Expert Body to engage in consultations with the public and formulate a successor to the National Women’s Strategy
Reverse the cuts to the Lone Parent’s Allowance
Safeguard against bullying of gay and trans people in schools, workplaces and sports
Recognise the Traveller Community as a minority ethnic group
Initiating an audit of local authorities’ delivery and implementation of Traveller accommodation plans
8th Amendment to the Constitution
The Green Party supports the repeal of the 8th amendment of the constitution and we seek this referendum on the repeal of the 8th amendment as soon as possible.
Upon repeal of the 8th amendment the Green Party will support legislation that includes lawful termination in the cases of rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormality and risk to health of the mother, subject to the criteria given in our reproductive rights policy.
For older people, we seek: Targeted goals for the Implementation Plan for the National Positive Ageing Strategy
To raise the upper age limits for health screening
A transparent method of Trustee Appointment Schemes so that pensioners have an equal voice in all matters relating to their pensions
An agreed process to trigger additional fuel allowance payments when the temperature drops below an agreed level
Reciprocity with other EU countries for free or low-cost public transportation
An increase in the limit on Rent-a-Room tax relief to €18,000 to encourage those with spare rooms to participate in this sche
Youth
We aim to invest in our youth, particularly those aged between 18 and 26 for whom the recession took a devastating toll.
It is at this point that the State needs to redouble its investment in people to open up opportunities for their futures.
For young people, we will: Use NAMA and state lands including RTÉ and Dublin Bus to provide low-cost student accommodation to at least 5,000 students in Dublin, and identify similar lands in other cities
Halve the cost of the student Leap Card to assist with the cost of living
Invest €300m directly to 3rd level institutions to ensure no increase in university fees
Lower the voting age to 16
Fully implement the Aftercare Bill, which guarantees a right to aftercare assessment on turning 18 and leaving care and ensuring the resulting services are fully resourced
4. Culture & Community
4.1 Arts and Culture
The Green Party recognises the critical importance of the arts and the sciences for the flourishing of society, and the potential of cultural justice to contribute greatly to social justice.
We also recognise the diversity of artistic and creative activities in Ireland and the significant economic value of our creative culture both nationally and internationally.
We believe in the promotion and preservation of our unique Irish culture, and that all citizens should have equal access to its enjoyment and appreciation.
The Green Party will continue to support the artistic community through the following measures: Increase current levels of funding to the statutory agencies for the arts, including Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland and the Arts Council by €30m
Introduce multi-year funding for larger Arts organisations to allow for long term planning
Maintain levels of funding to the National Museum and other cultural institutions to ensure no admission charges are necessary
Ensure that contemporary art education is introduced at primary and secondary level to grow artists and audiences for the future
Ensure the continuance of the Section 481 tax breaks for the industry
Ensure that Local Authorities allocate sufficient funding to allow the fulfilment of long-term strategic cultural and arts planning
Recognising the role that technology and innovation will play in the future of our artistic and cultural life, we will seek to form joint ventures between our enterprise and tourism bodies and our artistic and cultural organisations
Restore Culture Ireland as an independent organisation
Introduce a match-funding scheme for arts organisations, totalling €5m, rural and peripheral communities - whatever groups fundraise themselves the government will match 1:1, up to a maximum of €10,000, with a minimumthreshold of €2,500
Review the national planning legislation to provide a minimum of 2% of space for artistic, cultural and creative space in all new large scale developments and cultural quarters
Support the development of a partnership model by establishing a platform to allow for effective engagement between the artistic and creative communities and property developers, owners  and businesses for the potential creation of public private partnerships to deliver long term provision of artistic studio, live and workspace
Ensure the continuation and expansion of Culture Night nationwide for cultural activities
Create an accurate register of existing and potential available properties nationwide
Ensure the timely delivery of the Vacant Spaces levy to support the use of vacant space and to introduce rates credits for unused buildings that would be suitable for artist studios and production space, as a means to increase the supply of space for artistic and cultural activities both short term and long term for both emerging and established artists
Establish Ireland globally as a creative, artistic and cultural hub that will attract international creatives to live and work here
As part of the development of College Green, the new government will negotiate with Bank for the restoration of the House of Lords for uses including cultural activities
Provision for the pedestrianisation for College Green
4.2 The Irish Language
The Green Party is fully committed to the development and support of a vibrant national approach to our first language.
It therefore commits to initiatives at a range of levels: Enhance the status of Irish as an official working language of the European Union, and work to ensure that that status is implemented in full and that the derogation of that full status which is currently in place be lifted as soon as possible
Investment is needed in Irish speaking communities and the Gaeltacht areas, particularly in the provision of employment in these areas
The establishment of an Oireachtas Committee for the implementation of Irish language policy.
The Committee would have the same status as other Oireachtas Committees
Support the establishment of a national network of Irish Language Centres in every urban centre in Ireland which contains a substantial number of Irish speakers (based on Census data in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).
A wide range of Irish language services would be provided in each Centre, e.g., translation; advice on use of Irish in business; Irish language classes; homework clubs; advice on raising children in Irish, babysitting etc.
Recognise that the Internet is as important a medium as television for language learning and that it is a very important tool for the future development of the language.
We support the work of Foras na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge and other Irish-language bodies in the development of information technology in Irish
Additional powers to be given to the Language Commissioner in order to ensure the rights of Irish language speakers are upheld and for example that all public signage in Irish is spelled correctly
Develop two Irish language syllabi at post-primary level: ‘Irish Language’ and ‘Irish Language Literature’.
In the examinations of the course ‘Irish Language’, the pupils’ spoken, written, understanding and writing skills would be examined, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning.
The course ‘Irish Language Literature’ would be made available to pupils who show particular ability in Irish.
4.3 Community
The Green Party believes that a strong and vibrant community, voluntary and charitable sector can support and enhance the broad social, economic and environmental objectives of the State.
By promoting communitydevelopment and activism, but also acting as a critical voice for social inclusion, the goals of equality, access to justice, the equitable distribution of income and resources and environmental protection can be attained.
This is not to say that the community and voluntary sector should fill the gaps that the State fails to provide, but rather that it works in partnership with the State, its agencies, and civil society towards building a fairer society.
It is vital that the community and voluntary sector remains autonomous and independent of the State, however, and that it is free to criticise Government policies and not operate in fear that their criticism may lead to funding cuts or abolition.
It is essential that the unique role of the sector is valued and cherished by the State as a key partner in the fight for social justice and equality.
The Green Party advocates the incremental restoration of the disproportionate cuts that the sector has endured since the fiscal crisis began, as the economic outlook of the State improves.
Funding through the SICAP and LEADER programmes should not be politicised under the new local government structures.
We need to enhance the value of local projects that support marginalised groups and help to build participative democratic structures where communities are central to decision making processes.
The Green Party believes that a citizen-centred and participative approach, led by a vibrant community and voluntary sector, will lead to a fairer, more equitable and sustainable Ireland.
We will: Work with the sector to produce a new ‘Framework for Community Support’ to guide and drive the development of the community and voluntary sector, fulfilling its role as a critical actor in creating and sustaining vibrant and viable communities throughout the country.
As part of this development we will ensure that the responsibilities and leadership of relevant Government Departments are better aligned and configured
Increase core funding of the sector, through relevant Government Departments, and ring-fence this funding for a minimum of five years to enable organisations to plan strategically and strengthen the services they provide, as well as fulfilling their advocacy role.
Review the move of SICAP and LEADER programmes under local government structures and ensure that the sector plays a key role in the Public Participation Network structures.
Review how the state supports the sector, and in particular how the move to commissioning is understood and implemented, so that the integrity and effectiveness of the sector and its unique role are respected.
Ensure that the State’s regulatory and administrative systems dealing with the sector act as effective supports, as well as fulfilling their oversight role
Costings
The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas was founded 35 years ago on seven basic principles, which still guide the party today:
The impact of society on the environment should not be ecologically disruptive
Conservation of resources is vital to a sustainable society
All political, social and economic decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level
Society should be guided by self-reliance and co-operation at all levels
As caretakers of the Earth, we have the responsibility to pass it on in a fit and healthy state
The need for world peace overrides national and commercial interests
The poverty of two-thirds of the world’s family demands a redistribution of the worlds’ resources
Our Priorities: A Summary
The ultimate priority of People Before Profit is to reverse societal inequality that has seen the rich get richer and the poor poorer.
An overhaul of the taxation system along with proper investment in public services to provide high quality education, housing, transport, health and social services is essential.
To bring about this change, there must be an end to privatisation and investment based on corporate interest.
People Before Profit prioritises:
1 . Prevention of privatisation and retention of State funded services and Ireland’s natural resources in public ownership;
2 . The implementation of a progressive taxation model that sees those who have the most pay the most. This will include the abolition of the water charges; the abolition of the property tax on the primary unit of family residence; the removal of the USC for incomes below €70,000.
3 . Creation of a National Health Service free to all at the point of access, with greater investment in all areas including mental health, and the promotion of alternative treatments over prescribing medications;
4 . Building 50,000 social housing units over five years, imposing effective rent controls and ending the practice of evicting families who show genuine financial distress in mortgage re-payments;
5 . Reversing welfare cuts imposed on vulnerable groups and the poorest in society and ending discriminatory employment practices;
6 . Proper investment in education to provide a universal, accessible, lifelong education system, free at the point of access for all;
7 . Recognising childcare as a universal right and developing a public system of crèches;
8 . Investing in disability services and removing barriers that create or enhance inequalities;
9 . Promoting suitable and sustainable use of our land and supporting small farmers;
10 . Recognising and valuing the contributions of culture and the arts to Irish society.
11 . Repealing the 8th Amendment to the constitution.
12 . Reversing discrimination against young people in social welfare and ‘new entrant’ wages.
13 . Outlawing discrimination in access to schools on religious grounds.
People Before Profit: Recovery for All.
Arts
People Before Profit believes in absolute artistic freedom and that artistic practice should be available to the whole of society regardless of income, location or social background .
There should not be a division between excellence and access in the Arts .
PBP also recognises that the arts and creative practices can be beneficial for people with mental health problems and in the reduction of mental health issues .
People Before Profit supports:
1. The National Campaign for the Arts demand to increase state funding of the Arts to the European average of 0 .6% of GDP
;
2. Removal of ‘availability for work’ requirement for registered artists on Jobseeker’s Allowance to allow artists to do unpaid work
;
3. Opening up existing facilities such as schools and colleges for after-school artistic activities for children and teenagers .
Open up NAMA buildings for use by local arts organisations;
4. A ‘New Deal’ jobs programme to deliver jobs in the public sector for artists .
This will encourage artists to contribute their skills and creativity to society whilst earning a living wage .
5. All children having greater access to culture\art as a right, both within and outside the education sector;
6. A new fund targeted at promoting access to arts participation in disadvantaged areas for adults and children .
Childcare
Childcare is a vitally important aspect in the life of the child
. The current model of early years care and education being provided on a for-profit basis creates huge inequalities in society, disadvantaging many children and their families
. A universal childcare system, funded through progressive taxation, is essential to provide all children with the best possible start to their lives
. PBP will:
1. Introduce a system of childcare funded by the state .
In the immediate term parents will receive a state subsidy and only pay a maximum of 30%
. The provision will be fully funded for those on low incomes
;
2. Increase the regulation of all child-minders and after school services
;
3. Facilitate professionalisation of childcare workers through increasing pay and requiring and enabling progression to qualifications at levels 7 and 8 on the qualifications framework
;
4. Introduce maternity leave entitlements which allow a parent to remain at home for at least a child’s first year, and extend paternity leave to be balanced with maternity leave .
Disability
PBP view disability as a societal issue, and not solely an individual impairment
. An inclusive and accessible society for all should be paramount
. People with disabilities cannot take action, be that political or otherwise, to promote their human rights without the relevant resources being made available
. The stark reality is that resources cost money and the denial of resources has the reciprocal effect of stifling the voices of people with disabilities to advocate for their own rights .
PBP will:
1. Immediately ratify The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), without change and alter all relevant legislation in accordance with the UNCRPD;
2. Reverse all cuts that people with disability have suffered under consecutive governments;
3. Provide a universal health service free at the point of delivery, funded through progressive taxation, democratically planned by health workers and service users with an emphasis on prevention and social support;
4. Protect wages and conditions for social care workers;
5. Provide people with disabilities with the right to choose the services which best meet their needs;
6. Ensure the right of people with disabilities to live as an autonomous adult;
7. Introduce workable schemes to replace the mobility and transport grants;
8. Implement regulations that ensure all homes are accessible and built in accordance to the needs of people throughout their lifespan;
9. Provide an accessible community, with good infrastructure which increases the quality of life for all;
10. Ensure publically owned and funded disability services and oppose privatisation as this will work against the social model and lead to the reintroduction of a medicalised system;
11. Improve the quality of services for people with disabilities .
Drugs
People Before Profit recognises the State’s approach to drugs as problematic .
Illegal drugs are sold widely, legal drugs such as alcohol are promoted via sporting events and pharmaceuticals are making huge profits on some very addictive and dangerous prescription drugs .
PBP recognises the challenges faced by the many situations which relate to drug availability, use and dependency .
We intend to:
1. Overhaul what and how children and young people are taught about drugs in schools, ensuring accurate, factual information is provided about the effect of drugs, their composition and contents, and the potential dangers and realties of drug consumption;
2. Recognise drug dependency as a medical problem, not a criminal one;
3. Decriminalise drugs based on the Portuguese model and the non-commercial legalisation of cannabis similar to the Colorado
. Today in Portugal 3 out of every million people die from overdosing
. This is compared to the EU average of 17 .5 per million;
4. Promote alternative treatments and therapies in place of the current over-reliance on prescription medication for a range of physical and mental health challenges .
Economic Policy Summary
After imposing austerity on the population for seven years, each of the mainstream parties are now making promises claiming that a ‘fiscal space’ of about €8 - €12 billion will finance these .
This fiscal space is dependent on an assumption that Irish growth rates will be sustained into the medium term .
PBP do not share this confidence . The current turmoil on the global stock markets is a stark warning of growing difficulties in the world economy .
This will eradicate the ‘fiscal space’ and the desperate promises of the conventional parties .
PBP believes any improvement in the conditions of working people is dependent on a fundamental transfer of wealth .
We therefore commit to reversing the post-crash policy of making low and middle income Ireland pay the costs of the crash .
Our progressive taxation proposal will shift the financial burden onto large corporations and wealthy individuals through:
1. Enforcing the 12 .5% corporation tax by closing loopholes thus making all pay a minimum 12 .5% tax on profits, rising to 15% over the life of the Dáil;
2. Introducing a Robin Hood Tax on financial speculation .
We will implement the EU Commission proposal for a financial transaction tax of 0 .1% on exchange of shares and bonds and 0 .01 on derivative contracts;
3. Increasing income tax rates for high earners—those individuals earning over €100,000;
4. Increase the employers’ contribution to social security (PRSI) in order to reduce taxes on PAYE workers .
Ireland has the second lowest employer contribution to social security in the EU but Irish workers pay higher rates of personal income tax than many others;
5. Ending tax exile status granted to Irish millionaires .
In 2013, just 13 individuals paid a levy of €200,000 for the privilege of avoiding Irish taxes;
6. Introducing a solidarity tax .
The sales of commercial property valued at over €5 million will be subject to a 50% rate (rather than 33% rate) for capital gains tax;
7. Collecting the back taxes owed to the State by multi-nationals .
PBP will demand Apple pay an estimated €8-17 billion in back taxes .
The spending of public money in helping Apple defend its tax avoidance practices will cease immediately;
8. Writing down of bankers’ debt .
In light of the clear evidence that the ECB forced Ireland to take on the bankers’ debt, PBP will be writing down this odious debt;
9. Ending wasteful public spending that seeks to benefit the wealthy .
We will end the practice of using expensive consultancy firms for research .
State run universities and research institutes will be funded to provide these services
;
10. Developing a State legal service in order to dramatically reduce the €500 million annual bill that is paid to private legal firms;
11. Reducing TD’s salaries along with the number of special advisors permitted and there will be an end to many perks;
12. Introducing a wealth tax of 2% on assets (excluding the family home or family farm) over €1 million will be introduced .
A national database on the distribution and ownership of financial and property assets will be created and maintained .
Education
People Before Profit believe education is a right and not a privilege
. A universal, life-long national education service must be implemented to promote decent skills and opportunities throughout all our lives
.  Schools, universities and colleges must remain in public ownership and be democratically controlled .
PBP will ensure:
Primary and Post Primary Education
1. The provision of modern, spacious, fully-equipped schools with multiple science labs, computer labs and classrooms with wifi access and all educational materials provided free of charge;
2. Appropriate counselling and guidance services and SNA provision for all pupils .
Early intervention should be provided for those with Special Needs and a reversal of the 15% cut to special needs support;
3. Provision of additional resources for disadvantaged and traveller students;
4. Teachers and SNAs have a maximum class contact time of 18 hours per week;
5. Maximum class sizes enabling effective teaching and learning that supports the needs of every pupil .
PBP will reduce class sizes, working towards a maximum of 18 at primary level, at senior level 24 pupils in single age classes; 20 pupils in two-age-group classes; 15 pupils in classes of three or more age group;
6. Access to education will not be controlled by religious beliefs .
Discriminatory admissions practices that see children denied access to schools based on religion will be outlawed;
7. Small schools will be protected and supported in line with the wishes of local communities and parents, particularly in rural areas;
8. Curriculum will include subjects that promote creativity and civic responsibility;
9. National assessment methodologies will be determined in the context of academic standards, quality and inclusive practice, not cost savings .
Teachers will not be placed in a position where their professional integrity may be compromised .
Further and Higher Education including Vocational Education and Training
1. State funding to Irish further and higher education needs to return to pre-crisis levels .
Abolition of  registration fees and expanding the student grants and Back to Education scheme;
2. Reversal of the commercialisation of our education system;
3. Research for the public good will be undertaken by our third level institutions, not restricted by corporate control;
4. The opportunity to return to education to develop skills and to learn new skills is available to all;
5. Further and higher education will be based on peoples’ needs and aspirations and the curriculum and programmes available must reflect this;
6. Investment in the vocational educational sector to expand apprenticeship opportunities ensuring the needs and aspirations of all are provided for and the country will have a skilled workforce, replacing that lost to emigration or retraining following the economic crisis .
Employment and Labour Rights
Alongside a growth in precarious employment, there is also an expansion of a low wage economy
.  Ireland, according to a report published in 2014 (OECD Employment Outlook 2015), has the second highest percentage of low-paying jobs, second only to the United States .
To reverse these trends, PBP will:
1. Outlaw zero hours contracts;
2. Remove the employers effective veto on Joint Labour Committees which are designed to lay down minimum rates and conditions;
3. Give unions who gain 20 percent membership in any workplace an automatic right to bargain collectively with employers;
4. Outlaw the practice of employers splitting companies into a property asset company and an operating company to deprive workers of redundancy settlement;
5. Change company law to give workers of insolvent companies the first call on redundancy settlements;
6. Give workers back their full rights to take industrial action
. Abolish the Industrial Relation Act which bans strikes for victimised shop stewards and political strikes;
7. Abolish the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation;
8. Restore the retirement age to 65;
9. Ban bogus self-employment in all sectors including construction;
10. Provide self-employed people with equal social welfare and pension rights of PAYE workers;
11. Introduce an employment programme that creates public sector jobs in the arts, offering genuine job security and employment opportunities for artists .
Environment
Climate Change is the biggest issue facing the human race .
Simply put, if we do not drastically reduce our carbon emissions we are facing extinction
. 99% of climate scientists now recognise climate change as a manmade problem
. PBP advocate a radical series of measures to reduce our CO2 emissions .
We need to act now to achieve an agreed Paris target level of Co2 mitigation to achieve 2 degrees centigrade in unison with other European countries .
The Climate Change Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 showed Ireland is way off track and will have major challenges post 2020 in decarbonising its economy .
PBP favour investment in not-for profit, publically owned renewable energy projects . Our aim is to achieve the de-carbonisation of our economy including agriculture .
We will ensure this through:
1. Proper investment in affordable public transport;
2. Retrofitted buildings to comply with energy efficiency regulation;
3. Substantial investment in renewable energies and serious divestment in fossil fuels;
4. Making Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) illegal;
5. Retaining our forestry in public ownership;
6. Increasing the afforestation of the country;
7. Developing and expanding the cultivation of native hard-woods and
8. Developing local community involvement in the development of Irish forestry .
Foreign Policy
People Before Profit will defend and promote Irish neutrality
. We oppose any involvement with NATO and will stop US troops from using Shannon Airport as a transit point for military operations
. We will ban Irish participation in the international arms trade
. PBP:
1. Oppose all imperialist wars, conquests, interventions and occupations
;
2. Oppose both the Western and Russian military intervention in the conflict in Syria
;
3. Supports the Palestinian struggle for liberation
;
4. Backs the international campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Apartheid Israel
;
5. Will withdraw from negotiations on TTIP/CETA/TiSA/EU-Singapore treaties
. These treaties will lead to privatisation of vital public services and result in job losses
. They enable corporations to rewrite legislation to sue the tax-payer for compensation where regulations negatively impact profit
.
Health
PBP is committed to creating a National Health Service that is universal, comprehensive and democratically planned
. This will be funded by progressive taxation
and free at the point of access
. This will seek to overcome health and wealth inequalities evident in contemporary Irish society .
Health inequality, including mental health inequality, is linked to income and wealth inequality
. We can, therefore, improve everyone’s physical and mental health through a general policy of wealth redistribution
. PBP will:
1. Propose a constitutional amendment to prevent the privatisation of our health service
;
2. End cuts to health service funding and jobs and reopen closed wards and reach targets of 15,000 beds as specified by the Health Strategy of 2001
;
3. As a first step towards a National Health Service, increase the number of Primary Care Teams (PCTs), and the Primary Care Centres to house them
. The services will be networked with hospitals and other health services and will be administered by direct employees of the state
. These will be staffed with sufficient frontline professionals to provide early and prompt responses to physical and mental health difficulties;
4. Introduce a model of preventative medicine which will help pay for itself in the longer term;
5. Abolish the HSE and replace it with democratically elected Community Health Councils and an Independent Agency of Public Health Promotion that works with a responsible and accountable Department of Health to coordinate an effective and efficient Health Service;
6. Abolish prescription charges;
7. Create a state pharmacy which will source drugs from the world market, putting an end to the agreements with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Ireland (APMI)
. These agreements make the Irish state – which purchases 85% of all drugs - pay a higher prices for both patented and generic drugs;
8. Increase funding for Mental Health and Disability Services with at least 25% of the Mental Health budget going to Child mental health;
9. Implement ‘Vision for Change’ staffing recommendations (Adult services at 75%; Children’s services at 50%);
10. Develop a system of 24-hour access to emergency beds in children’s wards with trained staff for mental health emergencies and ensure out-of-hours Social Work cover from Tusla for childcare emergencies;
11. Improve liaison with and availability of school supports such as School Counsellors, Resource Teachers, SNAs and NEPS psychologists;
12. Reduce the over-reliance on prescribing drugs in the mental health service . Improve access to alternatives such as Social Support, Occupational Therapy, Psychotherapy and access to art and creative therapies .
Access to trained advocates and the systematic use of Advance Health Directives will be introduced;
13. More closely integrate treatment of drug dependency and mental health, with promotion of non-drug options for personal and social problems;
14. Improve funding for services and facilities that assist safe withdrawal and longer-term rehabilitation for patients with long-term use of psychoactive drugs including prescription drugs
.
Housing
People Before Profit recognises housing as a human right, not as an asset or commodity
. Ireland currently has a housing crisis and PBP has been proactive in campaigning for an emergency house building programme since 2011
. In this time the crisis has worsened and the government has and continues to implement policy decisions that will return Ireland to a property bubble and facilitate a future homeless crisis
. PBP will
1. Immediately declare a national housing emergency to allow the State access the funds needed;
2. Commence a house building programme of 50,000 houses over 5 years, 10,000 per year .
This should be underpinned by the provision of a national training programme in construction thus tackling both the housing crisis and the skills shortage
;
3. Enforce NAMA to hand over 20,000 of its residential stock for the purpose of social housing
;
4. Introduce efficient rent controls whereby rents are established through transparent criteria and rent increases are linked to the Consumer Price Index
. Tenants will be given greater security of tenure
;
5. End the discriminatory practice of ‘rent allowance not accepted’
;
6. Establish an Independent National Housing Agency to oversee the delivery of safe and culturally appropriate Traveller Accommodation
;
7. Impose a moratorium on evictions where owners of a family home can show genuine distress
;
8. Introduce a homeless charter that gives people who are in emergency accommodation an option of leaving after 6 weeks
.
Irish Language
The current government has shown little interest or enthusiasm in promoting the Irish Langauge
. People Before Profit took part in  a recent Dearg le Fearg protest to support the anger that many feel about its treatment
. PBP will
1. Support measures to revive the economic base of Gaeltacht areas .
2. Insist that all public officials dealing with the Gaeltacht have full proficiency in the language
.
3. Increase the use of the Irish language on the national broadcaster .
Expand and develop TG4 .
4. Provide free Irish language classes in areas where there is a local demand .
Land Use and Food
Current Irish agriculture policy is overly weighted towards supporting big farmers who are engaged in the export trade
.  PBP supports a strategy which keeps the maximum number of farmers on the land to produce food for the home market and create local jobs
. We also support moves to a more sustainable form of farming
.
People Before Profit have been and will be to the fore of preventing the privatisation of our forests
. PBP believes
1. There must be a shift away from fossil fuels in order to develop a more diverse approach to energy
;
2. We should utilise wind, wave and solar energy
. Wind farms must, however, fit with the local environment and be of an appropriate scale . We are opposed to big corporations riding rough shod over local communities to impose massive wind farms geared to profits and exports
;
3. A national home insulation programme that is part funded by the state should be implemented
;
4. Healthy eating should be encouraged by establishing a proper healthy school and hospital meals programme;
5. Developing a proper meals-on-wheels strategy for the elderly, based on local community co-ops;
6. Encouraging the development of allotments in urban areas;
7. Banning vending machines selling sugary drinks in schools;
8. Imposing an extra 10% tax on producers of sugar-sweetened drinks as part of a wider strategy to tackle over-consumption;
9. Placing sugar and salt warnings on food packaging .
Prohibition of the sale of foods with high fat, salt and sugar content in schools .
Banning the advertising of these foods in schools and in the areas surrounding schools .
Law
People Before Profit will seek to end the class bias in the current justice system .
Most people who interact with the court system go through the District courts .
They can be sentenced or fined without a full written explanation of a judge’s decisions - even when there are conflicts in evidence .
By contrast, wealthy individuals can easily access the higher courts and use this access to delay investigations into corruption
. PBP proposes an overhaul of the current justice systems which will include:
1. Ending the practice where the state is paying out €500 million a year to private law firms, some of whom simultaneously work for corporations which oppose state policies;
2. Developing the State’s own legal service;
3. Introducing legislation to give the public direct access to barristers;
4. Cutting the cost of house sales by establishing directly employed licensed conveyancers in the public sector;
5. Abolishing the monopoly that the Law Society and the King’s Inn have on training barristers and solicitors .
Licensing third level institutions to engage in training programmes provided they show clear effort to broaden the social base of the legal profession;
6. Ending the practice whereby up to a third of our judiciary are political appointees;
7. Ensuring greater democratic oversight of who is appointed by a public appointments commission;
8. Creating greater protection for whistleblowers in the Garda and legal system and criminalising all attempts to ostracise them.
LBGT Rights
The Marriage Referendum and the Gender Recognition Bill were momentous achievements for LGBT rights .
However a number of legal and social issues remain
. Homophobia and transphobia are still a significant problem
. We also recognise that despite the progress made, depression, suicide and addiction rates among LGBT people are still significantly higher than in the general population
. Isolation is also a major issue in rural areas and amongst older LGBT people
. People Before Profit will continue the campaign for full equality for LBGT people
. We will:
1. End the ban on blood donations from gay or bisexual men;
2. Introduce hate crime legislation to deal with homophobic and transphobic attacks and proper recording of same;
3. Introduce compulsory, secular, non- religious age-appropriate sex education which deals with issues around gender, sexuality, consent and contraception;
4. Restore and improve funding for mental health and addiction treatment services;
5. Provide proper funding for LGBT organisations and resource centres
.
Natural Resources
Gas, oil, wave, wind, and solar energy are some of the astounding natural resources available in Ireland
. These and other natural resources could be the key to Ireland’s economic regeneration, providing sustainable growth within the island .
PBP will:
1. Take Ireland’s oil and gas resources into public ownership;
2. Suspend all existing agreements with oil companies and place a moratorium on all licensing rounds until the new model of state management has been introduced;
3. Introduce a new model of hydrocarbon management .
This will be premised upon (a) public ownership of resources, (b) stronger state participation through production sharing and service contracts, and a national oil company,
and (c) higher rates of financial returns through increased rates of corporate tax and royalties;
4. Develop and fund an integrated industrial development strategy comprising upstream and downstream activities
. Public ownership of our natural resources will become the cornerstone of a new development strategy that will replace a reliance on foreign multi-nationals;
5. Use funds and infrastructure from oil and gas activities to diversify Ireland’s energy supply;
6. Move towards more sustainable forms of energy production which would have additional industrial, economic, social, and environmental benefits;
7. Design and implement a new system of consultation and planning for hydrocarbon activities based on the active engagement of all stakeholders;
8. Ensure all exploration, production, and processing activities will be subjected to transparent, fair, and participative permissions processes involving community participation in decision making .
Hydrocarbon activities will only be authorised when there is community consent .
Older People
Cuts over the last five years has seen social protection for the elderly slashed
. People Before Profit want to reverse all the cuts that have been inflicted on our elderly
. The increase in the state pension of just €3 in Budget 2016 is not enough to help pensioners manage and live dignified lives
.
According to Age Action, in 2015, out of a total budget for older people’s services of €1 .53 billion, 57 per cent (€874 million) was spent on Fair Deal
. Only 12 per cent (€185 million) was spent on Home Help services and just under nine per cent on Home Care packages (€135 million)
.  A spending of €11 million should be used for weekend home help hours and €7 million of an extra 550 home help packages
.
Our policy areas include:
1. Reverse the cuts to the Household Benefits Package
2. Full restoration of a universal right to a medical card for those over 70
.
3. Restore funding and hours to home help . Increase home help hours and home help packages
.
4. Increase the state pension
.
5. Restore the retirement age to 65 and make it optional for each pensioner to continue to work if they so wish
.
6. Develop the primary care centres and encourage greater use of care in the community
.
7. Restore the bereavement grand of €850
8. Restore the telephone allowance which contributes to the isolation and loneliness of elderly people
Political Reform
The central beliefs of People Before Profit are built on a foundation of people power
. Elected representatives are the voice of the people, accountable to the people and acting on behalf of the people
. This is at odds with the existing system which is based on individuals and groups acting as directed by a party leader or informed by policies that are influenced by corporate interests and demands
. PBP will:
1. Strengthen local democracy by abolishing control of unelected CEOs of local councils
;
2. Ensure TDs’ salaries are reduced to the average industrial wage and pensions are paid, based on service, at age 66, like all other workers
;
3. Introduce a re-call procedure for TDs who vote against items they favoured in their manifestos
;
4. Ensure Ministers are limited to one special adviser – paid at the same rate as TDs
;
5. End the practice of commissioning consultancy reports from private accountancy/consultancy firms with a corporate bias
. Third level institutions and publically funded research agencies will receive tenders instead;
6. Abolish fees for FOI requests;
7. Ban lobbying by PR agencies working on behalf of corporations .
Ensure there is no preferential access for corporations
. Insist they use their own representatives; meetings to be held in government buildings and that full records of proceedings are retained;
8. Ban Ministers and senior public officials from joining boards of corporations operating in areas relevant to their competence for a period of five years after leaving office;
9. Introduce citizens’ assemblies, based on town hall meetings, which can choose delegates for national assemblies on a rotating basis;
10. End the concept of ‘stakeholders representative’ chosen by those in authority;
11. End the patronage system .
All appointments to be advertised .
The power to appoint to State boards will be removed from Ministers and vested in a Board that is ratified by a citizens’ assembly
.
12. Reinstate article 48 of the original constitution .
Give citizens a right to referenda on receipt of 50,000 signatories .
Racism
People Before Profit declares itself completely opposed to racism in all its forms, including Islamophobia, anti-semitism, and anti-Traveller racism
. We regard the ordinary people of every nation, ethnic group and creed, as our sisters and brothers . People Before Profit rejects the idea that there is a particular link between Islam and terrorism
. PBP will seek to overcome all instances and causes of racism through:
1. Recognition of Traveller ethnicity by the Irish State;
2. Establishing an Independent National Housing Agency to oversee the delivery of safe and culturally appropriate Traveller Accommodation;
3. Asylum seekers being granted the right to work;
4. Ending direct provision;
5. Ireland welcoming refugees and ensuring the necessary funding and resources are made available to ensure people can live with dignity and equality;
6. Ireland taking a proactive role in helping to address the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis since WW2;
7. Ending the practice of deporting asylum seekers .
Transport
People Before Profit favours an extension of free transport – not a reduction
We will oversee an increase in state investment in the public transport systems .
We would abolish the National Transport Agency as it is a neoliberal agency whose chief concern is competition and facilitating private for-profit transport companies .
The remit of a new state agency will be to provide cheap and efficient public transport that can facilitate the dramatic reduction in the use of private cars from the roads and ensure ease of movement in our towns and cities
. This will mean a significant increase in the bus fleet numbers of existing state companies in both Dublin and Bus Eireann and the expansion of the rail network
. We will involve transport users and local communities in planning new routes with the goal of a dramatic reduction in Co2 emissions from private car usage
. We will reverse the dramatic increases in the cost of public transport over recent years
and stop any attempts to privatise this essential service .
The second biggest cause of Ireland’s increased carbon emissions is transport .
There is a totally inadequate public transport system with Dublin Bus, for example, receiving one of the lowest subsidies in Europe .
Over 80 percent of people who use a car to get to work say that they do so because of inadequate public transport .
Through the following measures we would make public transport, efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly .
1. Resist and reverse all privatisation measures proposed to our National Transport Service including routes, bus and rail and staff
2. We will oppose anti-worker measures which will affect bus drivers, engineers and all other bus service workers
3. We would increase the subvention to the European average .
Water
Behind the spurious ‘environmental’ arguments relating to our water supply is a longer term agenda; an agenda to undermine the provision of public services, paid for through general taxation
. Once charges are introduced, the service has a price, it has a monetary value allowing private contractors to take it over and run it for profit
. This agenda was confirmed by the Lisbon Treaty which states that ‘services of general economic interest’ are subject to the laws of competition – meaning, the opening up of the market to private corporations
. People Before Profit believe that water is a human right
. In Ireland water is already paid for through general taxation and PBP believes that model should be retained to ensure access to all
. PBP will
1. Retain the progressive taxation model of payment for water and abolish water user charges;
2. Abolish Irish Water, ban wasteful expenditure on consultants and rely on a public sector workforce to provide high quality water services;
3. Propose a constitutional amendment to prevent privatisation of our water;
4. Immediately cease the metering programme and re-direct funds to repair the pipe infrastructure;
5. Promote and invest in a rainwater harvesting programme .
Woman’s Right to Choose
Deciding whether and when to have children and whether to have an abortion are very personal matters .
We believe that these decisions should be made by women themselves, in consultation with their doctor, and with the support of their partner and family if that is appropriate .
PBP supports a woman’s right to make her own decisions regarding reproduction, including the right to free, safe, and legal abortion
. We believe that access to abortion is a fundamental human right for women, and crucial to women’s economic and social independence
. We believe abortion should be available country-wide and provided free through the health service .
PBP is committed to:
1. Supporting the repeal of the 8th amendment to the Constitution and calls for a referendum in 2016;
2. Providing access to free, safe, and legal abortion, North and South of the border;
3. Immediately repealing the 14 year maximum sentence on those who take an abortion pill .
Youth Equality
In Ireland, young people are discriminated against in a host of ways and there is an unofficial state policy of encouraging as many as possible to emigrate .
PBP opposes all forms of discrimination and will ensure equal rights for young people .
We will:
1. Outlaw discrimination in social welfare payments .
Restore the social welfare payments to those under 26 to the normal rates
;
2. End the practice of paying new entrants to public sector jobs a lower rate of pay simply because they started after 2011;
3. Create a state insurance company to lower car insurance costs for young drivers and others;
4. End discrimination in pension payments for new entrants compared to those who started before 2010 .
the government claims that this election is a choice between stability and chaos and that it should be re-elected in order to maintain its much trumpeted “recovery”.
this message has failed to hit home with those lower and middle income earners who feel little stability or economic recovery in their lives.
Where is the stability for those who have seen their rent sky rocket since 2011?
Where is the recovery for the 130,000 families on housing waiting lists or those still burdened with enormous mortgage debt?
While corporate Ireland made profits of €51 billion in 2014, scandalously 20% of the workforce in this state earns less than the living wage of €11.45 an hour.
Many of the new jobs that are being created in the economy are low paid and temporary and many young people are being forced into super-exploitative free labour internships such as JobBridge and gateway.
our health service remains in permanent crisis with 500 lying on trolleys in January and 93,000 on waiting lists.
childcare costs remain the highest in europe.
In the period from 2009 to 2015 over €50 billion in cuts was made to spending on public services and yet all the four main parties, including unfortunately sinn Féin, believe we can only increase public expenditure by an additional €8.6-€10 billion, the so-called “fiscal space”.
Fundamentally they are unwilling to pursue the vast wealth that is owned and controlled by a small minority in this country.
they fundamentally accept working within the framework of neo-liberal capitalism and are unwilling to countenance any alternative to this system.
Where is the wealth?
apple is sitting on cash piles of $178 billion.
however the government is fighting the eU commission so that it doesn’t have to pay up to €17 billion in unpaid taxes to the Irish sate.
credit suisse estimates the total wealth in Ireland to be €690 billion.
27% of this wealth is owned by the super-rich 1% of the population.
In the austerity years from 2010 to 2015 Ireland’s richest 300 increased their personal wealth by €34 billion from €50 billion to €84 billion.
the richest 13 people in Ireland are billionaires with a wealth of €38 billion between them.
these include tax exiles like Denis o’Brien.
a political revolution
the last two years have seen two major movements that reflect the desire for radical and social change in Ireland.
hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to protest against the introduction of water charges and 50% are currently boycotting this hated tax.
In May 2015, 62% voted to aﬃrm the rights of the lgBtQ community by voting yes to Marriage equality.
globally this same desire for a radical alternative is being felt.
In the Us, millions have responded to Bernie sanders’ call for a “political revolution against the billionaire class”.
the election of Jeremy corbyn as leader of the labour party in Britain shows a clear rejection of policies of austerity.
this mood for real change must be harnessed into the building of a new left movement for working class people which fights for a left government.
a left government is one that is based on organising the economy for people’s needs not for the profits of big business and the super-rich.
this means introducing a minimum wage of €12 an hour immediately as a step to €14 an hour by 2018,
it means vastly increasing public expenditure on infrastructure and public services,
creating a national health service free at the point of use, investing in quality public childcare
and abolishing regressive taxes such as the water charges and property tax.
We need to increase corporation tax and get rid of the sweetheart deals for big business.
a wealth tax on the super-rich should be introduced and the tax breaks for the wealthy must be abolished.
a left government would introduce real progressive change in Ireland.
this means ending all forms of discrimination against migrants, travellers, lgBtQ people and women.
It means a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment and legislating for a woman’s right to choose.
the aaa wants to parties that have presided over austerity, namely Fianna Fáil, Fine gael and labour to be cleared out of power.
We will discuss with any party or individuals who are serious about forming a left government that breaks with the logic of neo-liberalism and capitalism.
“The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system: it must go” – James connolly
austerity, the housing crisis and the chronic underfunding of our public services as well the obscene rise in economic inequality are not features unique to Ireland.
Ultimately they reflect the nature of the capitalist system where the economy is organised in the interests of private profit and has proven itself incapable of meeting our needs.
the anti-austerity alliances believes that if we are to deliver real change in our society we must decisively break with the system of capitalism.
the tragic failure of the syriza government in greece to do so ultimately led them to betray the hopes and aspirations of greek working class people who voted them in.
Instead of breaking with the profit system they were broken by it.
We need to take the wealth and resources out of the hands of the 1% and bring them into democratic public ownership so we can deliver real change not the spare change oﬀered by the establishment parties.
on this basis the wealth of society can be productively invested and utilised so that the needs of the 99% can be met.
support Workers’ rights
the average wage of an Irish worker in 2014 was €2,000 a year lower than was the case in 2007.
the strike by Dunnes stores workers last spring highlighted the scandal of workers having no certainty over when and for how long they work on a week to week basis.
the capitalist establishment are determined to consolidate this situation during the recovery rather than tackle it.
the government have increased the minimum wage by a pathetic 50c to €9.15 an hour, significantly less than the living wage recommended by the living Wage technical group.
None of the main parties are in favour of a substantial increase in the minimum wage.
sinn Féin has proposed only to increase it to €9.65 an hour despite being nominally in favour of the introduction of a living wage.
public sector wage cuts are far from fully reversed and those who lost their jobs in the recession now finding employment more often than not discover that their hourly wage is significantly less than in their last job.
these attacks aﬀect all workers, oftentimes falling most heavily on the shoulders of women, immigrants and the young.
The AAA stands for:
For an immediate increase in the minimum wage to €12 an hour, as a step towards a minimum wage of €14 an hour by 2018.
Ban “zero hour” and “if and when” contracts. give workers guaranteed minimum hours.
reversal of all public sector pay cuts.
For the right to a job with decent pay and conditions  abolish free labour schemes such as JobBridge and gateway.
end yellow pack wage rates for women, migrant and young people-equal pay for work of equal value.
affordable homes for all
rents in Dublin are now at the same rates as they were in 2007 at the height of the property bubble, while incomes have declined by 20% since then.
there are now 88,000 households who are renting homes from landlords on a long term basis.
there is now a homelessness epidemic or “tsunami” in the words of peter McVerry.
the homeless charity, Focus Ireland, estimates that there are 5,000 homeless people at any one time in Ireland.
on top of this there are 100,000 owner occupiers who are in mortgage arrears.
the central Bank is pushing for repossessions and 50,000 orders for repossessions have begun.
the government is relying on the private market to resolve this crisis which is a failed strategy.
In the first nine months of this year only 8,914 homes were built across the state compared to 66,470 homes in the first nine months of 2006.
In the whole of 2006, 96,000 housing units were built when big developers and the banks had access to vast sums of cheap credit from german and French banks.
they were able to use this credit to build houses that were priced at exorbitant levels and are now unwilling to so because they are less likely to make profits are a short term basis.
last year only 200 council homes were built, a pathetically low figure given that there are 130,000 households on housing waiting lists.
In the mid-1970s one third of new homes that were built were council homes.
traveller accommodation was cut from €70 million to €3 million per annum in the period from 2007 to 2013.
It is an outrage that travellers are forced to live in gravely sub-substandard accommodation as a result of the absence of properly funded and equipped halting sites.
The AAA stands for:
stop economic evictions. anyone threatened with homelessness by landlords or banks should refuse to move.
end the reliance on the private sector to provide homes.
Invest €10 billion between now and 2018 to build 100,000 council homes at cost price.
Introduce rent controls and bring rents down to 2011 levels to make them aﬀordable.
Mortgages from the property bubble should be written down to pre-celtic tiger levels.
Bring the banks into genuine democratic public ownership where they are run for need not profit.
Bring the construction industry, and companies that produce construction materials into democratic public ownership
so that homes can be built at cost price and profiteering can be eliminated.
For investment in properly resourced halting sites.
reverse the cuts to traveller accommodation.
a health service for need not profit
More people die every year in this country from social inequality than died in Northern Ireland in all the years of the troubles.
Male professionals live on average more than 6 years longer than male unskilled workers.
More than 600 people on a given day in January day can be found lying on trolleys in our hospitals,
many of them elderly people having to suﬀer this indignity after a lifetime of work.
these are symptoms of a two-tier society and a two-tier health service.
the right-wing parties want, however, to deepen this inequality, not to end it.
this is the agenda served by health cuts and privatisation.
We need to end our two tier health service and establish a National health service modelled on the Nhs when it was founded in 1948.
this should be funded by a central progressive taxation.
The AAA stands for:
For a publicly-owned National health service free at the point of access with services provided from the cradle to the grave.
Increase investment in mental health services.
reversal of all health cuts and privatisation measures.
education is a right
the aaa believes that education that should be freely accessible as a right for everyone within our society.
We believe that all the cuts to education should be reversed, including cuts to sNas.
More resources are needed for disadvantaged and traveller students.
class sizes should be reduced to a ratio of 20 pupils for every teacher.
Instead of young children being educated in pre-fabricated buildings across the state we need investment in the state of the art, fully equipped schools.
We need to end church control over our primary and secondary schools as they only guarantee of ending discrimination in admissions of children on religious ground.
the right to education at the third level has been undermined by this government and thousands excluded by four figure “student contributions” merely to get into college.
all fees for third level education should be scrapped.
The AAA stands for:
reverse all cuts in education.
Invest in school building programme to provide top quality schools with decent facilities for all pupils.
reduce class sizes at primary level to a ratio of 20 pupils for every teacher as a step toward 15.
reverse teaching cuts in second level.
end the two-tier pay levels in the public sector.
end church control over education.
Free education for all – scrap “student contributions” and provide living grants for students.
abolish Water charges
the particular context in which water, the household and property taxes were imposed was as an unfair response to the economic collapse caused by the greed of the bankers and bondholders.
In reality these taxes are bondholders’ taxes.
Wherever possible, the most eﬀect way of fighting unjust taxes or charges is to refuse to pay them.
If people pay such charges, even though they may oppose them, their opposition will not be registered.
Instead the establishment parties will deem payment as acceptance and will not be under pressure to get rid of them.
Non-payment is the best way of maximising the opposition to water charges and of building the pressure for their abolition.
the explosion of the mass movement against water charges, including the By-election victory of paul Murphy in october 2014, forced the government to make some changes to the water charges, including the reduction in the level of the charges.
labour and Fine gael only made these changes to try to sneak the charge in.
It is clearly still the plan that water charges would rise to beyond €500 per household over time.
people understand the establishment of a charge for water is not about getting necessary investment but is a step to the privatisation of water.
handing over a natural resource and asset to Irish or international vulture capitalists to profiteer from and to hold us all to ransom will never be accepted.
everyone must have a right to water, clean and safe and free at the point of use.
The AAA stands for:
Defend and extend non-payment of the water charges.
abolish Irish Water and the water charges.
access to clean and safe water is a human right and must be free at the point of use.
proper investment in water infrastructure to ensure maximum conservation and secure supply into the future.
Fund our water infrastructure through the central taxation system.
No commercialisation or privatisation of water.
pro-choice, pro-women’s equality
labour and Fine gael austerity has disproportionately hit women.
poverty and inequality have increased:
40,000 lone parents (90% women) lose the one Family payment when their youngest child turns 7.
Ireland’s child-care costs are the highest in the eU – 35% of annual family income. (eU average is 12%) (oecD).
60% of low paid workers are women. (NerI).
Women are more likely to have part-time, insecure jobs, with 50% earning €20,000 or less.
pay gap widens.
Women now earn 14.4% less than men.
over 10 women from Ireland are still forced to travel every day to access a safe and legal abortion abroad.
savita halappanavar died due to the ban on abortion, under labour’s watch.
Despite this labour did nothing about the 8th amendment.
this and their slavish implementation of austerity are labour’s version of equality!
objectification of women’s bodies feeds into the prevalence of male violence against women.
1 in 5 women will suﬀer domestic abuse in Ireland and 42% of women have experienced some form of sexual abuse.
Despite Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill’s ex-partner pleading guilty to raping her, he was not sentenced to a single day in prison.
this exposes a culture of victim-blaming and trivialising of rape in the legal system, which must be challenged.
€4.5 million was cut from women’s refuges and domestic violence services and a 25% from rape crisis centres since 2008 – austerity is literally killing women.
the tsunami of homelessness is compounding the dangers, as leaving violent partners can mean homelessness for women and their children.
The AAA stands for:
repeal the 8th amendment and legislate for a woman’s right to choose.
Massive investment into quality, state childcare, which must be aﬀordable or free.
proper funding for domestic violence and rape crisis services.
a left government to separates church and state – end catholic church influence in hospitals and schools.
an active movement to fight all forms of sexism and to end violence against women.
Full equality for lgbtq people
the magnificent 62% vote for marriage equality in May this year showed the mood to end discrimination within our society.
Despite the claims of some in the establishment, the marriage equality vote does not deliver full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people in this state.
apart altogether from the continuing scandal of homophobic bullying there are still legislative obstacles to full equality in the form of section 37 of the equality act which allows schools and hospitals to sack gay workers in order to maintain the religious “ethos” of the institution and the state ban on donating blood for gay and bisexual men.
The AAA stands for:
end all forms of homophobia and transphobia.
Introduce programmes in schools to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying.
Young people in our schools who identify as lgBtQ should be supported.
end catholic church influence over state schools.
roll out a programme of progressive, anti-sexist and non-heteronormative, age appropriate sex education available to all.
abolish all legislative blocks on equality – abolish and section 37 of the equality act and the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
Invest in renewables
climate change threatens life on earth with catastrophe.
Despite the need for a 50% cut in co2 emissions in the developed world by 2020, emissions in reality continue to grow.
the devastating impact of the floods in December and January brought home to many the consequences of climate change.
Dealing with the environmental crisis is a must be a priority for a left movement and a left government.
the pursuit of profit by big business, particularly the oil and gas industry, is the key driver of climate change and other forms of environmental disaster.
90 companies are responsible for 63% of carbon emissions since 1751.
these industries possess 2 trillion in fossil fuel assets, still to be transmitted into the atmosphere.
the fossil fuel industry spends only 1% of its resources on renewable energy.
private control of natural resources and the energy industry means that profit, and not people or the environment will always be the main concern.
the paris climate agreement in December agreed minimal targets to reduce carbon emissions.
this illustrates the inability of the capitalist establishment to deal with this crave threat to humanity.
governments acting in deference to these industries have failed to take any serious action on the issue of climate change.
speaking at the cop21 conference in paris, enda Kenny declared that ‘climate change is not our priority’.
The AAA stands for:
a state-led programme of investment in renewable energy production and research.
as well as being essential to dealing with the environmental crisis, this could be a vehicle for major job creation.
support for communities opposing fracking and other environmentally destructive projects in their local area.
opposition to regressive ‘carbon taxes’ and other measures which attempt to place the burden of environmental crisis on to working class people.
For democratic public ownership of natural resources, and the energy industry.
For democratic economic planning to reduce carbon emissions, develop alternative sources of energy and expand public transport.
oppose racism & Islamophobia
the anti-austerity alliance opposes all forms of racism and Islamophobia.
the wars waged by imperialism in the Middle east and North africa have helped to create a horrific humanitarian catastrophe with many being forced to flee from their homes.
the aaa opposes the policies of Fortress europe and the implementation of racist immigration laws that deny people the right to seek sanctuary from war, poverty and persecution.
We oppose the racist scapegoating of refugees and migrants for the absence of jobs, homes and resources that result from the policies of austerity and neo-liberalism.
the aaa opposes the horrendous discriminations faced by the travelling community in Ireland and supports their right to be recognised as an ethnic group.
The AAA stands for:
oppose racism and Islamophobic prejudice.
oppose state racism – end direct provision.
oppose all deportations and racist immigration laws and controls.
oppose the racist policies of “Fortress europe”.
Defend the right to asylum.
For a united struggle for jobs, decent housing, decent pay, against water charges etc to unite all ordinary people regardless of their race, ethnicity or nationality.
end discrimination against the travelling community. recognise travellers as an ethnic group.
global solidarity
the aaa stands in solidarity with working class and oppressed people across our planet fighting to oppose economic exploitation, injustice and oppression.
None of the problems facing humanity such as war, poverty and injustice will end as long as we live under capitalist system run in the blind pursuit of private profit for a small minority.
We oppose capitalist institutions such as the eU, IMF and World Bank that implement policies at the behest of big business, bankers and the super-rich as well trade deals such as ttIp and ceta which will further attacks on workers rights’ and our environment.
We oppose wars and military interventions waged by the imperialist powers such as those of the Us, europe and russia in the Middle east and North africa in the last decade and a half.
We demand an end to the use of shannon airport being by the Us military.
The AAA stands for:
No a europe run in the interests of big business and the bankers.
For a europe for the millions not the millionaires.
Full solidarity with working class people globally fighting austerity, job losses and privatisation.
No to ttIp, ceta and other anti-worker and environment free trade deals.
oppose all imperialist wars and intervention. Us military out of shannon.
end the siege of gaza, end the occupation of palestine.
support a mass struggle of the palestinian people for the creation of a truly independent and viable palestinian state.
For international solidarity to fight a capitalist system run in the interests of the 1%.
taxation Justice
Working people were loaded with many new taxes when the crisis hit.
More than €4 billion a year is taken by the Universal social charge.
revenue was used to bulldoze the property tax through and it’s set to rise after the general election.
Flat Vat rates hit the poor disproportionately.
credit suisse estimated that €226.37 billion is concentrated in the hands of 90,000 millionaire households, who make up the richest 5%.
allowing a threshold of €1 million for each millionaire would mean that €138 billion would be subject to wealth tax.
this could mean €1.38 billion raised for each 1% in taxation.
The AAA stands for:
abolition of the property tax and Usc.
Introduce a new equivalent tax on all income in excess of €100,000 to ensure the benefit of Usc abolition does not go largely to very high earners.
end the sweetheart deals that see companies like apple avoid paying €17 billion in tax.
Increase the corporation tax rate-€2 billion a year could be raised if multinationals actually paid the 12.5% rate.
an additional €2.7 billion could be raised by raising the eﬀective corporation rate to 17.9%, the eU-27 average.
the introduction of an emergency millionaire’s tax as part of a progressive tax system. a 2% emergency millionaires tax could raise €2.8 billion.
For Financial transaction taxes on transactions in bonds, shares and derivatives.
Introducing such a tax at a rate of 0.1% on transactions in bonds and shares and 0.01% on transactions in derivatives would raise at least €1 billion.
Increase the eﬀective tax take from those earning over €110,000 (the top 10% of earners) by 10% which would raise €2.7 billion.
For a left government
the aaa stands for the election of a left government that based on human need not the profits of big business and bondholders.
this means, alongside a movement of working class people, fighting to end the system of capitalism. such a government would:
repudiate the debt created by the property crash.
reverse all the cuts and austerity taxes.
Instead of privatising the banks, put them under the democratic control of working class people and direct credit for need not profit.
end the use of abuse of the wealth created by working class people by the capitalist. establishment.
Invest in infrastructure and manufacturing base within the economy.
end the rule of the 1%.
Bring the key wealth producing sectors and natural resources into democratic public ownership.
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group stands for full employment,
fair taxation
and the unity, independence and sovereignty of Ireland.
Our members are appalled that the Irish people have been led into subordination to Britain, Germany and France and the bankers and speculators of these countries through the EU/IMF deal.
The treachery of government and the self-serving greedy behaviour of the Irish elite is leading to savage attacks on  poor and middle income earners
We are mindful of the fight for Irish Freedom waged here in Tipperary.
From this perspective we can estimate the depth of the treachery that has dishonoured the memory and the heritage of all those who fought and who supported that struggle
There is a real national economic and social emergency
The economic crisis is resulting in an unprecedented onslaught on living standards, spiralling mass unemployment and a dramatic rise in poverty.
Meanwhile billions are being taken from working people and given to bankers, developers and international speculators and finance houses
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group is opposed to the governments’ bailouts of banks and attacks on public services.
In the general election the Workers and Unemployed Action Group is proposing a real alternative to the policies of establishment parties, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.
The approach of a Fine Gael / Labour government in power would not be fundamentally different than those of this government.
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group rejects so-called solutions to the economic crises based on slashing public expenditure, welfare payments and workers’ pay and pensions.
There can be no just or sustainable solution to the crisis based solely on the market.
Instead we favour democratic and public control over resources so that social need is prioritised over profit.
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group will not do any deals or support any coalition with any of the right wing parties particularly Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
We are committed to an alternative in Ireland to unite working people, whether public or private sector, Irish or migrant, with the unemployed, welfare recipients, pensioners and students in the struggle to change society.
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group has the following key demands: End the bailout of banks and developers and Refuse to Pay the Debts of Private Banks to international speculators and Finance Houses.
Allowing private banks to borrow 90 billion abroad between 2003 and 2007 was an act of treachery by government and by the Irish establishment generally.
The Blanket Guarantee of all bank debts by the government was the greatest act of national treachery since the Act of Union
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group demands that that guarantee be revoked and that small individual investors be compensated.
We favour a structured negotiated default on the repayment of the debts of banks!
To those who say that this is a risky strategy, we say that in the present state of  the country  following the treachery of the outgoing government, that there is no strategy without risk.
But the most risky strategy of all is to continue along the path advocated by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour:
that is robbing the people to pay off the debts of private banks and developers.
This will end in a catastrophic default and a devastated country as many serious commentators are admitting.
We should of course talk to the EU and heads of European countries
Reduce total mortgages and repayments to affordable levels to reflect the real current price of the property and outlaw repossessions/evictions of families from their homes on the basis of inability to pay.
Junkets and Bloated Salaries
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group has always opposed unnecessary travel or “junkets” by politicians at local authority and national level.
Seamus Healy and his fellow Workers and Unemployed Action Group councillors have always refused to participate in this abuse.
This practice should be ended through national regulation.
Ministerial salaries should be reduced to 100,000 Euro per annum
Tax the greedy not the needy
Ireland is not a poor country.
Indeed it has the highest income per head in Europe other than Luxembourg but has one of the worst distributions of income and wealth in the world.
Massive amounts of wealth were generated during the boom.
The problem is that most of the wealth is in the hands of a tiny super-rich minority.
The  top 6% of Irish super-rich still have 250 billion Euro in assets.
We completely reject the notion that all this wealth has suddenly disappeared.
A significant proportion of this money (€85 billion) is that irresponsibly borrowed by the banks abroad and lashed out effectively unsecured to developers.
An emergency, once off, 10% levy on these assets would recover 25 billion of that money and the super-rich would still be super-rich!
To those who say that this is unreasonable, we say: it is much more reasonable than driving the poor into deeper poverty and driving tens of thousands into emigration.
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group stands for a progressive taxation system.
Personal assets in excess of 1 million euro exclusive of the family home and of the family farm should be taxed on an ongoing basis as in many other countries.
We call for a third higher tax rate on incomes above 100,000 euro and a significant increase in the minimum effective tax take from very rich individuals!
It is high time that the super-rich showed a little patriotism!
We demand increases in capital gains tax and an end to all tax loopholes for the very rich.
We oppose all stealth and double taxes including refuse charges and plans to introduce water charges, and a “household tax”.
We oppose the inclusion of the low paid in the tax net and will vote for any proposal to reverse the budget changes, including the universal social charge,  which penalises those on low and middle incomes
We are opposed to any change in the rate of corporation profits tax.
The attempt by the major European powers to take advantage of the current crisis to force an increase in the Irish rate must be resisted.
Our candidate, Seamus Healy, will vote against any increase in the rate in Dáil Eireann if elected.
The proposal of Sarkhozy is particularly hypocritical and self-serving as the effective French rate is lower than the Irish rate.
Until revenue from  the wealthy comes on stream resources from the National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF)and the Exchequer Fund in the Central Bank should be used to run the State and begin a job creation programme.
These two bodies hold €30.56billion (€14.9billion in the NPRF and €15.7billion in the Exchequer Fund in the Central Bank) between them.
These reserves would be augmented by the 25 billion from the levy on the assets of the super-rich mentioned above.
End the Jobs Crisis
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group condemns the complete failure of the government to preserve or create jobs.
It’s policies are deflationary and are making the jobs crisis worse forcing the closure of many small businesses
We call for a real social development programme that could create hundreds of thousands of jobs building necessary infrastructure like public transport, sewage projects, water schemes, green energy projects, broadband, child care, schools, hospitals, health centres and other community facilities.
We oppose plans to sell off state companies as proposed by Fine Gael.
Instead these companies should be used as vehicles for job creation.
The Finnish Government developed the Nokia Corporation to a state in which it now employs tens of thousands of people in Finland
This can be emulated here using existing state companies and by starting new ones.
Ireland has 3000 post doctoral-researchers, many times more post-graduate researchers.
There are 100,000 with third level qualifications and thousands with trade certificates on the dole.
Research shows that there is no possibility that private industry will employ even a fraction of this priceless human asset.
Instead thousands of qualified people are emigrating, placing their skills at the service of companies and of governments abroad.
Parents and Irish taxpayers have spent hundreds of millions developing this priceless human resource.
Instead of emigration our people must be given the opportunity to serve their own country.
New state enterprises must be developed in communications technologies, technology for sustainable energy provision and in food and agriculture based industries among others.
Take the Corrib Gas Field into public ownership and regain control over our natural resources valued at 450billion Euro.
No to free labour called “internships”.
We demand real jobs
and a reversal of all the cuts in social welfare and benefit payments generally.
Reverse the cuts – Defend public services
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group says: end the profiteering in health care.
We stand for a properly funded and resourced public health system, free at the point of access
and paid for through a progressive tax system.
No privatisation of health services and end all subsidies to private care.
No co-location of private hospitals on public hospital lands.
The 2000 nursing posts eliminated under the staffing moratorium must be filled immediately and the proposal to force trainee nurses to work for nothing must be withdrawn.
No Downgrading of South Tipperary General Hospital
Immediate commencement of the next phase of expansion of Soth Tipperary General Hospital
Total support of the Campaign to Stop the Closure of Kickham Barracks
We demand proper state funding for the  education system, free for all from early childhood to university.
For more teachers to reduce class sizes and pupil teacher ratio
and more special needs assistants and language support so the needs of all children are met.
No re-introduction of third level fees: reverse the reductions in student maintenance grants.
No to the cuts in social welfare payments or pensions and no to the cutting, taxing or means testing of child benefit.
For a mass campaign by the trade union movement and  community organisations to reverse the cuts in public services.!
We want real reform of our public services.
It is time to stop copying failed private sector practices.
We want an end to inflated salaries, bonuses and expenses for top public servants and politicians.
There should be full public scrutiny of public spending.
Public services should be run democratically with the full involvement of the workers, the service users and the wider community.
These are the people who should be appointed to boards not political cronies.
Equality for all
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group supports equality for all and the elimination of all forms of discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age.
We support a campaign by the trade unions to unionise all workers and demand the legal right to trade union recognition.
Protect the environment
Despite the rhetoric, environmental destruction is continuing apace. We call for major state investment in developing renewable energy.
Through public ownership and democratic planning, the economy can be redirected onto a sustainable path.
We need real reform of our planning system, so that people’s needs and environmental protection come before the profits of developers.
We call for major investment in community facilities, waste management, recycling facilities and public transport.
We are opposed to incinerators as a solution to the waste problem because they pose serious health risks.
We call for a proper integrated waste management plan, including a drastic reduction of packaging combined with a serious approach to recycling and composting.
Political Reform
The remedy to the defects in our political system lies in increased accountability to the electorate not in elitist solutions.
We are opposed to the introduction of a list system which it is claimed would facilitate the appointment of “experts” as ministers.
Almost all the relevant experts failed the country.
“Experts”, business people, trade union leaders filled the places on the Board of the Central Bank and on the National Social and Economic Council.
No one shouted stop.
The Economic and Social Research Institute is full of professors.
They failed. Similarly, the HSE has been failed by “so-called experts”.
If there had been a list system in the last election, would Seanie Fitzpatrick have been elected and could he have become Minister for Finance?
After all he was at that time regarded as a financial genius!!
We are opposed to single seat constituencies which would reduce minority representation.
To increase accountability to the electorate we favour the reduction of the maximum Dáil term from 5 years to three.
If such had been in place the government could not have signed up to the EU/IMF Deal without a general election.
We favour the restoration of a popular initiative such as existed in the first constitution of the state.
For example, if 25% of the electorate signed an official request, an act passed by the Dail would be submitted to referendum.
If a majority opposed the act, it would be quashed.
Such a process would, almost certainly, have quashed the blanket bank guarantee.
The Seanad as constituted serves no useful purpose and should be abolished.
All corporate donations to politicians and to political parties should be banned.
Extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act, require political lobbyists to be publicly registered, and introduce legal protection for whistleblowers.
Unbelievably, there is no requirement on TD’s to attend the Dáil in order to receive basic salary.
This abuse must be ended.
TD’s must be required to attend and vote, if only to register an abstention, on all stages of bills in order to receive basic salary.
Our plan for Ireland’s future
Labour in government will sustain and spread the economic recovery
and use it to build a decent society which provides the opportunities and services our people deserve.
We will use renewed prosperity to invest in communities, raise living standards, improve quality-of-life and
create opportunity for our people who gave so much to get Ireland back on its feet.
We will do this through the series of steps set out in this document to enhance the lives of our people at every stage - from birth to retirement.
We now have the resources to continue to build a decent society
by managing our public ﬁnances responsibly, reducing our national debt, and ensuring Ireland never again returns to ﬁnancial crisis.
Labour is standing up for jobs and opportunity
Labour will deliver a strong economy for a decent society
Labour is managing the recovery responsibly
and fairly and will continue to do so
Labour is creating 1,100 jobs a week and will keep employment and opportunities at the centre of our work
Labour is increasing the number of people at work and will deliver a job for everyone who wants one by 2018
Labour is standing up for working people
Labour will ensure that low and middle income earners beneﬁt most from the recovery
Labour is reducing the USC and will abolish it for people earning up to €72,000
Labour is increasing the Minimum Wage and will raise it to a living wage of €11.30
Labour is raising the pension and will increase it to €260 per week
Labour is standing up for families and communities
Labour will deliver a balanced recovery by investing in the services that families and communities need
Labour is ensuring that no one will have to pay to see their GP
Labour is reducing class sizes to the smallest levels in the history of the State
Labour is capping childcare costs, increasing child beneﬁt, and extending parental leave
Labour is standing up for a modern Ireland
We will change our laws to reﬂect a modern Ireland
Labour is improving healthcare for women and will hold a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment
Labour is doubling the number of multi-denominational schools and will make sure that local schools prioritise local children
A Strong Economy for a Decent Society
Labour believes that a strong economy is not an end in itself, but must be the foundation on which we build a decent society.
Over the past five years we have regained our economic sovereignty and we will implement the right policies to ensure we don’t ever lose it again.
And we will use our economic strength to continue to build a fair and decent society in Ireland.
Labour will:
Balance the budget and reduce our national debt to 75% of GDP by 2021
Invest €3 in the services families and communities need for every €1 reduction in USC
Deliver a job for everyone who wants one by 2018 through the creation of at least 150,000 jobs over the next three years
Abolish USC on the first €72,000 of income and target additional relief to the lowest paid through reductions in PRSI
Increase the minimum wage and raise it to a living wage of €11.30 per hour
Increase the pension to €260
Reduce class sizes to the smallest levels in the history of the State
Provide access to free GP care for all
Cap and reduce childcare costs, increase child benefit, and extend parental leave
A strong economy and better living standards for all
Over five years in government Labour has transformed an economy on the brink of collapse to the fastest growing one in Europe.
We have brought the public finances from a ruinous deficit of almost one-third of national income to close to balance.
Our national debt is now at the European average and reducing apace.
Five years ago jobs were disappearing at a rate of 1,000 per week.
Now they are being created at a rate of over 1,100 each week.
Unemployment was at 15%.
Now it is 8.6%.
There are now over two million people at work.
Over the next five years, Labour’s mission is to sustain and spread the benefits of the recovery.
A strong economy is not a final destination in itself: our economy and society must work for working people.
Our vision is of a shared recovery whose benefits support workers, their families and those left behind by the crash.
We have built a strong economy
In 2011 when we took office Ireland was in the middle of the worst economic crisis in the history of the State.
15% of our people were unemployed.
Businesses had been collapsing one after another
Labour will continue to implement policies that underpin economic stability and drive growth
International ﬁnancial markets simply would not lend money to us because the economy had been so recklessly managed.
Ireland’s reputation was on the ﬂoor.
The previous Government had borrowed vast sums of money from the Troika under conditions dictated by them.
We said to the people that we would put the public ﬁnances back in order, renegotiate the Troika programme, regain our sovereignty
and most importantly get Ireland back to work.
We said we would go into government to do this only if at the same time we could protect the social welfare system to support the most vulnerable.
We worked to maintain industrial and social cohesion across the economy and society.
We have built a strong economy on solid foundations across all sectors, rather than on the construction sector alone as Fianna Fáil did with such disastrous consequences.
It is an economy built to last.
Over the next ﬁve years we will ensure that its beneﬁts are felt by all.
We will continue to build a decent society
We have ended the worst economic crisis in the history of the State.
At the same time we have reversed the previous Government’s cut in the minimum wage,
and protected social welfare rates and core public services.
The strong economy we have built now enables us to do much more.
We can deliver real and sustained improvements in the living standards of working people, their families and those who depend on the State.
For Labour, the purpose of economic success is to raise living standards, to use resources generated by the economy to invest in the services that families and communities need like health, education and early childhood years
and to continue to reduce the tax burden on low and middle income households.
A strong green economy
Climate change is the biggest single challenge facing humanity.
The Labour Party ensured that we were the ﬁrst Irish Government to pass legislation that commits us – in law – to meeting EU targets for reducing carbon emissions and adopting renewable energy.
We published the Energy White Paper and became the ﬁrst Irish Government to commit to a zero-carbon energy future for our country, placing citizens and communities at the heart of energy policy, promoting and enabling deep public engagement on the challenges – and the opportunities – that arise from our climate commitments.
We will establish a Green Infrastructure Fund worth €1 billion.
Half of this - €500m will come from the disposal of the planned sale of 25% of the State’s shares in AIB.
This will be matched by €500m of private funding.
Labour will continue to act to combat climate change – and we will act to ensure that our people, businesses and communities are positioned to reap the employment and economic beneﬁts that arise from this, the greatest project facing humanity in the 21st century.
We will establish a Green Infrastructure Fund worth €1 billion
A modern Ireland
Labour has always been the party of social change, bringing about an ever more inclusive and vibrant society which celebrates difference and promotes equality.
This year marks the centenary of the Easter Rising.
Now more than ever it is incumbent on all of us to ensure, in the words of the Proclamation, that “the Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens”.
Labour will continue to lead on making Ireland a better place to live for all.
We will strengthen the rights of women, children and the most vulnerable.
We will work to ensure a tolerant, welcoming society for new citizens and minorities.
A balanced budget and lower debt
Over the next ﬁve years Labour will keep the budget close to balance.
We are setting a target of reducing national debt to 75% of GDP by 2021, and this should go down to 60% by the end of the next decade.
Labour’s public spending and tax reform proposals for the next ﬁve years are based on these targets.
Better public services
Labour in Government has driven the reform of public services.
We secured greater productivity from public servants to allow us maintain front line services.
These changes only happened because we negotiated two public service agreements.
In the next phase of public sector reform, Labour will make it easy for all citizens to use public services.
We will introduce a single digital portal, giving each citizen a single and secure point of communication with all Government Departments and public bodies.
Citizens will be able to see and conduct all their interactions with the State through a single channel.
Labour will prioritise the public services families and communities need
Labour will use the majority of the funds that will be available to government over the next ﬁve years to invest in improving the quality and scope of our public services.
The cost of Labour’s tax plan will be €2.866 billion over ﬁve years.
This will leave €8.368 billion to invest in improvements in the quality and scope of public services.
In other words, for every €1 invested in tax reductions, we will invest almost €3 in public services.
The most effective way to tackle inequality is to invest in public services that are available to all.
We will transform the availability and delivery of key services like health, education, childcare and housing.
We will ensure that no family has to worry about the cost of accessing healthcare;
that childcare costs do not deter women from working;
that children are getting the best possible start in life;
and that our older people can grow old with dignity and with the best of care.
USC will be phased out on the first €72,000 of income
Labour will abolish the Universal Social Charge (USC) on the first €72,000 of individual income by 2021.
This will be done in stages, starting from the next Budget.
In the last two budgets, we removed 700,000 low paid workers entirely from the USC net.
Now we will end the USC burden on low and middle income earners completely.
We will also reduce the burden of PRSI on those households.
This means that a single person earning up to €72,000 will pay no USC.
But by making changes to tax credits for higher earners we will ensure those earning over €120,000 will not gain from this change.
We will increase investment in infrastructure
Labour’s investment in schools, third-level education, training and upskilling will help all out citizens reach their potential and ensure a highly-skilled workforce.
Our investment in better roads, more public transport, high speed broadband and other key infrastructure will boost enterprise, generate growth and raise incomes.
Labour will therefore invest an additional €8.368 billion in in current and capital spending over the next five years.
In addition, Labour will create a €1bn dedicated Green Infrastructure Fund,
with €500m of the proceeds from the sale of bank shares combined with private sector funding to increase investment in clean public transport and renewable energy research.
Standing Up for Working People
Standing Up for Working People
Labour will deliver a new deal on tax and living standards for working people by abolishing USC for low and middle income earners, making work pay,
making homes affordable, investing in communities and providing security in retirement.
Labour will:
Abolish USC on the first €72,000 of individual income
Change how PRSI operates to reduce the burden in particular on workers earning between €18,305 and €36,608
Change the tax credit system to ensure those on low to middle incomes benefit most from these changes, while those earning €120,000 and above do not benefit
Make homes affordable by supporting those who want to save to buy their own home, building good quality social and affordable housing and continuing to protect renters
Provide security in retirement by increasing the State pension and introducing a new workplace pension scheme
When working people have more money in their pockets to save, invest, and grow the economy, we all benefit
2.1. A NEW DEAL ON INCOME TAX
As the economy continues to recover, we must phase out the punitive elements of the income tax system.
We will reduce the burden for those on low and middle incomes, and create a tax system that treats employees and the self-employed equally.
Labour will:
Abolish USC on the first €72,000 of income
Change how PRSI operates to reduce the burden on workers earning between €18,305 and €36,608
Change the tax credit system to ensure those on low to middle incomes benefit most from these changes, while those earning €120,000 and above do not benefit
Provide for equal tax treatment of the self-employed
The result of Labour’s tax changes will be to significantly reduce tax for people earning less than €72,000.
We will reduce the tax burden for those on low and middle incomes Income tax and USC
In response to the economic crisis Fianna Fáil introduced the Universal Social Charge.
The USC applied to all income provided the individual taxpayer earned more than €4,000 a year.
Labour in Government increased this threshold to €13,000 and removed 700,000 taxpayers from the USC net.
We have also reduced the rate of USC payable on the ﬁrst €70,000 of income.
Now we intend to go much further.
The economy is now growing more quickly than that of any country in Europe.
The annual budget deﬁcit has been virtually eliminated and the national debt continues to fall when measured against GDP.
We will continue to reduce the current burden of income taxes to help low and middle income families still under pressure as a result of the years of crisis.
Labour will abolish USC on the ﬁrst €72,000 of income.
This will be done progressively over the ﬁve-year term of the next Government.
We will change the system of tax credits to ensure that those earning up to €100,000 receive the full benefit of this change in USC, those earning €100,000-€120,000 receive some benefit, but those earning over €120,000 do not see an increase in take-home pay from this change.
Tax Credits
The third part of our tax plan is to target additional relief at low and middle income working people, earning between €18,305 and €36,608.
PRSI threshold
In the last Budget, we reduced the burden on low and middle income workers by introducing PRSI relief.
We will continue this approach, extending PRSI relief of up to €14 per week for those on incomes under €704 per week or €36,608 per year.
The effect will be that the payment of PRSI kicks in gradually, ensuring more take-home pay for low income workers.
We believe that people should pay the same amount of tax whether they are employees or self-employed.
Equal treatment for the self-employed
We introduced a tax credit on income earned from work of €550 for the self-employed in the last budget to bring them closer into line with PAYE workers, and we will continue to equalise the tax treatment of self- employed workers and employees.
The earned income tax credit will be increased from €550 to €1,100 in 2017 and €1,650 in 2018 to bring tax on self-employed trading and professional income into line with PAYE earnings.
We will also abolish the USC surcharge of 3% on income over €100,000 for the self-employed to bring the USC top rate to 8% for everyone in this income bracket.
2.2 IMPROVING LIVING STANDARDS FOR WORKING PEOPLE
A good job requires a fair wage which allows a decent standard of living without having to depend on State supports.
Labour will:
Ensure Government leads by example.
We will make the State a living wage employer by 2018.
Ensure that the living wage is progressively extended to State procured services in onsite areas such as security, cleaning and catering.
Direct the Low Pay Commission to target a minimum wage of 60% of median earnings by 2021.
This would be €11.30 per hour in today’s value.
Negotiate a new public sector pay deal in advance of the end of the existing Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Labour has made work pay by reversing Fianna Fáil’s cut to the Minimum Wage and delivering a further increase in 2016.
We reinstated Joint Labour Committees, Registered Employment Agreements and the new concept of Sectoral Employment Orders, crucial mechanisms which help workers secure better pay and conditions and which will potentially benefit more than 200,000 people.
Under the Lansdowne Road Agreement we are unwinding Fianna Fáil’s public sector pay cuts, and doing so in a progressive fashion by focusing on the lowest-paid public servants first.
Work must always pay.
Those in full-time work should be able to provide their families with a decent standard of living.
Labour is committed to raising the threshold of decency in Ireland and has increased the Minimum Wage by €1.50 an hour, or €3,000 a year, for those who need it most.
A living wage for all in work
We will direct the Low Pay Commission to target a minimum wage of 60% of median earnings by 2021.
This would be €11.30 per hour in today’s value.
Our plan to ensure that the Government becomes a living wage employer.
We will also extend the Living Wage to those who provide services to the Government in onsite services such as security, cleaning and catering, will ensure that work pays, even for those on modest incomes.
Our employment policy must strike the right balance between the needs of business and a worker’s right to basic job security and a decent rate of pay.
Dignity at Work
Labour is the party of workers’ rights.
While other governments across the EU have restricted workers’ rights, we broke new ground with collective bargaining legislation, which strengthens workers’ legal rights to negotiate with employers.
We also boosted protection for workers by reinstating the system of Registered Employment Agreements (REAs) and introduced the concept of Sectoral Employment Orders on a constitutionally sound basis.
Already, 55,000 low paid security and contract cleaning staff have received a pay rise after binding wage agreements for both sectors were agreed under legislation enacted by Labour.
We will end abusive terms and conditions of employment including “if and when” and insecure contracts, low pay, casualisation, and enforced and bogus self-employment.
We will ensure that anyone who works regular hours for a minimum period of 12 hours per week will be legally entitled to a written contract, and create better protection for workers who provide contracted services.
We will confront the scourge of workplace bullying, and will put an end to arbitrary deductions from wages, contrary to the Payment of Wages Act.
We will also safeguard the rights of workers in firms that collapse in an informal insolvency, and allow freelance workers to collectively bargain.
Pathways to Work
The Pathways to Work strategy has transformed social welfare from being just a provider of beneﬁts to a public employment service that helps jobseekers ﬁnd work, training and education.
Some 140,000 jobs have been added in the economy since the peak of the crisis.
Unemployment has fallen by more than one third, from over 15% to 8.6% now.
The next phase of our strategy will focus on jobless families and women who ﬁnd it hard to even get into the labour market.
We will ensure the social welfare system gives them the right support and incentives to reenter the world of work so that they can build a better standard of living.
At a minimum we will increase welfare payments in line with the cost of living.
We will move towards welfare individualisation – meaning spouses and partners of jobseekers are seen as welfare clients in their own right.
So all working-age adults – including women and primary carers - will be given the same entitlements and opportunities.
We will ensure that in households dependent on one partner’s jobseeker’s payment, the right to work, training and education supports can be accessed by either partner.
This will give more options to qualiﬁed adults currently frozen out of accessing labour supports.
We will expand the Youth Guarantee scheme to offer more training, education and employment opportunities to those under 26.
For those participating in the Youth Guarantee, we will pay the full rate Jobseeker’s payment.
We will also create 10,000 new places on JobsPlus – our highly successful programme which assists employers with wage costs when they hire a long-term unemployed person.
Labour will make the State a living wage employer
The Family Income Supplement has continued to support many low-paid families to remain in work during the crisis, and has been a critical part of making sure that work always pays.
However, this scheme is underused by families, and overly complex.
Supporting working families
We will create a new, simpler, more supportive Working Family Benefit so that all parents working full time will earn at least €12 per hour.
This will better support working families and remove disincentives to taking on additional work.
We will reduce the minimum hours of work (currently 19 hours) required to receive Family Income Supplement.
Instead we will ensure people qualify based on their income.
Assessment for the Working Family Benefit will exempt some additional forms of income for single- parent families to better support their unique needs.
In Government, we have protected the principle of managing the public sector pay bill through negotiation, and the Lansdowne Road Agreement has begun the process of unwinding Fianna Fáil’s public sector pay cuts.
A new public sector pay deal
We will negotiate a new public sector pay deal in 2018, in advance of the conclusion of the Lansdowne Road Agreement to deal with remaining unresolved issues arising from the FEMPI acts.
We are committed to ensuring that the principle of equal pay scales for equal work in the public sector is an established one.
For a stronger welfare system that combines security with opportunity,
we will take steps towards an income-linked system of jobseekers payments to empower workers to move between jobs and bounce back from short- term unemployment secure in the knowledge that the social welfare system will adequately support them and their families as they transition.
Supporting those who contribute
This income-linked jobseekers’ payment will amount to up to €30 a week extra above existing benefit levels for the first six months of unemployment, as a first step towards creating a system of contributory welfare that recognises that those who contribute to our social insurance fund should benefit when they need it most.
2.3 MAKING HOMES AFFORDABLE
Labour is committed to the delivery of affordable homes for families, ending long-term homelessness and investing in social housing.
Labour will:
Make buying a home a realistic ambition for families
Introduce a long-term strategy for the private rental sector
Protect those who are renting
Build more social and affordable homes
Tackle homelessness through a housing-led approach
Labour in government put in place a massive social housing plan worth €4bn.
This is intended to meet social housing need and combat homelessness, and implementation is already under way.
Our social housing strategy will deliver 110,000 social housing units by 2020.
However, there is a group of people who find it hard to either buy or rent their own home and who are not eligible for social housing.
These are people and families who are working, but either because of where they live, or because they are not paid enough, pay too much of their income on housing costs.
The rent stability package Labour introduced in Government addresses several of these problems but we must go further.
Every person should have access to quality, secure, affordable housing, appropriate to their needs.
We know that about 25,000 homes need to be built each year to meet demand.
A right to secure and affordable housing
The single greatest lesson from the building boom and subsequent crash is that the Government must intervene smartly to ensure a sustainable housing supply.
We cannot return to the tax-led intervention of the past where lavish incentives, loose credit and bad planning created a perfect storm from which we are still recovering.
In government, Labour has already begun the work of fixing our broken social housing system with the launch of the largest social housing programme in the history of the State, backed by €4bn in funding, to deliver 110,000 social housing units by 2020.
We have begun the work of creating a regulator for voluntary housing bodies.
We will provide €500m for the development of affordable rental housing (with rents 20% or more below market levels).
This will help families who don’t qualify for social housing, but struggle to pay the rental cost in the open market.
Labour will professionalise the landlord business and encourage institutional investors into long term rental provision.
We will provide standard business tax reliefs to landlords conditional on housing units meeting required building energy standards.
We will also seek to create the regulated, stable rental market that institutional investors, such as pension funds, require to provide significant rental units.
Access to equity and loan finance and the cost of construction remain the single largest obstacles to house-building at present.
Until the market improves, it will be necessary to continue supporting construction activity.
As a start, local authorities will be supported to frontload the Part V contribution to part finance housing projects.
We will examine the potential impact and cost of a Build to Rent Fund supported by the Housing Finance Agency to provide upfront finance to builders.
We will also better support cooperative housing initiatives.
We also plan to extend the “Empty Nester” scheme that is available in parts of Dublin city and county.
This scheme facilitates older people who wish to downsize due to children leaving the home or similar changes in lifestyle.
It will allow for the homeowners to sell their property directly to the council, which then ensures they are re-housed in suitable property that guarantees a similar standard of living.
The sold property can then be added to the council’s supply of housing stock.
The number of empty local authority houses is evidence of poor estates management and careless tenanting policy.
Too many people turn down offers of housing because of perceived difficulties with how certain estates are managed.
Labour will make sure that local communities can take part in decisions on the upkeep, management and tenanting policy of such estates.
We will also establish a nationally integrated asset management system in conjunction with the local authorities in order to ensure more efficient management of social housing stock.
All homes should be part of thriving communities.
Labour is committed to building mixed communities comprising different types of housing and where young and old, owner-occupiers and social renters live together.
We will not return to the mistakes of the past with social housing concentrated in one area while gated communities deﬁne the new private estates.
Homes in thriving communities
Labour will provide improved tax incentives to bring heritage buildings back into full use in our historical cities and town centres.
Residential development will be particularly encouraged in Dublin along public transport lines, either in existing brownﬁeld sites such as Dublin’s Docklands, or new greenﬁeld developments such as Cherrywood and Adamstown.
We will establish a new Land Development Agency to ensure long-term housing demand is matched by available land.
This agency will have the power to tackle land hoarding, and counteract land speculation.
Land laws will also be reformed to reduce the period in which local authorities can take estates in charge, the compulsory acquisition of private lands will be provided for and a method to determine fair compensation will be set out.
As NAMA winds down its current operations, we propose that the agency take up a new remit as the Land Development Agency.
We will introduce a new land development tax to further incentivise productive land use and tackle land hoarding.
The expansion of the Vacant Site Levy into a land development tax will apply to residential and commercially zoned land whose owners are not actively and demonstrably seeking to develop it.
Ireland needs a growing construction sector to provide families with affordable homes.
The revised Central Bank rules on mortgage lending will prevent the housing market from overheating in the way that led to the crash.
But they also make it hard for young families to get onto the property ladder.
We will establish a ‘Save to Buy’ scheme for aspiring home owners.
For every €4 a ﬁrst-time buyer saves, we will provide a top-up of €1, subject to a maximum cap of €1,200 a year over ﬁve years.
A ﬁrst-time buyer would therefore receive a maximum of €1,200 in assistance if saving for a deposit for a year, rising to a maximum of €6,000 of saving over ﬁve years.
More families are renting their home than ever before.
It’s time that renting ceased being viewed as a stop gap measure.
We will further reform the law to ensure a stable, sustainable rental market for both tenants and landlords.
Protecting renters
In government, we have introduced a rent freeze on all rented properties until 2017.
We also strengthened security of tenure for tenants.
We have begun the roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), in 18 local authorities, allowing families to work without losing their entitlement to housing support.
Labour introduced a deposit protection scheme.
This scheme will ensure that an independent third party will hold and release deposits, rather than landlords having this responsibility.
We will establish a Commission on the Private Rented Sector and to make recommendations for the sector post 2019, when existing measures time out.
At present the maximum specified duration of a lease for a property is four years.
We will extend that period, giving certainty to tenants, many of whom have strong links to an area through family, schools and other community activities.
Labour will also protect tenants in cases where a financial institution gains control of a rental property due to mortgage arrears.
We will ensure that the financial institution takes on the responsibilities of the landlord.
We will also work with third level institutions to identify ways to increase the supply of third level accommodation.
Labour has doubled the budget to support people who are homeless.
We have directed large urban local authorities to give priority to families who are homeless.
We have introduced additional supports to keep families in the private rented sector in their homes.
In Dublin, we have invested €20m to fund an action plan to address homelessness.
Homes for the most vulnerable
We will do more.
Working closely with the voluntary housing associations, we will eliminate long-term homelessness.
We will continue to ensure that enough short-term places are available so that no one has ever to sleep rough.
We will provide houses as quickly as possible, including fast- build homes, to take families out of emergency accommodation.
We will implement a housing-led approach to homelessness that eradicates the need for stop-gap accommodation except in emergency situations.
Labour will make sure that buying a home is a realistic ambition for families
2.4 PROVIDING SECURITY IN RETIREMENT
Labour will ensure that older people have secure incomes to support them in their retirement.
Labour will:
Increase social welfare payments for older people by at least €5 each year to bring the State pension to €260 by 2021
Introduce a new workplace pension scheme
Provide flexible retirement options for those who want to stay at work beyond traditional retirement age
Labour in government brought the Social Insurance Fund back into balance, putting an end to the enormous deficit that had been allowed to accumulate.
In the face of huge pressure we demanded and secured the protection of vital supports for older people including the State Pension, Free Travel Pass, Living Alone Allowance and free TV licence.
In the last Budget, we increased the State Pension and paid a 75% Christmas Bonus to benefit pensioners.
We also increased spending on the Free Travel scheme by €3 million to ensure every older person who is eligible to use the scheme can do so in practice.
With a strong and growing economy, we now have a chance to make further changes that will provide security to all older people in retirement.
PeopleMany older people are reliant on the State pension as their only source of income.
Pensions that keep pace with the cost of living
In government, Labour protected the value of the State pension, and provided an increase of €3 per week in the most recent Budget.
We will increase the State pension by at least €5 per week each year, so that the cost of living does not reduce the value of pension payments.
We will annually increase all social welfare supports for older people at least in line with inflation.
Three in five workers do not have an occupational pension and, according to the Pensions Authority, will not have an adequate income in retirement.
In addition, fewer women have occupational pensions than men and of those that do, the savings rate is lower and the total duration shorter.
Secure pensions for all in work
Labour is committed to introducing a new workplace pension system to ensure pension provision for every worker.
Such a system will see an occupational pension scheme created for each worker when they take up employment, beginning with those working for large companies.
The scheme will follow them through their working life if and when they change jobs or careers.
By retirement, they will therefore have built up their own private pension pot to complement the State pension.
This will have a transformative effect on pension coverage over time, not alone driving up pension coverage, but driving down costly administration charges associated with individual pension plans currently.
Labour believes strongly in the right to a comfortable retirement.
But we also recognise that some older people do not wish to leave their jobs immediately upon reaching retirement age.
New forms of contracts will be put in place to accommodate persons transitioning from full time to part time work to retirement and other such options.
These contracts will be secure, fair for the worker and strictly optional.
Retirement
We will establish a review of absences from the workforce and the impact of these on state pension entitlements.
Absences from the workforce can happen for a range of reasons, including the historic marriage bar; caring for families; periods spent working abroad and other reasons, affecting income in retirement.
The present system, which is based on yearly averages, only recognises homemaker’s absences from 1994.
This review will address these issues.
We will increase the State pension to €260 by 2021
Standing Up forJobs & Opportunity
Standing Up for Jobs & Opportunity
Labour will continue to prioritise the creation of good jobs and opportunities across the country by investing in skills and infrastructure,
supporting small business
and strengthening workers’ rights.
Labour will:
Make sure there is a job for everyone that wants one by 2018, with at least 150,000 jobs created over the next three years
Invest in 21st century skills, including the creation of 50,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships
Help innovators and small business to succeed
Invest in infrastructure to create employment while improving quality of life
When Labour took office in 2011, jobs were disappearing at a rate of 1,000 per week.
Now, 1,100 new jobs are being created every week, with 140,000 added over the last two years.
There are now over 2 million people in the Irish workforce.
But we need to do more.
We will make sure that there is a job for everyone who wants one by 2018, and in the process we will increase the proportion of women at work, particularly those with children.
We will continue to implement the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities.
This will ensure that people living with disabilities who are able to work receive the support and opportunities they need to do so.
By 2018, there will a job for everyone who wants one
3.1. A JOB FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS ONE BY 2018
Job creation will continue to be the first priority of Labour in government.
We will ensure there is an innovative and competitive enterprise base providing quality, lasting jobs which will bring a higher standard of living for all of our people.
Labour will:
Support strategic sectors of the economy and enable indigenous companies to expand and compete abroad
Work to ensure that the digital economy is thriving across all sectors and workplaces
Help transform workplaces by investing in management development and workplace learning
When Labour took office in 2011, jobs were disappearing at a rate of 1,000 per week.
Now, 1,100 new jobs are being created every week, with 140,000 added over the last two years.
There are now over 2 million people in the Irish workforce.
But we need to do more.
We will make sure that there is a job for everyone who wants one by 2018.
We will also increase the proportion of women at work, particularly those with children.
3.2 LAUNCHING A SKILLS REVOLUTION
The key to reaching full employment and maintaining it is to invest in people.
This means investing in those currently at work
and in those who will be the workers of the future, including those who don’t go to third level and those who leave school early.
Labour will:
Create 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship places over the next five years
Extend free part-time 3rd level education to those at work, and ensure that 100,000 places are available over the lifetime of the next Government.
In government, Labour radically reformed further education and training through the establishment of SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards.
We established the Apprenticeship Council to expand apprenticeships into new sectors of the economy and create 21st century apprenticeships.
We also pioneered the Skills to Work initiative which brought together key programmes and gave jobseekers access to training, work experience and job opportunities.
Investing in people and giving them the right opportunities is critical to reducing inequality
Over recent decades, the number of people going straight to college from school has continued to rise – we have one of the best educated populations in the developed world.
But college isn’t the right ﬁt for every young person, and doesn’t prepare people for every type of job.
Across the developed world, apprenticeships and traineeships provide a valid and valued alternative to college.
They allow people to prepare for stable and sustainable careers.
50,000 apprenticeships and traineeships
In government, we expanded apprenticeships beyond a focus solely on construction-related trades.
We have developed 21st century apprenticeships in 25 new areas, including catering, ﬁnancial services and ICT – meaning over 4,000 people will begin apprenticeships in 2016, compared to just 1,200 in 2012.
Over the next ﬁve years, we will develop 60 new types of apprenticeships and create 50,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships.
We will ensure that apprenticeships are available to young jobseekers, and to those who want to reach the top of their professions.
We will make sure that people can progress from apprenticeships to higher education, and vice versa, and make work placements a central element of all college courses.
We will phase out the JobBridge and Gateway schemes to reﬂect the needs of the post-crisis labour market.
Both schemes were highly successful in keeping people close to the labour market during the crisis, but they are not needed as permanent features of our economy.
We will increase the number of places on JobsPlus by 10,000 to meet the needs of the long-term unemployed, and set up a one stop shop for education and training advice centres attached to the INTREO ofﬁces so that access to guidance on careers and courses is not conﬁned to the unemployed.
Many people who are working have ambitions to build their careers, or to work in different sectors.
Giving people the opportunity to reskill while in employment will reduce the numbers of people who currently must leave their jobs in order to retrain.
Free part-time 3rd level education for those at work
Labour in Government has provided over 40,000 opportunities through Momentum and Springboard, giving people free access to courses that will help them ﬁnd employment in growing sectors.
We will now refocus these programmes, and make a total of 100,000 free part-time places available through Momentum, Springboard and eCollege by 2021.
College provides young people with incredible opportunities.
No young person should miss out on those opportunities because of an inability to pay.
Access to higher education
In government, we have protected and enhanced the student hardship fund.
We remain committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier for entry to third-level education.
We established an expert group to advise on future funding of higher education.
We will take four immediate actions to begin to address higher education funding.
We recognise that it must be made more affordable, and that we need to invest in a system that can give the quality opportunities our young people deserve.
Our spending plans for the next five years include increased demographic funding of €15m each year so that the rising numbers of students don’t lead to a reduction in quality.
In 2017, we will reduce the student contribution by €500, replacing this element of the student contribution with state funding.
We will provide an initial €25m to third-level institutions to improve staff-student ratios.
These actions will be taken pending the publication of the options to be presented by the Expert Group on Higher Education Funding, which will require a national discussion to find a solution that provides the necessary funding to the sector without reducing accessibility or leaving the next generation of students with an enormous debt burden to shoulder.
We will provide an additional €10m per year to provide emergency funding to students in need, and to better support students with disabilities.
Eligibility for student grants will be assessed using the same means test that applies for social welfare payments.
All colleges will be required to allow students to pay their student contribution by monthly direct debit, with no charge levied on this option.
Income thresholds for student grants will be index-linked so that the value of these grants is not eroded by inflation.
We will provide a new €60m fund to support postgraduate students.
Today’s start-up businesses will provide tomorrow’s jobs.
We therefore want to create a step-change in the performance of our new enterprises.
The Government shapes the economy every day through decisions on how it spends, invests and allocates taxpayers’ money.
The State also plays a major role coordinating R&D between enterprises and researchers.
But we can and must do more.
Innovation supports
We will scale up the 15 existing Technology Centres as the next step in building a quality research and advisory infrastructure around businesses in these sectors.
3.3 SUPPORT FOR START-UPS AND SMALL BUSINESS
We must never again become reliant on just one sector to support our economy,
as Fianna Fáil allowed happen with the construction industry to ruinous effect.
We need an innovative and competitive enterprise base creating quality and lasting jobs in all sectors, bringing a higher standard of living for all of our people.
In government, we published annual Action Plans for Jobs which provided significant supports to different sectors of the economy to grow and expand jobs.
In the tourism sector, initiatives like The Gathering or the targeted VAT reduction on the tourism sector have helped to sustain many businesses.
Labour will:
Build on the success of Irish Year of Design 2015 and continue to develop Ireland’s design sector across a range of disciplines, recognising its impact on innovation and competitiveness in many sectors.
Recognise the key role of certain sectors in future job creation and generation of lasting growth.
Establish a new national innovation hub for international sales and for health research.
Make 2017 the Year of Social Enterprise, to focus on the economic and community benefits that social enterprises working for social, environmental and community benefit can provide,
particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas.
We will increase direct and matching funding available for RDI (research, development and innovation) activities to small companies, recognising cash-flow and financing constraints of young and small firms.
We will work with local authorities to explore the potential of creating spaces for small craft, design and manufacturing enterprises in unused buildings, as part of creative place-based policies with wider social and economic benefits.
Make 2017 the Year of Social Enterprise, to focus on the economic and community benefits that social enterprises working for social, environmental and community benefit can provide, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas
The digital economy is dramatically changing the way we communicate, work, learn and live.
Digital activity currently represents more than 5% of the economy and supports around 100,000 jobs.
Labour has supported the development of Ireland as a digital society through the National Digital Strategy and funded digital entrepreneurship and R&D through the National Digital Research Centre, the Digital Hub and other initiatives.
Digital economy and society
We also pioneered the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which offers grants, training and mentoring to help small businesses develop their online trading presence.
We will roll out 1,000 new Trading Online Vouchers through Local Enterprise Offices, so that every company has the chance to establish an online presence.
We have delivered community- based training in basic internet skills to over 135,000 people through the BenefIT programme.
We also contributed to the EU agreement to abolish mobile roaming charges from June 2017.
We will promote the development of Ireland as a digital society through a renewed National Digital Strategy, maximising our potential, encouraging digital economic and social networks, and helping citizens and businesses to develop and enhance their digital skills.
We will explore the scope for supporting employers who want to retrain employees to boost opportunities by expanding digital business.
It is important to recognise that all sectors, not just “high-tech”, can benefit from and contribute to Ireland’s digital agenda.
Labour will accelerate direct capital investment in digital innovation in health, education, transport, energy, agriculture, tourism and other sectors.
We will promote Ireland as the location of choice for ICT businesses, including start-ups, through the IDA and initiatives like the Digital Hub and Ludgate@Skibbereen.
We will implement the National Broadband Plan, eGovernment and eHealth strategies.
An effective banking system is the backbone of a strong economy.
We need competition between banks and we need available credit, balanced by strong regulation.
We established Micro Finance Ireland and the Strategic Banking Corporation, which have supported the investment of hundreds of millions of euro in the economy.
Finance for business
The State currently owns 15% of Bank of Ireland, 99% of AIB, and all of Permanent TSB.
We will proceed as planned with the planned disposal of 25% of AIB shares this year and will also initiate a strategic review of the Irish banking system.
This will explore key issues such as the future ownership of AIB and PTSB, and the range of competition in the retail banking sector.
We will also work to implement a number of key recommendations contained in the Banking Inquiry’s report.
As a start we will make increased provision for risk assessment oversight by the Central Bank of Ireland and establish a new commercial property price register.
Within the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund we will create a €1bn dedicated Green Infrastructure Fund to invest in clean public transport and energy efficiency projects.
This will be funded by €500m from the proceeds from the sale of bank shares, combined with private sector leveraging.
The rest of the proceeds of the sale of bank shares will go to reduce the national debt.
At present, banks can write off loan losses against profits, thereby reducing the tax they have to pay.
We will increase the bank levy to recoup this tax foregone.
Companies with fewer than 50 workers have an average turnover of €4m, but struggle to access the financing they need.
They require access to finance to increase their survival rates and to enable them to grow.
Labour recognises that traditional lenders are not providing the necessary finance, in particular for companies with a turnover of more than €2m.
We will explore new mechanisms to meet this gap through the Strategic Banking Corporation.
We will also restructure the Irish Stock Exchange to encourage a greater number of IPOs to overcome limits to expansion.
Labour’s goal is to ensure greater opportunities for Irish companies to reach significant scale.
In order to maintain a sustainable trading environment, Labour recognises that non-banking peer to peer seed investment is a vital part of the support jigsaw for new and early stage firms.
We will reduce the CGT entrepreneur relief to 15% and increase the lifetime limit to €10m.
Protecting our productivity and competitiveness
We will replace the existing National Competitiveness Council with a National Productivity Council.
This will continue the work of monitoring and advising on competiveness issues, but will also extend to advising and reviewing best practice in enhancing the productivity of our economy.
Supports for indigenous sectors to grow and compete abroad
The Government must lead by example.
The State spends over 90% of the €8.3 billion annual public procurement budget on purchasing goods and services from indigenous companies.
To increase indigenous companies’ capacity to export, we will work to increase their exposure to multi-national corporations located here.
This will assist not only in terms of building supply chains, but by providing greater business-to-business mentoring in the areas of research and development, sales and quality assurance.
3.4 BRINGING THE RECOVERY TO EVERY CORNER OF IRELAND
Creating full employment means bringing employment opportunities to every corner of Ireland.
We believe that every person should have the chance to work, which means investing in and supporting the development of regional and rural economies.
By building up all our regions, we can reverse the cycle of emigration and provide sustainable opportunities in rural communities.
Labour will:
Set out a new Regional Growth Strategy that will bring prosperity to all parts of the country
Focus on creating a stronger rural economy by building up vital sectors such as food, tourism, agriculture and retail
Support small farmers to keep their farms viable
Labour is committed to recovery that is felt throughout Ireland.
That requires building thriving corridors of economic activity in every region.
In government, Labour rolled out regional Action Plans for Jobs to support job creation in every region.
We piloted new Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ), injecting nearly €4 million into building up our rural economy.
We published and took the lead on the implementation of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) report.
Our plan will make sure that every person who wants to work can do so, no matter where in the country they live.
Our plan will make sure that every person who wants to work can do so, no matter where in the country they live.
Labour in government has prioritised balanced regional development and the rural economy.
Our leadership on the implementation of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) report and the Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ), injected nearly €4 million into our rural economy.
The Regional Action Plans for Jobs have been rolled out and we have delivered funding of €250 million for LEADER programmes in rural communities between 2014 and 2020.
Our National Broadband Plan will deliver universal high-speed broadband access by 2020.
We have delivered a thriving tourism sector through the introduction of the 9% VAT rate and scrapping the Air Travel Tax, The Gathering initiative, the development of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and more cycling greenways.
Bringing the recovery to every corner of Ireland
Building on the progress made to date, we will deliver a new regional strategy with over €200 million to be allocated to key growth centres over the next five years – these will be areas of major employment and population growth potential.
The strategy must also be about linking these growth centres and their large rural hinterlands and developing corridors of economic and social activity across the island.
In order to get buy-in for these corridors of activity, we will first engage in a consultative process across the regions.
We will also double funding of REDZ to €10 million and spend €30 million on supporting the regeneration of towns and villages over the next five years.
Strong local democratic structures built around both urban and large rural areas are also critical to proper regional development.
In Dublin, we are committed to holding a plebiscite on the establishment of a directly elected Mayor.
This is necessary to provide Dublin city and county with the focused leadership to compete as a modern, dynamic capital.
Outside of Dublin, we are committed to rebuilding urban government by establishing directly elected councils in all medium sized towns, with dedicated budgets and mayors.
We will invest €10m in the development of regional skills forums which bring together employers and education providers, to make sure we are giving people the skills they need to get local employment.
The development of Technological Universities in the South-East, South-West, Dublin and the North-West will bring university-level, industry-relevant education opportunities to each of these regions.
We will provide a job for everyone who wants one by 2018, and many new jobs will be in high value sectors of the economy.
But not every job must be in a large multi-national company.
In rural Ireland, self-employment, farming, tourism and small and medium sized companies will continue to be the biggest sources of employment.
A stronger rural economy
Ireland has succeeded in attracting major international sporting events such as the Giro D’ltalia and the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
We will continue to support other bids, including the 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup.
We will also establish a specific sports bidding entity to facilitate bidding for events across all sporting organisations in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and Sport Ireland.
We will put a comprehensive sports tourism policy at the heart of the new national sports policy.
Sports tourism
Smaller-scale producers will be supported to develop niche markets through innovative use of Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs).
We will encourage greater emphasis on quality and uniqueness in Irish produce.
Doing better for small farmers
Labour will better equip young farmers with agri-business management skills and will work with TEAGASC to roll out training courses as an additional element of farmer training.
We will extend the focus of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme to young farmers with average net profit below €30,000.
We will also increase the number of places on the Rural Social Scheme by 10% and include an upskilling element.
As a move to help both farmers and the environment, we will expand the Forestry Programme to support the planting of over 43,000 hectares of new forests.
This will involve providing afforestation grants for new planting and annual payments to farmers who convert areas of their land to forestry.
Ireland has tremendous potential as a producer of high-quality and artisan food and drink products.
We must begin to fulfil our potential for an ambitious, sustainable and innovative agri-food sector. Labour will ensure food production, processing and sales are an integral part of a renewed rural economy for the 21st century.
A better future for the Irish food industry
We will introduce a new Graduate Development Programme for the food SME sector to improve the financial and technical capability of this vital sector.
We will also continue the highly successful Food Academy initiative which provides assistance to grow start-up food businesses throughout the country.
We will provide funding of €2m for regional food hub start-ups to better connect producers to the buying public.
Labour is committed to increasing the opportunities and supports for farmers to produce, process and market together and to sell directly to the public.
We will better support the establishment of new Producer Groups across the country.
These groups will be vital to increasing the number of agricultural products designated as protected foods.
We will also support the development of new federated cooperatives so that farmers can access appropriate marketing and financing.
We will continue to fund and grow the Seafood Development Programme to improve the potential of commercial fishing in Irish waters.
We will continue to develop the existing Fisheries Harbour Centres, as a significant benefit to our fishing industry and to the local economies in Galway, Cork and other fishing areas.
Tourism is a key employer in rural Ireland.
Labour will support the tourism industry to create successful and sustainable careers and to provide visitors to Ireland with service of the highest quality.
We recognise the significant skills and training needs of the industry.
A stronger tourism sector in rural Ireland
We will establish a national advisory group to oversee skills development within the industry.
We will professionalise the sector by introducing national occupational standards, establish a new certified training scheme for the hotel, catering and tourism industry and build on the number of new apprenticeships coming on stream in catering and hospitality.
We will revitalise dormant hotel facilities in rural areas as Tourism Training Centres during the off-season.
We will replicate the excellent model developed in the Limerick Hospitality and Training Centre which sees the local ETB and local hospitality employers working together to train unemployed persons.
We will support the development of more community-led partnerships to create farm-walk landscapes.
We are also committed to increasing the number of EU LIFE projects for heritage led regeneration and preservation of farmland, forestry and waterways across rural Ireland.
Labour recognises that thriving towns and villages are key to maintaining a vibrant rural Ireland.
This depends on the availability of key services ranging from local GP services, financial services with the Post office or local credit union and a strong locally supported retail sector.
Stronger towns and villages
Already, we have established REDZ funding to support rural areas and small towns and we will increase this funding over the lifetime of the next Government.
We will also introduce a social enterprise scheme, funded from Local Property Tax and granted via competitive tendering, to facilitate the reopening of key local town and village high street facilities such as pubs, shops and post offices that were formerly at the heart of communities.
A new GP rural scheme will be established to ensure appropriate coverage for patients in rural areas.
For GPs this will involve a system of increased rural location payments in addition to taking on a number of GPs in direct employment of the HSE.
Labour supports the concept of heritage led regeneration in our towns and villages and we recognise the significant benefit cultural events bring to rural and urban areas.
Added to that, we recognise the need to reinvigorate our town centres.
To this end, we will support and fund Town Revival plans to be operated across all local authorities to allow towns to devise their own local development plans and directly improve local infrastructure and amenities.
It will also assist in preserving and restoring local heritage sites and developing a vision for the future of rural and urban areas.
Labour recognises that thriving towns and villages are key to maintaining a vibrant rural Ireland
Our post office network is the lifeblood of small rural communities.
We are committed to a strong post office network throughout the State and to its continued growth into new areas of activity.
Viable post offices and strong credit unions
Labour in government commissioned the Post Office Network Business Development Group and will act on its recommendations.
For rural post offices to survive, the post office network must become a provider of choice for the provision of relevant government services and information, subject to procurement and state aid rules.
We will also support the introduction and rollout by An Post in 2016 of a basic payment account.
Together with the credit union movement, we are committed to ensuring a dynamic, sustainable future for community based financial services across the country.
We will encourage credit unions and post offices to engage and develop strong linkages.
Credit unions have a unique role as a grass -roots, not for profit, voluntary based movement in our communities.
Our vision is to broaden the reach and the depth of the contribution credit unions can make to supporting individuals, families and small businesses in local communities.
Labour in Government has spearheaded a micro loan initiative in conjunction with credit unions to provide credit to the most vulnerable.
Stronger, more flexible Credit Unions
Labour recognises that the regulatory framework for credit unions must reflect the movement’s voluntary ethos, its need for flexibility and its distinctiveness from the rest of the banking system.
Labour in government successfully pushed for a review of appropriate lending levels and the lending limit approval process and we support the raising of lending limits so that credit unions can better meet members’ needs while ensuring that the loans are viable and prudent.
We recognise the need for credit unions to develop new products and services in order to grow their income and we are committed to working with credit unions to diversify their business and grow sustainably.
Some consolidation of credit unions is inevitable and we will continue to support mergers, where necessary.
3.5 INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Labour in government launched a capital investment plan worth €17 billion in 2012, and in 2015, we launched a follow-up, six-year plan worth €42 billion.
That plan represents over 3.5 percent of GNP each year between 2016 and 2021, and it will support more than 45,000 construction-related jobs.
We increased investment in schools throughout the crisis, completing 84 new schools and 55 major extensions to schools up to 2015.
In the area of health, a total of 80 new primary care centres have opened or are completing construction with a further 73 planned.
We started the largest social housing programme in the history of the State
and we ensured high speed broadband to more than 700,000 homes so that Ireland is on course for 100% coverage by 2020.
Labour will:
Create a €1bn Green Infrastructure Fund
Review the existing capital plan by the end of 2016 to prioritise investment in infrastructure
The State is already set to dispose of 25% of its shares in AIB.
We propose to use €500 million of the proceeds from this sale to fund the green energy and infrastructure projects our country needs now.
This money will be matched by private funding, to create a new Green Infrastructure Fund worth €1 billion.
This will operate under the Irish Strategic Investment Fund and will provide support clean public transport and energy efﬁciency projects over the coming years.
A new €1bn Green Infrastructure Fund
Last November, we launched a €42bn capital plan – Building on Recovery.
Under this plan we will end the use of prefabs in schools; build 20,000 social housing units each year; complete the long-overdue National Children’s Hospital; progress the construction of Metro North; and further develop the DIT campus at Grangegorman to accommodate at least 10,000 students.
Implementing the capital plan
Over the six years of the Capital Plan, it is estimated that around 45,000 construction jobs will be sustained through exchequer investment in physical infrastructure alone.
By bringing forward the review of the capital plan to the end of 2016, we will seek to increase this potential employment further.
Labour will prioritise even greater funding for infrastructural projects if economic growth continues to exceed expectations.
The latest capital plan will be reviewed in 2016.
Subject to the continued strong performance of the public ﬁnances, we will bring forward a number of additional key projects to expand the plan.
We will scale up investment in infrastructure
If ﬁnances permit, we will:
Complete the national motorway network by better connecting Dublin to the North-West and further developing the Atlantic Corridor to improve connectivity between Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Seek to bring forward commencement of construction works on Metro North in Dublin.
Make sure that the roll out of high speed broadband is adequately funded.
Carry out the ﬂood defence works which have been planned by the OPW
Provide funding for further and higher education facilities that will ensure universal access to the skills needed to beneﬁt from our recovery.
Water and flooding
Labour has spent €225 million on flood risk management and construction of flood defences across the country and provided for an additional €430 million over the next five years.
This investment will fund the largest-ever flood defence scheme undertaken, while our new Flood Risk Management Programme will engage in long-term planning to identify and reduce threats throughout the country.
We have also made provision for climate change teams in each local authority to better assess the risks and needs around the effects of climate change in each community.
New flood forecasting services in Met Éireann have been introduced and will provide clear, easily-accessible warnings of potential flooding risks.
Constructing extra flood defences, while vital, cannot entirely solve the problem of flooding.
Labour will therefore continue to strongly promote a green agenda that aims to tackle the root causes of climate change as well as its effects.
When Labour entered government, Ireland’s public water services had suffered from decades of neglect and underinvestment.
23,000 people were living on boil water notices, 940,000 people were dependent on water supplies that needed remedial action, and the average age of our water infrastructure was twice the European average.
Under Labour, investment in water has risen significantly, from €300 million in 2013 to €533 million this year.
This has had a significant effect: last year alone we saw more than 17,300 people taken off boil water notices.
A further 27,000 households have been warned of newly-identified lead risks to their drinking water and a strategy is being developed to eliminate this threat.
Over 27 million litres of water per day have been saved thanks to the ‘First Fix Free’ scheme available to households with on-site leaks.
Over €4 billion will be invested in water infrastructure by 2021.
This investment will address the major deficits in drinking water quality and capacity, wastewater and will facilitate the removal of lead piping from the public network.
€150 million will be spent to reduce leakage from the water network, with the long- term objective of halving public and customer side leakage.
The major projects that will be progressed include: Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project; Eastern and Midlands Water Supply; and Greater Dublin Drainage, as well as a large number of smaller projects.
Labour supported the ratification of the Fiscal Treaty in 2012.
We believe that fiscal rules are a necessary part of currency Union.
Fiscal Rules
Heretofore, the rules have been interpreted and implemented by the Commission in an overly restrictive way.
We will work with Labour and Social Democratic parties from across Europe to support reform of the fiscal rules for expenditure on capital and infrastructure.
3.6 GROWING THE GREEN ECONOMY
Economic development and environmental sustainability are not conflicting objectives.
Climate change means that a strong economy will only be sustainable if it is a green economy.
Labour is fully committed to decarbonising Irish society and taking on ambitious goals to make this happen.
The challenge of decarbonisation also brings enormous opportunities.
We are on the brink of transformational change in how we travel and how we power and heat our homes, and these new ways of living bring enormous opportunities to develop innovative businesses and to create jobs.
Labour doesn’t believe we have to choose between what’s best for the environment and what’s best for people in their day to day lives.
They are the same thing.
That’s why our green agenda is squarely aimed at lifting living standards for ordinary people.
Working in government, Labour will make sure that the huge changes on the horizon are managed in a way that benefits families and improves quality of life in every household.
Labour will:
Invest ambitiously in the green economy to provide the sustainable employment opportunities we need
Provide more funding to attract a major increase in investment for energy efficiency, renewables and network infrastructure.
Accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy system by encouraging the development of our viable renewable capacity.
Put communities at the centre of decisions about energy infrastructure
Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon society will create thousands of jobs which will require a wide range of skills.
Labour will work to position Ireland as a leading player in this sector.
Growing the Green Economy
The transition requires stable, long-term ﬁnancial incentives and a market framework that promotes investment in low and zero carbon technologies.
We will explore new sources of funding to attract a major increase in investment in energy efﬁciency, renewables and network infrastructure.
Labour will support public investment and leadership in research, development and demonstration of green technologies like wave and tidal energy, energy storage, and grid and smart technologies, which can enhance Ireland’s promising position as a leading European hub for energy.
We will develop a world-leading renewable energy research centre which will bring together all the renewable energy research institutes (marine, bioenergy, electricity) currently in operation.
White Paper on Energy and Climate Change
Labour in government enacted the State’s ﬁrst climate change legislation and we have published a White Paper with ambitious proposals on the future of energy security and supply.
We created a national mitigation plan to reduce emissions and a national adaptation plan to address the symptoms of climate change.
The 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a path to transform Ireland’s energy system.
Our vision places citizen engagement at the heart of our energy future and its implementation.
Over the next ﬁve years we will take the steps needed to make that transformation happen.
In particular, we will encourage an increasing role for smaller, community-level renewable energy projects.
As part of this, we will facilitate grid access for small-scale renewable energy projects.
Labour supports a range of householder and community information initiatives.
We will strengthen building regulations for the residential sector, with a focus on energy efﬁciency, heating and lighting, and provide grant schemes to help families to identify cost saving energy efﬁciency.
We will increase support programmes for community energy efﬁciency projects and facilitate the development of community networks.
Diversifying our Renewable Energy Sources
Onshore wind currently represents the most developed renewable electricity source in Ireland, and is the predominant contributor to meeting Ireland’s 2020 binding renewable energy targets.
However, wind technology is not suitable in every location and we support diversification of the renewable electricity portfolio.
We will incentivise the development of other viable renewables for electricity, heat and transport, including bioenergy, solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) and offshore wind, with a view to adding them to the mix of low-carbon options as costs become cheaper.
We oppose the introduction of fracking.
We believe that fracking is not compatible with a low-carbon energy system in which oil and gas are gradually curtailed and, in the longer term, eliminated.
We will also support the development of affordable energy storage systems to maximise the cost-efficient use of renewables.
We will retain Ireland’s electricity and natural gas networks in public ownership on a permanent basis.
Ireland’s energy future
The continued operation of the Whitegate refinery, on a commercial basis, as the only refinery operating in the country is also highly desirable from a strategic energy security perspective.
Moneypoint, Ireland’s only coal burning electricity generating station is a critical contributor to energy supply in this country.
Consistent with our climate change commitments we will seek to replace high-carbon emitting coal with the most suitable replacement low-carbon technology as the plant comes to the end of its operational life in its current configuration in 2025.
We will commence implementation of a North-South transmission line to improve energy security on an all-island basis and make significant savings on transmission costs.
We will also ensure that our capital city leads the way in the transition to a low-carbon society.
Labour will set a target of making our cities carbon neutral through an ambitious 20-year plan.
Standing Up for Families & Communities
Standing Up for Families & Communities
Labour will invest in and improve the services that families and communities need such as childcare, education and healthcare.
Labour will:
Deliver the smallest class sizes in the history of the State
Make all schools fit for the digital age
Make quality childcare affordable for everyone
Introduce a new national community health service
Build an age-friendly society where our people can grow old with dignity
Strong families are the cornerstone of thriving communities.
Our country must be a place where children can be raised healthy and happy, where our older people grow old with dignity, and where parents and carers have the peace of mind they need to support those who rely on them.
Labour in government protected vital supports for older people such as the State pension, the Free Travel Pass, Living Alone Allowance and free TV licence.
We raised the State pension, restored the Christmas Bonus, and increased Child Benefit by €10 per month over two budgets.
We made prohibitive GP fees a thing of the past for young children and older people.
We will deliver a shared recovery that provides economic security for every family in Ireland.
We will deliver the smallest class sizes in the history of the State
4.1 MAKING ALL SCHOOLS FIT FOR THE DIGITAL AGE
Education is a great liberating force in society.
Investment in and reform of education will help us build a more equal Ireland.
Making every school fit for the digital age is our priority.
Labour will:
Deliver the smallest class sizes in the history of the State
End the use of prefabs in our schools
Reduce school costs for parents
Make 21st century skills and subjects part of the education of every child
Labour in government has ensured that ensure all teachers working in our schools are qualified.
We have reduced the rental bill for prefabs in schools by 40% and provided high-speed broadband free of charge to every second-level school.
We will now ensure that all primary schools are similarly equipped.
We delivered the first improvements to literacy and numeracy results for a generation, reformed the Junior Cert to give all of our students the skills they need for the modern world, and introduced new subjects like coding, philosophy and Chinese.
A strong economy and a decent society requires that every child has the opportunity to access a top quality education fit for the digital age.
Only Labour will deliver that.
Delivering the smallest class sizes in the history of the State
A new National Convention
21st century school buildings
Irish class sizes are signiﬁcantly higher than international norms.
Smaller class sizes provide more time for a teacher to spend with each child, and have been shown to have a particularly positive impact on young children and those in disadvantaged communities.
In the last budget, we reduced class sizes in primary schools back to their smallest ever level.
We also improved the guidance counselling stafﬁng and leadership of second-level schools.
We will continue to cut class sizes to an historic low, reaching an average class size of 20, and putting an end to any classes with over 30 pupils.
We will improve the stafﬁng of second-level schools, to provide guidance and counselling to all students, and to increase subject choice.
We will reform the model of leadership in schools.
In the 1990s, Labour convened a National Convention on Education, to get the views of everyone involved in education and set out an agreed agenda for reform and investment.
That Convention led to the drafting of the Education Act which has governed our school sector since 1998.
We believe that now is the right time to repeat that exercise.
Within 100 days of taking ofﬁce, we will establish a new National Convention on Education, to report within 12 months on the long-term priorities for reform and investment in the education sector.
Every child should have the right to be safe and warm in school.
Labour in government has cut in half the amount spent on renting prefabs in schools.
We have provided €2.2bn for new school buildings in every county across Ireland.
And we have funded small devolved projects to protect the quality of our school buildings.
We will end the use of prefabs in our schools by 2021.
Our Digital Strategy for Schools will see investment of €210m in broadband and technology.
Every school will have access to technical support and continuous professional development for teachers so that investment in technology is about more than replacing a blackboard with a tablet.
We will substantially increase the amount spent on school buildings, with a budget of €3.8bn between 2016 and 2021.
Using Sports Capital Grants, we will prioritise joint applications from schools and local sports clubs, so that facilities used by schools during the day remain at the centre of community activity outside school hours.
21st century teaching in primary schools
Labour in government made literacy and numeracy a national cause, and delivered the first improvements to literacy and numeracy results for a generation.
We have begun reform of the primary curriculum to improve the quality of English and Irish teaching.
We put an end to unqualified teachers working in our schools.
We have introduced coding and Chinese as courses for the new junior cycle.
We will set new targets for literacy and numeracy improvement, with a particular focus on improving reading and maths levels in disadvantaged schools.
Our aim will be to keep Ireland in the top 5 countries in the OECD for reading, and to make sure we are in the top 10 countries for maths and science by 2020.
We will rebalance the primary curriculum, with every child getting at least 90 minutes of science and PE each week.
Children have a constitutional right to opt out of religious education.
We will work with schools to make this a reality by issuing new instructions on how to accommodate children of minority faiths or those from non-religious families.
We will provide Leaving Cert subjects in coding or computer science, PE and politics and society, while introducing philosophy and a new culture and heritage course for the Junior Cycle.
For students with special needs who require assistive technologies, we will ensure they are provided with training specific to their requirements so they can fully realise their potential.
Stronger school leadership
The quality of school leadership has an enormous impact on educational outcomes.
Though we have very many fine school leaders, they currently don’t require any leadership qualifications, and have to spend too much of their time on administrative duties.
In 2015, we established a new Centre for School Leadership, with a budget of €3m to mentor and support new school leaders, and to fund school leadership qualifications.
In the last budget, we provided more time for Deputy Principals in second level schools to focus on their leadership duties, and provided Teaching Principals with more days out of the classroom.
We introduced digital rollbooks to reduce school reliance on paper records.
We will ensure that every newly appointed principal has a Masters-level qualification in school leadership by 2020.
We will give local Education and Training Boards the responsibility for delivering school building projects, removing the need for school principals to act as project managers, and we will explore how ETBs can provide greater administrative support to all schools.
Reducing school costs for parents
Parents pay too much for young children to go to school.
We will reduce the cost of education for parents.
Labour in government provided an additional €15m in ring-fenced funding for schools which established book rental schemes to reduce costs for parents.
We expanded school meals programmes and made sure that parents were consulted about the uniform policies of schools.
We will increase funding to schools by €60 per child, in return for an end to voluntary contributions and other charges on parents.
We will abolish all school transport charges by 2018, and make travel to school using leap cards free for children.
Book rental schemes will be a typical feature of every school, reducing book costs for parents by at least 80%.
We will double the annual funding available for book rental schemes, and only provide this funding to schools which use it to establish or expand such schemes.
We will end the charging of fees to apply for a school place.
Irish parents hugely value education, as do our young people.
Unfortunately, they get little say in how their local schools are run.
Giving parents a greater say
In government, we have developed work on a Parents’ Charter that would give parents a say in all school policies.
We have increased funding to parents’ bodies and student bodies.
We introduced the Education Passport to provide clear information on children’s progress when they are transferring from primary to second-level school.
We will legislate for our Parents’ and Students’ Charter.
We will publish a new ‘School View’ website, giving parents information on school performance, subject choice and extracurricular options.
This will be of far greater value than the narrowly based “league tables” that are published regularly.
We will introduce an Early Education Passport, to ease the transition from pre-school to primary school.
We delivered the first improvements to literacy and numeracy results for a generation
Valuing vocational opportunity
We value the opportunities which college provides.
But not every young person wants to go to college, and a well-functioning economy requires people with a variety of skills and experience.
In government, we have begun implementing reform of the Junior Cert, to ensure better focus on the skills young people need such as communication and teamwork.
We have introduced 25 new types of apprenticeships.
We will begin reform of the Leaving Cert, with a particular urgency attached to the need to develop vocational Leaving Cert options.
We will complete a review of all PLC courses in the first half of 2016, and begin reforming the sector to ensure that further education and training opportunities are available all year round.
We will provide 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities over the next five years.
In a modern economy, many people need to continually upskill and reskill throughout their lives.
We will provide an increased fund of €25m each year to enhance the availability of life-long learning options in the community, from literacy and numeracy education for those who want to avail of catch-up training, to specific skills training options for those who are looking to reskill in their spare time.
Our ambition is three fold; we want to eradicate illiteracy, afford existing workers the opportunity for second chance education and equip workers with the necessary skills and training to be able to adapt to the skills of the future.
Ultimately, this is about supporting people in their ambition to progress and improve their livelihoods to benefit themselves and their families.
4.2 MAKING QUALITY CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE
Our State has never invested enough in supporting families with young children.
Labour will make low-cost, high-quality childcare for all children under 12 a reality, and
dramatically increase the level of spending on early years education and childcare.
We also recognise that a high quality childcare sector depends on a skilled childcare workforce with decent pay and fair conditions.
We will work to ensure those who provide childcare services receive the respect and remuneration they
Labour will:
Cap childcare costs for parents, and reduce these costs to no more than €2 per hour by 2021, with the state funding the remaining cost
Increase paid parental leave by three months, to be shared between both parents
Transform the quality of early years care and education by ensuring a higher premium for providers with highly qualified staff
Put decent salaries in place for all people working with young children, to allow them to build sustainable careers, with everyone in the sector earning at least a living wage
In government, we have expanded the subsidised childcare available to low-income families, introduced the first supports for children with special needs in pre-schools,
begun inspecting the educational qualities of pre-schools so that every child gets a high-quality experience, and passed a referendum enshrining the rights of children in our constitution.
Labour will dramatically reduce the financial burden on parents of young children, and give every child the high-quality care and support that they deserve.
These policies will also support increased labour market participation, particularly amongst women.
We will reduce childcare costs to €2 per hour by 2021
Affordable childcare for all children under 12
The first year the most important
A second free pre-school year
Childcare costs in Ireland are among the highest in the world for parents.
This prevents many people from going back to work, or can mean that one person’s income is spent entirely on childcare.
In the last year, we provided subsidised childcare for an additional 13,000 children.
We have begun working on a single childcare programme to replace the ﬁve different programmes which exist to support low-income families.
Labour’s new simpliﬁed subsidy programme will be provided through both community and private childcare providers.
We will move immediately to cap the cost of childcare for all children under 12 to €4.25 per hour for up to 40 hours of childcare a week.
By 2021, we will reduce this cost to €2 per hour, or a maximum cost of €80 per week.
The State will fund the balance.
The evidence is clear: children perform best when they remain within the home with their parents for the ﬁrst 12 months of life.
In the last budget, we introduced two weeks’ paid paternity leave, recognising that fathers should have the opportunity to bond with their new-born children.
We will protect the existing six months of paid maternity leave and the two weeks of paternity leave recently introduced.
In addition, we will provide an additional two weeks paid paternity leave plus three months’ paid parental leave, with at least one month reserved for each parent, ensuring that every child can be cared for by their parents for the ﬁrst 9 months of life.
We will increase this to 12 months within the next ten years.
We will also commission a review of the level of payment given for maternity, paternity and parental leave and will explore the potential to legislate for negotiated ﬂexible working time arrangements for workers with young families.
Giving children access to high-quality pre-school education from the age of three has been shown to dramatically improve educational outcomes.
From September 2016, every child in Ireland will be able to start preschool at age three.
To ensure that the time of year that a child is born won’t impact on their life chances, children will be able to enrol in pre-school at three different points in the year – September, January and April.
We are also providing supports to children with special needs in pre-school.
Respecting those who work with young children
Valuing childminders
Planning for the future
Many staff working in the childcare sector are on the minimum wage.
This leads to rapid turnovers in staff, and prevents us from building a well-educated, top- quality workforce in the childcare sector.
We recognise that staff need to be paid appropriately, and get the opportunity to develop decent, well-paid careers.
Labour in Government has restored capitation levels to providers of the free pre- school year.
Our increases to the minimum wage have increased pay for many staff in this sector from €7.65 to €9.15 per hour.
Now we want work towards a situation where all pre-school workers receive at least the Living Wage.
We will provide all staff with one hour of paid non-contact time per week to plan their work.
We will increase payments to all childcare providers, with a higher premium for providers with well qualified staff.
We will examine a two- week payment for holidays for all those engaged in delivering the free pre-school year.
A sector-wide agreement on pay and conditions should also be put in place, to ensure that we move towards putting sustainable salary scales in place for those working with our children.
We will also begin to move towards professionalising the sector, and move towards 60% graduates within 10 years.
Within our proposals we have committed to increasing salaries to levels similar to those working within our schools.
Our costings assume that one third of those working in the sector will be graduates within five years.
Under Labour’s plans, all early years workers will earn at least a living wage.
About a third of children are cared for by childminders.
Childminders need to be supported to promote high standards in the sector, and parents need to be informed so they can identify top quality services for their children.
We will protect the existing entitlement for childminders to earn up to €15,000 a year tax free.
We want to see childminders registered, so that the quality of care they are providing will be inspected regularly.
To achieve this, we will put new supports in place for childminders, and ensure they can benefit in full from Labour’s subsidised childcare programme.
The development of childcare facilities throughout Ireland, funded by tax breaks, has created an unsustainable, unplanned network of infrastructure.
In some areas, many providers are available, with competition threatening the viability of some providers.
In other areas, there are significant space shortages.
We will introduce a new system of forward planning for publicly-funded early years and childcare provision.
The state will assess where additional places are required, and will then hold a competition between potential providers to see which option can show evidence of community support.
This is based on the existing model of forward planning already in place for the school sector.
4.3 A NEW NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE
Labour in Government is committed to the progressive rollout of Universal Health Care.
For people and their families, this means free and timely access to the health service from the initial contact with a GP straight through to treatment in the hospital system.
The introduction of a model of universal health care represents a fundamental change in our health service.
We are committed to ending the two tier health system.
We have already started the roll out of free GP care for children and older people.
We will extend this to all.
We will create a new National Community Health Service and create a new Cabinet position with direct political responsibility to oversee this critical national project.
Labour will:
Introduce a new National Community Health Service providing free GP care for all
Recruit 5,500 healthcare professionals to reduce waiting lists and overcrowding in hospitals
Create a better functioning hospital system
Improve access to mental health services
Reduce the threshold of the Drug Payment Scheme to €100 for families and €75 for single persons and lower prescription charges capped at €20 per month
We will establish a National Health Forum to bring together all stakeholders in the health system to develop a shared approach and understanding on the future challenges facing Irish health services.
Ireland is the only EU health system that does not offer universal coverage for primary care.
Ireland currently has a private primary care system and a public hospital system.
Our vision for a more equal health system involves the rollout of a fully functioning system of primary care, free at the point of access.
A new National Community Health Service will provide timely and free access to GP care, mental health care and dental care for all children and adults along with reduced cost of medication and primary care health services.
Over the lifetime of the next Government, free GP care will be phased in for the entire population, starting with those under the age of 18
and those aged 65 and over and progressing to universal access by 2021.
We will introduce new community-based clinical programmes targeting the most prevalent chronic diseases, so that people can get consistent access to treatment and prevention without having to visit a hospital.
These programmes will depend on a community based teams made up of nurses, GPs and other health professionals.
We will continue the provision of funding to expand direct access for GPs to ultrasound and X-ray services, and introduce a Minor Ailments Scheme to expand the role of the community pharmacist so that patients with medical cards can go straight to their pharmacies for free non-prescription medicines to treat mild conditions.
To prioritise this transformation of primary care across Ireland, we will appoint a Cabinet Minister with specific responsibility for primary care.
This will bring a new focus, budget and accountability to the development of the Primary Care network and will ensure that the Minister for Health can strengthen their focus on making serious improvements to our hospitals and A&Es, while continuing to ensure that services move towards more effective integration.
The provision of primary care centres and teams throughout the country will significantly increase health and social care in local communities which will redirect pressure away from acute hospitals.
90 primary care centres have been completed and a further 16 are under construction.
It is expected that construction will begin on a further 14 primary care centres next month.
The HSE estimates that the delivery of free GP care for all will require an additional 1,426 full-time GPs in Ireland by 2021.
Labour has a plan to deliver these additional GPs, with a particular focus on three approaches: recruiting new GPs; retaining more of those who are thinking of leaving the profession; and encouraging returners, particularly those who have gone abroad to work.
We will supplement these approaches with better supports for part-time GPs who might consider working full-time, and the direct employment of 200 GPs in rural areas.
Labour’s plan will add 1,428 full-time GPs to primary care over the next five years – an appropriate increase to provide free GP care for all.
Free GP care for all
We will extend free access and reduce the cost of drugs and related healthcare.
We will reduce the threshold of the Drug Payment Scheme for all non- medical card holders to €100 for families and €75 for single people, and reduce the prescription charge to €1.50 per item subject to a €20 cap per month.
These measures will significantly reduce the cost burden on families and prevent those who fall seriously ill from experiencing significant charges for their medication.
Good oral health is vital for people of all ages.
As with access to GPs, we want to ensure that no-one is put off accessing a dentist for reasons of cost.
We will begin to widen access by restoring the Dental Treatment Benefit scheme to pre-2009 levels.
Our plan is to see that all persons are eligible for two free oral examinations, scale plus polish per year.
This will also include access to basic preventative treatments such as cleaning and fillings.
Over time, this service will be extended to a more comprehensive list of treatments.
We will also increase the funding for the publicly run dental service and recruit additional dentists and dental nurses to ensure all children go through screening in a timely manner.
Dental health
Reducing the costs of medication
A mark of a society is how well it treats its expectant women.
In the wake of a number of terrible preventable tragedies, Ireland has made some progress in advancing the rights and protections for pregnant women with the enactment of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act in 2013 and the publication of the new National Maternity Strategy.
Labour has been to the fore in pushing these critically important issues.
However, the current constitutional mess in relation to termination in Ireland means that it is impossible for the Oireachtas to pass legislation that sufficiently protects the rights of women in pregnancy; in particular their rights to life and to health.
Labour will hold a referendum to remove Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution and, if that is approved, we will put comprehensive legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas to sufficiently protect the rights of women in pregnancy.
Labour in Government will implement in full the recommendations of the new National Maternity Strategy.
In particular, we will work to overhaul the current service model so that women see the most appropriate professional based on their need.
We will ensure higher compliance with internationally recognised ratios of staff to patients and review birthing environments and care choices available to women.
We will also ensure greater standardisation of care across maternity units in the State and introduce a new health and wellbeing approach to prenatal and post-natal care with the establishment of specific mother and baby clinics within primary care centres.
We will also establish a Human Fertilisation and Embryology Board to oversee those operating in this sector, and we will establish a new system of State support for couples to access assisted reproductive technology.
We will also cap the cost of the morning after pill to make sure it is an affordable, accessible option for any woman in need of it.
Dignified Maternity services
Early intervention is critical to mental health wellbeing.
In Government, we have prioritised the delivery of mental health services for young people at community and primary care level.
Many young people need support to get them through a difficult or challenging time in their lives and quite often this support is most appropriately provided at community level.
Labour will extend the Counselling in Primary Care service to all 16- 25 year olds on completion of eMental Health courses and with a GP’s recommendation,
and introduce additional training for GPs in recognition, detection and intervention using standardised mental health screening tools in all practices.
We will establish a mental health awareness and advertising programme to build resilience and breakdown prejudices, and continue to ring-fence mental health funding.
A new service will be developed to address dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health), headed by a new HSE National Director for Alcohol and Addiction.
We will establish a registration and licensing system for all practising counsellors, therapists and psychologists.
We will extend the opening hours of Community Mental Health Centres into the late evening and through the weekend, and extend the Jigsaw service to all major towns and cities.
The full details of our approach to mental health wellbeing will be published in Labour’s plan for mental health.
We will ensure that quality palliative care is available to all those who need it.
We will continue to support work on the needs of general, maternity and paediatric hospitals to develop comprehensive plans for palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care.
We will continue to rollout Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death 2016 and establish trained bereavement teams in each maternity unit/hospital.
Mental Health – Early Intervention
Palliative Care
In Government, we established the Emergency Department Taskforce to drive long term solutions to overcrowding in A&Es and to address the issue of delayed discharges which contributes to that overcrowding.
We will increase the number of locations of care for less serious injury.
We will reform work practices and the allocation of staff within hospitals by implementing the recommendations of the Emergency Department taskforce on the need for systemic change in dealing with discharges, ranging from a broadening of the role of advanced nurse practitioners to cross-team discharging and changes to the organisation of the working day within hospitals.
Treatment of chronic disease currently account for two thirds of emergency admissions through A&E and 60% of total bed days.
Labour’s plans to provide treatment for the most prevalent chronic diseases within the community will go a way towards alleviating this.
That’s just one example of how a strong system of primary care will reduce pressure on hospitals and provide for a stronger overall service.
We will increase the combined number of day care and in-patient beds within hospitals by 1,500 and also increase the number of beds and staff in community care.
The HSE bill for agency staff remains too high and we will move to reduce this bill and directly hire more medical, support, paramedic and care staff across the hospital and social care system over the next five years.
We will recruit 1,990 paramedics, healthcare assistants, theatre technicians, and allied health professionals, along with 2,800 nurses, 500 consultants and 300 nursing staff in specialist areas such as midwifery and advanced nurse practitioners.
These 5,500 medical professionals will allow us to make significant improvements to hospital care.
Reducing overcrowding in A&Es
Delayed health treatment for serious conditions imposes significant costs on individuals that spill over to the wider health system, the economy and society.
Not only is there the cost of medication for managing untreated illness, there is the cost to hospitals of repeat visits to outpatient departments, the cost to the labour market and the cost to wider society.
Within the hospital system, shorter wait times and faster access to diagnostics and treatment are only going to become more pressing objectives over the years ahead.
However, achieving these goals is not simply about providing more resources.
More than anything it is going to be about working differently, and finding new ways to cut waiting lists and guarantee speedy access to treatment.
We will build on the excellent work achieved in the breast cancer treatment programme.
We will extend this highly successful model with early assessment initiatives and targeted wait times to other conditions.
This will start with the other cancers and neurosurgery.
It will involve the recruitment of additional consultants but also greater involvement of advanced nurse practitioners to ensure that patients get the timely diagnoses and treatment every citizen deserves.
Labour firmly believes that a clear plan is now required to address poor or absent systems of accountability, persistent cost overruns and the lack of definition of clear responsibility between the HSE and the Minister for Health.
We must address key issues of corporate governance, financial planning and ministerial oversight and responsibility.
If re-elected to Government, we will put in place a new Corporate Governance and Financial Planning Strategy for hospitals.
We will require that the business plans for hospitals are put on a statutory basis, that all hospitals agree service level agreements and individual hospitals publish their annual accounts.
We will also transition the funding of our hospitals from a block grant basis to an activity basis so that money follows the patient first and foremost.
We will require that the accounts of hospitals are audited by the C&AG and that hospital CEOs appear before the Public Accounts Committee.
A critical part of a new framework of accountability in the hospital system must be provision for intervention where hospitals or sections of hospitals are underperforming.
We will introduce powers to intervene and take over the management of hospitals or sections of hospitals under specific circumstances and for specified periods.
Reducing waiting lists
Improving accountability in the hospital system
We will respond to the obesity crisis by introducing a tax on sugar sweetened drinks within the first year of being returned to Government.
This will be levied on a volumetric basis and can be expected to have a significant public health impact, particularly for children.
In addition we will ring fence the proceeds from the tax for investment in a number of health awareness programmes for children.
We will also further restrict food advertising, in particular the marketing of foods high in salt, sugar and fat.
We will introduce national regulations for front-of-pack traffic light labelling on all food and drink products.
In this way we can empower people, especially parents to clearly determine the contents of the food they buy and its potential effects on individual health.
We will establish mother and baby clinics to become a one-stop shop for families and introduce health awareness programmes for pre-school and school age children in the areas of nutrition, alcohol and dental hygiene.
We will double the number of schools under the Active Flag programme, introduce new school cycling initiatives, and make sure that all schools are involved in growing food.
These steps will ensure healthy living and good nutrition is emphasised at every stage of a child’s development.
Investing in our health and well-being
4.4 IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
The need for strong, vibrant communities goes to the heart of Labour’s vision for a decent society and a strong Ireland.
We need safe, clean, green, flourishing communities with facilities that meet everyone’s needs.
Labour will:Recruit 3,500 new Gardaí over the next five years and release an additional 1,000 Gardaí from frontline duty to make sure the priority is on community policing
Recruit civilian staff for many routine Garda administrative functions to allow this growth in frontline policing personnel
Invest in green spaces, footpaths, public parks and cycling routes that improve the quality of life in our communities
Provide every home, school and business with access to high-speed broadband by 2020
In government, we have provided every second-level school in the country with free access to high-speed broadband, and increased fourfold the availability of commercial broadband.
We have allowed schools and sports clubs to make joint applications to build community sports facilities, and expanded the highly successful Dublin Bikes scheme to Galway, Limerick and Cork.
We will constantly look to improve the quality of life for families, with a particular focus on assisting disadvantaged communities by targeting funding to those areas most in need.
We have provided every second-level school in the country with free access to high-speed broadband
Labour in government will promote strong communities with good facilities for walking and cycling and high quality public transport connections to neighbouring towns and cities.
It is essential to have a joined-up transport and land-use plan that reduces the amount of time people spend travelling and that promotes active and healthy ways of getting around – walking, cycling, and improved public transport.
We will make walking and cycling attractive and safer by improving our footpaths, our public realm and our cycling routes, and by giving more time for pedestrians to cross busy roads.
We will also improve connectivity so that more people are within walking distance of shops and public transport stops.
This will help create family-friendly communities that are accessible to all.
Similar to our approach with sports capital grants, we will encourage local authorities to provide high quality community amenities and green infrastructure, close to where people live.
Where possible these facilities should be shared between schools, colleges and the local community.
We need to make sure that communities have access to schools, crèches, libraries, arts and cultural facilities, and community meeting rooms.
Our green infrastructure fund will see investment in our parks, canals, rivers, sea-front, and ponds and we will provide funding for more tree planting.
These facilities not only create high quality amenities for local residents, but they also protect biodiversity, help reduce our carbon emissions and they protect us from the threat of flooding that is increasing as our climate changes.
In government we have initiated the National Broadband Plan to provide access to high-speed broadband to every home, school and business, through a partnership between the commercial sector and State intervention.
We have accelerated commercial broadband provision from just 300,000 premises to over 1.1 million, a figure that will rise to at least 1.6 million by the end of 2016.
High-speed broadband has been made available to every second-level school free of charge.
Labour will implement the National Broadband Plan on schedule so that every home, school and business gets access to high-speed broadband by 2020.
We will put the policy and regulatory frameworks in place to stimulate commercial companies to deliver high speed broadband to the maximum number of homes and businesses possible across the country.
The State intervention will extend high-speed broadband access to premises that commercial investment will not serve.
As part of the National Broadband Plan, high-speed broadband will be extended to every primary school in the state.
Quality of life for communities
Broadband
Sport has hugely positive benefits for individuals and society as a whole.
Labour in government has funded three Sports Capital Programmes following years of neglect by the previous administration.
This has ensured over €110 million in funding for thousands of local clubs around the country.
We have worked to make the programme more accessible to clubs and organisations including those without a clubhouse or land.
Community sports clubs have also had vital funds freed up through a partial rates exemption under the Valuation Act that we introduced in 2015.
We have also established Sport Ireland to enhance the administration of sport.
We will continue to boost sport in local communities and at grassroots level through the Sports Capital Programme, which will have a dedicated stream for joint applications from sports clubs and schools.
We want to build an even more inclusive sports culture and will continue to invest in Special Olympics Ireland, and to increase participation,
particularly participation of women and girls in sport and in sport governing bodies.
As part of this we will prioritise the implementation of the new National Physical Activity Plan.
This will encourage a greater number of people to become more physically active.
Irish sportsmen and women have always punched above their weight at international level
and Labour has ensured funding to help sporting organisations with their preparation for the Rio Olympics this year.
We will also fund further world class facilities at the National Indoor Arena at the National Sports Campus.
Three main centres for athletics, training and gymnastics within the Arena are set to be completed in 2016.
A step-change in energy efficiency will help to achieve our climate mitigation targets, while also improving our citizens’ living conditions and health outcomes, and reducing the energy bills for households, businesses and public services.
Labour will implement the Affordable Energy Strategy and increase investment in the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme.
We will open up the eligibility criteria so that more households can avail of the service and we will provide stronger incentives to undertake deep retrofits.
Our plan will ensure that 225,000 homes will be able to receive grant aided support to improve their energy efficiency, with 10,000 further homes being funded to undertake deep retrofitting measures.
We will increase the funding provided for energy efficiency initiatives and programmes, to improve the thermal efficiency of homes, and to protect those at risk of energy poverty.
Building regulations will be improved to ensure better heat retention and energy efficiency, which will deliver higher standards of living.
The Energy Efficiency Obligation scheme will require greater effort from suppliers.
We will end the barriers which impede customers switching their energy supplier and help customers realise the benefits of switching through
Sports capital grants
Energy-Efficient Homes
Standing Up for Families & Communities
Greener public transport
We will establish a Green Bus Fund to support the replacement of the State bus fleet with cleaner, greener vehicles over time.
We will draw up a new Rail Transport Strategy, with particular focus on improving the reliability and energy efficiency of our rail network.
This will explore the electrification of inter-city rail so we can switch from costly and unclean diesel.
We will also bring forward commencement of construction work on the Metro North project ahead of its planned schedule which would see construction begin in 2021.
We will improve existing incentives for electric and hybrid car ownership by increasing the grants available to purchasers.
We will examine initiatives in other countries to encourage uptake of e-vehicles with a view to introducing such schemes here.
We will publish a target by the end of 2016 for the number of Compressed Natural Gas filling stations required to make this a viable transport fuel, particularly for buses and heavy goods vehicles.
We will continue to strongly promote cycling - we will fund the roll out of a city cycle-way system starting with Dublin and we will build on the hugely successful Cycle to Work scheme with a new Cycle to School Scheme to make it easier than ever for children to take up cycling.
Labour is committed to a national waste management strategy that ensures efficient reliable collection for households and businesses.
We also want to see conversion from waste to alternative product uses while ensuring this industry can provide decent, quality employment.
We support the concept of competition for the market in the waste collection sector.
Labour believes existing service provision to households and businesses can be improved and we are committed to introducing a new tendering process for waste collection contracts within local authority areas as existing contracts come up for renewal.
Labour supports greater use of waste as an indigenous energy resource and we are committed to further supporting this in the lifetime of the next Government.
Three new regional waste management plans for the period 2015-2021 support the development of additional thermal recovery and biological treatment capacity within the State.
The REFIT schemes, which support the generation of electricity and CHP technologies including waste-to-energy, anaerobic digestion and landfill gas, continue to support the use of waste as a renewable energy feedstock.
There are over half a million people involved in community and voluntary organisations across Ireland.
Labour recognises the immense contribution these groups make to Irish society and the need to better support these groups.
We will develop a new strategy for the community and voluntary sector recognising the valuable contribution of local development partnerships and social welfare schemes such as TÚS, C.E. and the Rural Social Scheme.
We will work with the voluntary organisations and their statutory counterparts to develop this strategy and will seek to develop a sustainable multi-annual funding model for the sector in recognition that these services need to be able to plan and develop.
While we welcome the role of philanthropy in the sector, we recognise that the first priority is to put a better system of public supports in place.
We will ensure the Sports Capital Fund gives priority to joint proposals from local sports clubs and schools or youth organizations.
Labour is committed to the full implementation of the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020.
This strategy outlines the Government’s objectives to ensure young people have sufficient opportunities to be healthy and active,
get the most out of formal learning, are able to feel safe and economically secure,
and that they can feel connected, respected and empowered.
Standing Up for Families & Communities
Sustainable waste management
Youth Sector
Community and voluntary sector
The Garda Síochána is entitled to the support of the Government, and taxpayers are entitled to expect that the Government makes sure Garda resources are deployed efficiently and effectively.
In government we introduced the new Policing Authority, a long-standing Labour Party policy.
We re-opened the Garda Training College at Templemore and 600 new Gardai will be recruited this year.
€29 million has been invested in new Garda vehicles, with the deployment of 370 new vehicles in communities around the country.
We also secured €60 million for refurbishing and building Garda stations at 30 locations around the country.
Modern policing requires personnel to be deployed in frontline policing services. The Garda Inspectorate has called for this.
Implementation of this reform proposal would release an additional 1,000 Gardaí for frontline duty.
We support and will implement the Garda Inspectorate recommendations on reform of organisational structure, governance and culture, workforce modernisation and technology.
We will make the structural changes needed to deliver a better coordinated, properly integrated national policing service
and we will recruit an additional 700 members per year to return to previous peak Garda levels of over 14,500.
We will ensure that any obstacles to the employment of qualified civilian personnel are removed and will continue to recruit new professional civilian police staff,
in order to free up Gardaí to police our communities.
A greater share of the Garda budget will be ring-fenced to further boost community policing – Gardaí policing communities they know, serving the people they know.
We will also legislate to allow members of an Garda Siochána to join a trade union for the purposes of collective bargaining in line with the majority of other EU countries.
Affiliation to ICTU will be subject to representative bodies and ICTU recognising the unique character of our policing services and that their members voluntarily forswear the right to strike or to engage in other industrial action.
Policing in the community
Anti-social behaviour is the scourge of many neighbourhoods.
Low level crime and anti-social behaviour are destructive of community life.
That is why a more visible and responsive Garda presence in these communities is essential.
Labour will improve the functioning of Joint Policing Committees.
Separately, the Labour approach to tenanting policy and estates management in local authority estates will also help.
Local authority management will be required to invite participation by the community sector towards this objective.
In government, Labour appointed a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for drugs policy.
We have partially restored cuts in funding for local and regional drugs and alcohol taskforces.
We started work on a new national drugs strategy.
We want to see families, victim support, harm reduction and education at the heart of the new strategy, along with improved funding for the Local Drugs Task Forces.
We will establish a twin-track approach, as in the Portuguese model, where the resources of the criminal justice system are targeted at the pushers and, at the same time, measures to reduce demand for drugs are implemented and medical supports are focussed on the victims of drug abuse.
We will put the Drugs Court on a statutory footing and will expand its remit.
We will continue to support medically-supervised injecting centres, to protect the public and minimise cross-contamination amongst drug users.
We champion freedom of expression and the preservation of an open, neutral and unitary internet.
We see no conflict between those principles and our commitment to stronger measures to combat cybercrime, cyberbullying, child pornography and breaches of privacy and personal data security.
We will implement the recommendations of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group.
This will see an expanded role for a number of relevant government departments in coordinating and overseeing internet content policy at a national level.
Anti-social Behaviour
Drugs and Harm Reduction Strategies
Cyber security
4.5 AN AGE-FRIENDLY SOCIETY
A society that cares about families must also care for older people.
Too often, older people find it impossible to access the supports they need to continue living independent lives.
Labour will:
Ensure a 50% increase in the number of home-help hours by 2021
Support those recovering from illness to return to their own homes
Labour in government protected vital supports for older people including the State Pension, Free Travel Pass, Living Alone Allowance and free TV licence.
In the last Budget, we increased the State Pension and paid a 75% Christmas Bonus to benefit pensioners.
We also increased spending on the Free Travel scheme by €3million to ensure every older person who is eligible to use the scheme can do so in practice.
We published the National Carers’ Strategy and protected a range of income supports to underpin the Strategy.
We provided €940 million in 2016 so that everyone who needs Fair Deal funding will be approved within four weeks.
We have restored grant funding for personal monitored alarms, to ensure that older people can live with security and peace-of-mind in their own homes.
Labour will defend existing supports for older people such as those listed above.
And with a strong and growing economy, we now have a chance to make further changes that will provide security to all older people in retirement.
Older people in Ireland are living longer, healthier lives.
To support this, Labour in government has introduced a landmark National Positive Ageing Strategy.
We recognise that elderly people want to live as long as possible in their own homes and communities.
That said, residential care, if required, must be accessible and of the highest quality.
To that end we have published the National Carers’ Strategy and a National Dementia Strategy.
“Home First” is a critical part of our policy and we are determined to ensure that adequate supports and services are available to those older people who wish to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
A single assessment tool will be put in place to assess the needs and necessary services required to support an older person staying in their own home.
This service will be introduced through the current public health nurse system of care.
We will ensure that HSE provided community care services remain free of charge.
We will improve these vital services by increasing the number of home help hours by 50% by 2021 and by making available a better mix of day and after-hours services.
We will ensure that older people who have suffered a serious illness or have been hospitalised will be given the supports necessary to allow them to return to living in their own home with confidence through supports for modification of the home and through a new “reablement” scheme.
A National Reablement Scheme would have wider benefits of enhancing the physical and mental health of older people as well as reducing the need for home support and long-term care services.
We will provide additional community short stay beds in areas where there is currently a shortage of places, including the Greater Dublin Area and the North East.
We will invest €430m in Community Nursing Units for older people and accommodation for those with a disability.
This will significantly enhance and upgrade residential facilities in line with HIQA recommendations.
It will also help to ensure that the care provided in new and refurbished facilities is person-centred.
We will insist that new build sheltered housing for older people meets the highest standards of design and specification.
We recognise that “Fair Deal” plays an important role in making nursing home places available quickly and at reasonable cost.
We are providing funding of €940 million in 2016 so that everyone who needs Fair Deal funding will be approved within four weeks.
Positive ageing
Reablement
Fair Deal
There are many thousands of carers who play a vital role in families and communities across the country.
In government, we published the National Carers’ Strategy and protected a range of income supports to underpin the strategy.
These include Carers’ Allowance, half-rate carers’ payment and the household benefits package for people who receive Carer’s Allowance and live with the person for whom they are caring.
Labour in government secured €1 million from the dormant accounts fund to provide additional financial help for support and training projects for carers.
We have developed a single assessment tool for older people which includes a detailed Carers’ Needs Assessment, to deliver better overall co-ordination of care services.
Under the Carers’ Strategy, an annual forum is held to allow carers to engage with government and to have a strong voice in policy development.
We will continue to implement the National Carers’ Strategy, and will work with carers and ensure that supports for carers increase at least in line with inflation.
We will protect HSE provided community care services as a free-of-charge service and we will ensure that families and individuals who have a carer will fully benefit from the 50% increase in the number of home help hours between 2016 and 2021.
Carers
We will protect HSE provided community care services as a free-of- charge service and we will ensure that families and individuals who have a carer will fully benefit from the 50% increase in the number of home help hours between 2016 and 2021
4.6 INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Labour recognises that people with disabilities wish to live ordinary lives in ordinary places.
But many face multiple barriers generated by society and the State over many decades in terms of paternalistic attitudes, low expectations and poorly designed buildings and services.
We need to turn the tide on this culture of dependence.
We will:
Immediately allocate 10% of funding of disability service providers to independent living initiatives,
and we will increase this funding by 10% each year as capacity in the sector develops over time.
Move towards a system of individualised budgeting for care services, granting power to individuals over the services provided
Sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into law within the first year of government.
We will immediately allocate 10% of funding of disability service providers to independent living initiatives, and we will increase this funding by 10% each year as capacity in the sector develops over time.
Over time, we want to move towards a system of individualised budgeting for care services, granting power to individuals over the services provided.
A key part of this will be to explore best international practice to put in place a new system of brokers to procure equipment and services for individuals.
Personal assistance services must be increased and we will also increase total funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant to €60million.
We will update planning and building control legislation and policies to ensure that at least 10% of all ‘new build’ housing developments meet Universal Design standards.
We will explore new innovative fiscal models that are beyond the social welfare system but that can help to financially support people with disabilities.
Independent Living
Supporting children with special needs
Recognising the rights of those with disabilities
A partial capacity to work payment was introduced to support persons with disability to take up work and we have built on this to produce a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities.
This will involve strengthening our anti-discrimination laws and reforming our mainstream employment services and training programmes to better cater for the needs of people with disabilities.
Labour lived up to our commitment to increase the numbers of people relocated to community based settings.
We oversaw significant reform of disability services for young adults, by ensuring that we don’t turn our backs on those turning 18 but instead offer training places to them.
We have also seen to it that the prevention of disability and early assessment agenda continues to be promoted in programmes such as diabetic retinopathy screening.
We will continue to provide employment supports to those receiving disability payments to ensure they can access job and training schemes.
Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been postponed by successive governments – we are already delivering on its content through sustained implementation of disability initiatives and we will sign the Convention into law within the first year of government.
When this is done, we will begin a review of the needs of people with different disabilities and work to accommodate these.
As a first step, we recognise the significant barriers to the Deaf community in Ireland and those using Irish Sign language.
We will introduce a new voucher scheme to allow purchase of interpreter hours for those who depend on the language.
We will support the vision impaired community by developing a National Vision Strategy with them to ensure that preventable blindness is eradicated.
In government, we increased spending on special education and introduced the first system of supports for pre-school children with special needs.
As a first step towards a new vision for supporting children with special needs, we will mainstream the pilot model of allocating resource teachers from September 2017 in a way that ensures that no school faces a reduction in resources, but schools that are under-resourced at present are brought up to the level of support they need.
We will improve the integration of therapy supports into school settings and we will expand the number of educational psychologists so that money is not an obstacle to appropriate support.
We will increase the percentage of college students with a disability to 8% of all new entrants.
4.7 ACTION ON CHILD POVERTY
We are determined to eradicate child poverty.
Despite progress over recent years, one in nine children in Ireland still live in consistent poverty.
The initiatives we propose here will complement our proposals to introduce free GP care for all, to expand access to school meals, to introduce paid parental leave and high quality, affordable childcare, to eliminate long-term homelessness and to increase the minimum wage.
Taken together, these measures will significantly reduce the number of children and young people living in poverty by 2021.
Labour will:
Put the elimination of child poverty at the centre of government policy
• Provide the poorest schools with the staffing and funding needed to tackle educational
disadvantage• Continue to expand the school meals programme so that no child goes hungry in school
Implement early intervention initiatives aimed at children and families in disadvantaged communities
Increase child benefit from €140 to €155 a month by 2021
In government, we have funded the introduction of Area-Based Childcare (ABC) programmes in areas of concentrated disadvantage such as Limerick, Ballymun and Tallaght. Rates of early school leaving have dropped below 10% for the first time.
And we have increased funding for school meals.
We will build on this work to end child poverty.
We will produce a new National Action Plan for Social Inclusion in 2017, with the eradication of child poverty the primary objective of that action plan.
We will establish a new body – the End Child Poverty Commission to work to eradicate child poverty to make sure that we at least halve child poverty by 2021.
Children from disadvantaged communities remain more likely to have difficulty with reading or maths, and to drop out of school.
In government, we have ensured that early school leaving has fallen below 10% for the first time.
We have reformed the Junior Cert to put an end to young disadvantaged boys, in particular, disengaging from school.
We have provided State funding to iScoil for those who have disengaged from school.
And we have increased funding for school meals.
We will increase the school leaving age to 17 to end a situation where one in ten drop out before getting a Leaving Cert.
We will continue funding the ABC programmes and iScoil, and restore funding of School Completion Programmes to 2011 levels, and bring their governance and funding back within the education sector.
Labour will rapidly expand the school meals programme, to ensure that no child goes hungry in school.
We will identify the poorest schools in the country, in both urban and rural areas, and provide them with the funding, staffing and supports necessary to tackle deeply entrenched levels of disadvantage.
Concentrated disadvantage leads to much greater inequality in society.
Tackling that inequality means tackling the root causes of inequality, which start in the earliest years.
In government, Labour has funded Area-Based Childcare (ABC) programmes in areas of concentrated disadvantage such as Limerick, Ballymun and Tallaght.
We are committed to a strategy of capacity building and investing in the quality of our public services to children and families.
This will include primary care, early years, primary schools, family and community support services.
To support this, we are committed to the mainstreaming youngballymun, an evidence-based model prioritising children and families in communities impacted by socio-economic disadvantage.
We will continue to implement prevention and early intervention initiatives aimed at children and families, with a particular focus on areas of disadvantage.Tackling educational disadvantage
Area-Based Childcare programmes
Putting child poverty at the centre of government policy
No child should ever go to school hungry.
We recognise that hungry children have difficulty paying attention and benefitting from education.
This year, we increased the funding available for school meals by €3m, with over 1,430 schools and community groups now providing meals in schools, pre-schools and community groups.
We will increase the funding available for school meals by €5m each year, to expand school meals to at least a third of all school and pre-school settings, with a particular focus on the promotion of breakfast clubs.
This will include funding for minor capital work required in some schools.
Responsibility for management of the school meals programme will be transferred to the education sector, so that we develop a coherent approach to tackling poverty and disadvantage in schools.
Over the last two budgets, we have increased Child Benefit by €10 per child per month, benefitting 623,000 families.
We will continue to invest in Child Benefit, and increase Child Benefit payments by €15 per month by 2021.
We have embarked upon an unprecedented range of legal and constitutional reforms to protect our children.
The passage of the Childrens’ Rights referendum will have implications for all future legislation, and the creation of TUSLA and passage of the Children and Family Relationships Act were both designed to put the interests of children first.
Early intervention and well integrated care and support between TUSLA, education and mental health services is critical to ensuring a well-functioning child protection service.
Labour is committed to bringing about greater integration of these services with TUSLA.
We will also review the high staff turnover ratios within child protection services and explore ways to overcome worker burnout in terms of better supervision, manageable caseloads and a greater experience mix amongst colleagues in services.
We will fully commence all sections of the Children and Family Relationships Act.
School meals
Child Benefit
Child Protection
We are determined to eradicate child poverty
Standing Up for a Modern Ireland
Labour will continue to lead on social change by making Ireland a more modern and progressive country, strengthening the rights of women, children and the most vulnerable and working for a more equal and tolerant society.
Deliver true equality for women
Open up government to greater scrutiny
Ensure our education system better reflects modern Ireland
Make communities safer by enhancing crime prevention measures and reducing levels of reoffending
Enact a national LGBT strategy
Protect Irish language and culture, and our place in the world
Equality is a founding principle of the Labour Party, and there is no better means of achieving equality than making sure that every child is given an equal opportunity to thrive.
Equality is at the heart of what it means to be a citizen in our democracy, and it is at the heart of Labour’s view of the world.
Equality is a founding principle of the Labour PartyStanding Up for a Modern Ireland
5.1 TRUE EQUALITY FOR ALL
Women don’t earn the same as men, and are denied access to necessary healthcare.
An estimated two-thirds of low-paid workers in Ireland are women, and the State has always underinvested in childcare.
Ireland is an increasingly diverse and multicultural nation.
Labour will:
Hold a referendum to remove Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, otherwise known as the 8th Amendment
Take action to reduce Ireland’s gender pay gap
Double the number of multi-denominational schools by 2021
Amend the Equal Status Act so that local children can access local schools
Prioritise independent living supports for those with disabilities
Publish and enact a new national LGBT strategy
In government, we have introduced gender quotas that will see a significant rise in the number of women in Dáil Éireann, and introduced a 40% target for the representation of women on State boards.
We acted where successive governments had failed women, and legislated to give meaning to the judgement in the X case.
Labour in government has driven real change and reform towards a more pluralist system of school patronage which reflects the diverse beliefs of families across Ireland.
The referendum on marriage equality, and the overwhelming popular support for that referendum, was a historic victory for the rights of gay and lesbian people, and also for all those who respect and value diversity.
These changes, and many others, have made Ireland a more progressive and welcoming country.
Only Labour will build upon these changes to continue working to deliver a republic that embraces all of her people.
The referendum on marriage equality was a historic victory for the rights of gay and lesbian people
A mark of a country’s health services is how it treats pregnant women.
In the wake of a number of terrible preventable tragedies, Ireland has made some progress in advancing the rights and protections for pregnant women with the enactment of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act in 2013 and the publication of the new National Maternity Strategy.
Labour has been to the fore in pushing these critically important issues.
However, the current constitutional mess in relation to termination in Ireland means that it is impossible for the Oireachtas to pass legislation that sufficiently protects the rights of women in pregnancy; in particular their rights to life and to health.
Labour will hold a referendum to remove Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution and, if that is approved, we will put comprehensive legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas to sufficiently protect the rights of women in pregnancy.
We will establish a Human Fertilisation and Embryology Board to oversee those operating in this sector
, and we will establish a new system of State support for couples to access assisted reproductive technology.
We will also cap the cost of the morning after pill to make sure it is an affordable, accessible option for any woman in need of it.
We will enact the Adoption Information and Tracing Bill, following further consultation, to ensure all adopted people have the right to obtain their birth certificate.
Improved reproductive healthcare services for women
For true equality, women must be able to play an equal part in all realms of life from business to public life.
We have introduced new laws which require all political parties to ensure that 30% of their election candidates are women, and that threshold will increase to 40% over time.
We have also introduced a 40% target for the representation of women on State boards, and we are delivering on this.
We will increase the target to 45% of all State board appointments, and will enact new policies to make this the case on every individual State board – enterprise, agriculture and finance areas need the input of women just as much as education, childcare and health areas.
We will legislate to require colleges to give proportionate scholarship funding to women and men, in order to increase the number of women in receipt of sporting and scientific scholarships.
We will commission a National Action Plan for Women’s Equality to ensure gender equality issues remain at the heart of all government decisions.
The Constitutional Convention voted overwhelmingly in favour of amending article 42.1 of the Constitution.
Article 42.1 states that mothers ‘shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to neglect of their duties within the home.’
Labour will act on the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention to amend Article 42.1 to provide for State recognition and support for all persons caring for others within the family home.
We will establish an inter-departmental task force to formulate wording for a referendum to amend Article 42.1 that reflects the submissions to the Constitutional Convention on this issue.
Increasing the number of women in public life
The role of women in the home
It is unacceptable that a significant gender pay gap still exists in our economy.
In 2012, this gender pay gap meant a difference of 14.4% between men and women’s pay.
Labour will ensure that all large companies and public sector employers are required to publish the difference in pay between their male and female employees each year.
Over time, this will highlight which companies are taking corrective action and will allow workers and consumers to react accordingly.
We will examine the feasibility and cost implications of flexible work options for parents who are returning to work.
We are introducing a second free pre-school year with effect from September 2016, have introduced paid paternity leave for the first time to acknowledge the role of fathers in raising children, and have delivered increases worth €3,000 a year to those in full-time work on the Minimum Wage.
Labour’s plan for low-cost childcare for all children under the age of 12 will substantially reduce the cost of going to work for women.
Our revised Working Family Credit will better support women who want to enter or re-enter the workplace.
Increasing the Minimum Wage to a living wage level will particularly benefit women, as an estimated two-thirds of those on the Minimum Wage are women.
A growing number of parents want their children to experience multi-denominational education.
Multi-denominational schools can be more inclusive of all children in a community, regardless of their background.
We cannot provide choice of school in every town and village across Ireland, but we can build a national network of multi-denominational schools.
The wishes of those who want denominational education, and those who want multidenominational education, must be respected equally.
In government, we established the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, and have progressed their recommendations.
Since 2011, there has been a 43% increase in the number of multi-denominational schools, with a 54% increase in the number of children attending such schools.
We recognised Educate Together as a patron of second-level schools.
We believe that more needs to be done to provide greater school choice.
We will continue to provide new schools in areas where the population is increasing,
and we will speed up the process of reorganising schools in areas where parents have demanded an alternative to the status quo.
This reorganisation will include examining whether federal models could provide better support to small schools in rural communities.
We will provide a further 100 multi-denominational schools by 2021.
We will publish a White Paper to build on the report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, and clearly set out long-term policy in this area.
Equal pay for women and men
Greater school choice
Children benefit from meeting and getting to know children from various backgrounds and religions.
Diversity in our schools is an opportunity for our society, not something we should feel threatened by.
The emerging evidence of parents feeling forced to baptise their children to ensure a school place is a national scandal which must come to an end.
Labour’s Admission to Schools Bill will go a long way to improve the fairness of access to schools for all children.
It will ban the practice of charging parents to apply for a school place, and make sure that all schools are welcoming of all children.
We will amend the Equal Status Act, to ensure that publicly funded schools prioritise children from the local community, rather than focusing on their religion.
It will still be possible for schools to prioritise on the grounds of religion in cases where the ethos of the school might otherwise be diminished, such as in the case of minority faith schools which serve dispersed communities.
Labour has always championed LGBT rights.
Over the past five years, we have delivered monumental change for LGBT people.
Marriage equality, the Children & Family Relationships Bill, amending Section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act and the recent passage of the Gender Recognition Act are all changes delivered by Labour.
Now that the necessary legislative changes have taken place, we believe it is time to address the cultural problems that cause discrimination against LGBT people.
Working with the voluntary sector and across government departments, we will enact a national LGBT strategy that will focus on tackling hate crimes, discrimination in schools and workplaces and improving the mental and sexual health of LGBT people.
We will fully commence all sections of the Children and Family Relationships Act and will also introduce a new bill to expunge the criminal records of gay men who were convicted under historical indecency laws.
In 2017, we will review the operation of the Gender Recognition Act.
Local schools for local children
True equality for LGBT people
Ireland’s population is more diverse than ever before and embraces new communities from across the world.
We need appropriate integration structures to assist in social cohesion.
Labour in government has worked with Migrant Groups to look at new ways to develop better integration practices.
We also established a nationwide Polish–Irish festival recognising the unique position of the Polish diaspora – one of the largest ex-pat communities in Ireland.
The implementation of the new National Integration Strategy will be a key priority for Labour in the next government.
We will create local integration strategies and guidelines for all community groups in receipt of public funding.
The new strategy will look at ways to encourage participation in public life, including politics, for migrants and their families.
The Labour Party will introduce, on a one-off basis, an earned regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants living in Ireland.
This scheme will be both pragmatic and fair and will be developed in consultation with migrant NGOs and the relevant government departments within the lifetime of the next government.
Ensuring a fair and humane system for asylum and refugee applications remains a core task. In government Labour has overseen the publication of a report into the Protection Process including the Direct Provision System.
This report included 176 recommendations some of which we have begun to implement including the waiving of prescription charges for those living in direct provision and increasing the rate allowance paid to children living in these centres.
We have also introduced a Protection Bill which will see new applications for asylum processed more quickly to ensure people are not left living in limbo for many years while their application is pending.
If re-elected we will continue to implement the recommendations within the report to ensure that those seeking asylum are treated with dignity and respect whilst they await the outcome of their application.
We will also continue to work on developing comprehensive immigration legislation, which is transparent and clear for those wishing to work and live in the state.
We support the formal recognition of the Travelling Community as a group in Irish society with a unique culture, heritage and ethnic identity.
In government we have outlined the roadmap to achieve this by commencing work on a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy.
We will continue to consult with Traveller NGOs on the completion and implementation of this Strategy to address the accommodation, health, education and other issues faced by the Traveller community.
We will give responsibility to the Housing Agency to address key concerns around housing for Travellers.
We will also look at innovative ways of offering support for education and work place activation for members of the Travelling community.
We will more than double the number of Travellers going to college.
Integration and new communities
Traveller recognition
5.2 LAW REFORM
All of our work is focussed on making sure that our communities are safe places in which to grow up and grow old, and that our society is one that promotes justice and fairness at all levels.
The structures that underpin our justice system require ongoing review and reform.
The establishment of the Garda Authority is the most significant reform in the history of the Garda Síochána.
Labour is determined to put victims and their needs at the heart of the justice system.
Labour will:
Support and resource the new Garda Authority to deliver a transformation in the oversight of policing performance in the State.
Establish a Garda Serious and Organised Crime Unit to tackle organised crime, cybercrime, serious fraud and suspicious financial transactions.
Support victims of sexual and domestic violence and ensure a more compassionate overall approach to the victims of crime.
The criminal code is vast and complex, contained in hundreds of years of statutes and court judgments.
We will commence work on a single, comprehensive, statutory criminal code, making the law available in one easily accessible instrument.
We will further modernise and reform criminal justice legislation, including the rules of evidence and procedures and pre-trial processes, to remove anomalies in laws, rules and procedure that restrict the due administration of justice.
We will introduce harmonised search warrant, arrest and detention period provisions for all violent and serious crime, to avoid the pitfalls and anomalies that now exist.
A new Sentencing Bill will set out aggravating and mitigating circumstances to be taken into account, and will bring greater consistency.
This will include requiring the prosecution to address the court on sentencing, including the available non-incarceration options.
Information on sentencing practice will be collected and made available on a systematic and timely basis.
We will bring in greater pre-trial case management, such as plea and directions hearings.
We will legislate for more robust traceability of sale of second-hand machinery, goods and scrap, to better tackle rural crime.
We will simplify and consolidate road traffic law and eliminate the scandalous loopholes that allow drunk drivers to walk free.
Criminal law reform
We will legislate for a Judicial Council, with lay representation, that will provide an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges.
We will also further reform and update the judicial appointments procedures, requiring the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board to expressly consider the diversity of appointments.
We will legislate for a statutory framework for mediation as an alternative to litigation, and establish a dedicated family court structure throughout the State.
We will legislate to improve the operations of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.
And we will amend the law to allow damages to be paid by way of periodic payments to persons with catastrophic injuries.
We will not support legislation for gambling casinos in Ireland.
We will update and consolidate consumer rights legislation.
We will consolidate, update, and reform all the laws relating to our courts system and will task the Department of Justice to work with the Courts Service and professional bodies to ensure greater use of electronic communications and case management systems throughout the legal system.
Sexual abuse and sexual violence are heinous crimes and it is vital that victims receive the support they need when they make disclosures.
The Garda Síochána must be fully equipped and trained to deal with incidences and reports of sexual violence.
Training is currently available but it is not mandatory for Gardaí at present.
Labour will introduce mandatory training on sexual violence for all trainee Gardaí.
We will also introduce a protocol for third level institutions and provide training to staff on best practice for handling reports of sexual violence from college students and supporting victims of sexual violence.
The signing of the Istanbul Convention marks an important milestone for all those who have campaigned for better protections and supports for victims of domestic violence.
It reaffirms the commitment of government to foster a culture and to implement meaningful changes which can help reduce the incidence of domestic violence, better support victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In government, we published an Action Plan for implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Ireland.
This includes actions such as the provision of education and training of public sector staff involved in this area; development and delivery of training for legal professionals; and implementation of co-ordinated, integrated national helpline service provision for responding to domestic and sexual violence.
We will enact a new Domestic Violence Bill to improve the protections available to victims of domestic violence, most critically for those victims in crisis situations and will also make the courts process easier for victims of domestic violence.
This will include measures to reduce potential intimidation, limit the requirement for victims to give evidence before large numbers of strangers, bar electronic communications by perpetrators of domestic violence and allow for interim barring orders in emergency or crisis situations.
We will legislate to ensure that victims of crime are at the heart of the justice process and that their rights to information, advice and other appropriate assistance are met effectively and efficiently.
We will oblige Gardaí to maintain adequate contact with victims, to report progress on the investigation and prosecution of their case and to ensure that adequate advance notice if given about the proposed release of offenders.
The investigation and prosecution of white collar crime will always be difficult.
This isn’t an exclusively Irish phenomenon.
Public disquiet over the apparent immunity of white collar criminals is not due to the collapse of any particular trial as a result of defects in our law.
Instead, public concern is largely about the failure to bring prosecutions in the first place.
We need to allocate the resources to prosecute white collar crime.
We will create a Garda Serious and Organised Crime Unit, properly resourced and with the professional expertise needed to tackle organised crime, cybercrime, serious fraud and suspicious financial transactions in both the public and private sector.
We will create a specialist division within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which will become actively engaged and make appropriate directions much earlier in the investigation of white collar crime.
We will legislate for a formal structure for granting immunity to those suspected of white collar crime, in accordance with clearly defined criteria, where this assists in the more effective suppression and prosecution of criminal activities.
We will legislate for a pre-trial process that enables the court to ensure that the issues are clarified in advance of trial and to direct how they should be explained to a jury, to deal with issues of third party disclosure and of admissibility of evidence, and to direct the preparation of statements by each side setting out the nature of the prosecution and defence cases.
Our laws on the admissibility of documentary evidence are cumbersome and unnecessarily complex.
The ability to admit in evidence the contents of potentially relevant and incriminating documents is a very real consideration for prosecuting authorities in deciding whether to bring charges in complex fraud trials.
The logic underlying the hearsay rule no longer stands up.
We will amend the rules of evidence to allow for the admissibility of computer generated business records where they satisfy general standards of reliability.
White collar crime
Punishment and prisons
Our prisons are still overcrowded and our prison system is among the most expensive in the world.
The criminal justice system must provide for a safer society, at a lower cost to the taxpayer.
We need to switch from over-reliance on costly prison sentences to less costly non-custodial options and greater use of open prisons, for appropriate prisoners.
In government, we have ensured that St. Patrick’s institution will be closed in the early months of 2016.
We will reduce the number of prisoners in our jails when other, cheaper sanctions would serve the same purpose.
Prison must be a penalty of last resort for non-violent offenders.
We will mandate the courts to instead make much more effective use of alternative sanctions such as Community Service Orders.
We will reform sentencing practice at District Court level to reduce the number of very short prison sentences handed down for minor, nonviolent crimes.
We will continue to resource projects which divert young people from criminality, and provide for alternative sanctions.
We will bring to an end the ‘revolving door’ scandal, under which persons sent to jail in default of payment of ﬁnes can escape both the ﬁne and the imprisonment under a system that arrests, records, processes and releases them in a matter of hours.
We will reform, consolidate and restate prison law in modern terms.
5.3 OPENING UP GOVERNMENT AND EMPOWERING CITIZENS
Labour has always believed that openness and accountability are at the heart of good policy making and effective public service management.
We responded to the crisis by making reform in this area a priority.
Labour will:
Make all Government data open and transparent
Introduce a free and secure Digital Portal for every citizen and business
Create an independent Electoral and Public Offices Commission
Allow 16 year olds to vote in local elections and European Elections
Allow the people of Dublin to decide whether they want a directly elected Mayor and establish a new layer of local democracy in communities across the country
Labour has already done much to reform our system of government.
We destroyed the link between big money and politics by imposing limits for election spending and for political donations.
We passed legislation to protect whistleblowers and regulate lobbying, and greatly improved the Freedom of Information and Ombudsman Acts.
Critically, we have opened up the system of appointment to State boards by providing for a role for the Public Appointments Service.
Ireland has also joined the Open Government Partnership.
We will go further.
We believe in Open Government – and not just as a slogan.
The data held by public bodies is a valuable resource, not only for each body but also for citizens as a whole.
It makes it possible to improve access and ease of use in public services.
Digital technology offers new opportunities to improve the provision of public services and to improve the interaction between public service providers and consumers.
Yet these can be fractured, with duplication of inputs and process.
Labour in Government established an Open Data Governance Board, with industry experts to drive our open data strategy.
We agreed an open data technical framework to standardise published data sets.
We established our national open data portal at data.gov.ie.
We will promote and support the use of open data throughout the public service and welcome private sector adoption and use.
We will publish a national Open Data Action Plan on the principle that all data held and managed by public bodies should be made available subject to safeguards in relation to privacy, vulnerable people or commercial and operational considerations.
Labour is conscious of the risk of digital exclusion and we will ensure that our digital government agenda doesn’t leave behind any citizens, especially older citizens.
We will introduce a free and secure Digital Portal for every citizen and business, enabling them to communicate with Government Departments and public bodies.
The portal will give users a window on their transactions with the State.
It will facilitate amendments to basic information by a user and allow a single regulatory check to apply across all the system.
We will ensure that the high standards of verification required by Revenue, the Passport Service and the Public Services Card are used across the system.
We will substantially increase the resources available to the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer to coordinate activity across the public service.
We will enact a Data Sharing and Governance Act to ensure that the highest modern standards of data protection apply, with associated transparency and governance obligations, to information sharing between public service bodies.
The legislation will include an effective oversight role for the Oireachtas.
We will engage with the National Statistics Board on the development of a National Data Infrastructure.
Labour in government has driven the reform of public services.
Measures to reduce public service numbers, public service pay, and the number of state bodies were all central to the turnaround in our public finances.
Additional productivity measures were central to maintaining front line services.
These changes were implemented by way of two negotiated public service agreements.
Additional reforms have also included changes to sick leave and annual leave arrangements, more open competitions for positions within the civil service and the transfer of staff to areas where they were needed most.
Labour will compliment these changes with a new training and development shared service to drive higher performance levels in a positive manner.
Open data and public sector reform
We have also responded to criticism about a lack of specialists in the civil service by establishing the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service.
We will now set up similar specialisms for statistic and data analytics.
Central to our programme has been the creation of a more integrated public administration.
That is why we have introduced shared services in the HR, Procurement and Financial Management functions.
A Civil Service Management Board has been established to formalise cooperate working among the heads of Government Department.
That Board is responsible to an Accountability Board with private sector membership.
Common Governance Standards have been set.
Labour will introduce measures to facilitate easier transfer between parts of the public service.
The Ombudsman is an essential interlocutor between citizens and the providers of public services.
He acts as a guarantor of the rights of citizens.
In government we have extended the remit of the Ombudsman to include a number of bodies not previously covered.
We believe that the role should be further extended to include redress for public services, whether provided by public or private bodies, including private bodies in receipt of public funds.
Labour will enact the Public Sector Standards Bill, establishing a Public Sector Standards Commissioner, to oversee a new framework, operational at local and national level for the first time, of ethical standards for public representative and public officials.
The Bill imposes statutory prohibitions on the use of insider information and on the seeking by public officials of benefits to further their interests.
The Bill also provides for a new statutory board to address conflicts of interest that might arise as public officials take up roles in the private sector.
The Ombudsman
Public sector standards
Electoral reform
We will establish a powerful and independent Electoral Commission charged with the independent management of elections and election and political ﬁnances.
The Commission would remove from Ministers and Departments the responsibility for running elections and referendums, take over responsibility for the electoral register and encourage voter registration and turnout.
The Commission would also take over the powers of Referendum and Constituency Commissions.
The number of people living in Ireland who were born elsewhere is at an unprecedented high.
We believe that all EU citizens who have lived in Ireland for ﬁve years should be entitled to vote in general elections.
This should be extended on a reciprocal basis.
We will mount an information campaign to encourage all non-Irish citizens who have the right to vote, including all those who are currently entitled to vote in local elections, to do so.
We will enable citizens who emigrate to remain on the electoral register for up to 5 years.
We will change the law to allow 16-year-olds to vote in local and European elections.
We will also revise the terms of reference for the revision of constituencies to ensure the fairest and most proportionate distribution of seats possible.
We will abolish three-seat constituencies which provide the least proportionate level of representation.
We will allow 16 year olds to vote in local elections
Dáil Reform
During the 31st Dáil we implemented a number of reforms to make the Dáil more effective and more efficient.
We increased the number of sitting days by 33%, increased the time for asking questions of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers, introduced a right of appeal to the chair where members were dissatisfied with Ministers’ answers, opened up the law-making process, with a new pre-legislative stage that encourages engagement with experts, interest groups and the public, made it easier to debate topical issues and facilitated TDs to bring forward their own legislation.
But we need to go further.
Our Dáil and Seanad need to undergo the same root and branch examination of their workings that we have applied to other major institutions in the State.
They need a comprehensive and sustained programme of reform.
We will give responsibility for Dáil Reform to a committee with a majority of backbench members who have a real interest in securing for themselves a greater role in the day-to-day business of the House.
What we propose is not more incremental reform to Dáil standing orders but a fundamental redrafting.
The re-drafters would examine the various unwritten rules and practices, discard those that no longer serve a useful purpose and reduce the rest to writing.
Matters to be covered would include:
The responsibility of the Ceann Comhairle to impartially ensure that the interests of members and the public interest are fully protected
The obligation on ministers to ensure that questions are answered properly and fully (including an obligation to provide redress and correction if the House is misled), and rules covering the standard of replies.
Rules covering the passage of legislation to ensure the provision of adequate time for debate.
It should be no function of the next Government or of Party leaders to decide who the next Ceann Comhairle should be.
We have changed the rules so that the members of the next Dáil will elect their chair by secret ballot.
This will reinforce the independence of the office holder, making it clear that he or she has no ties to the Government of the day.
A Government needs to get its legislative programme through the Dáil and Seanad.
But the Houses need the opportunity and resources to scrutinise legislation and to hold the Government to account.
We haven’t got the balance right.
There is too much government control over the parliamentary agenda, both as regards content and timing.
While the Dáil and its members need a daily opportunity, in the public interest, to raise matters of current interest or controversy with the Taoiseach and Ministers, it does not need to order its business on a daily basis in the present way.
Ministers should be in attendance at the Order of Business, and respond to any questions raised by members of the Dáil in relation to policy that falls within their remit.
Questions relating to the scheduling of legislation will be directed to the Chief Whip rather than the Taoiseach.
At present, Ministers answering questions spend much of their time physically facing away from those they are being questioned by.
We will examine the feasibility of arranging the Dáil in a manner similar to the Seanad, allowing a more genuine engagement between Ministers and Deputies.
More Dáil time should be routinely available for debating procedural and business motions without eating into time allocated to debating the business of the nation rather than the internal running of the House.
Committee chairs in the next Dáil will be allocated between parties and groups according to the d’Hondt system as used in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
These office holders should be required by standing orders to make declarations of impartiality and independence.
Membership of committees should be determined using a transparent process supervised by the independent Ceann Comhairle, aimed at securing a broadly proportional allocation between the parties.
The next Dáil should examine the merits of dedicating one week out of every four primarily to committee work – during this week, Leaders’ Questions, Question Time and Topical Issue Debates will take place, but other Dáil business will generally be suspended to allow for a focus on committee work.
Committees could still meet as required in plenary weeks, but the aim would be to concentrate as much business as possible in the committee week.
We need a written parliamentary question system for statutory bodies – the HSE, CIE, the ESB, the VHI, and so on.
Each body’s CEO would be required to reply to a question within a specified time limit, to be published in official Dáil record.
In addition, CEOs would be required to attend before Oireachtas committees, to answer oral questions.
Ministers will remain responsible for answering questions on public policy.
Dáil business
A dedicated Oireachtas TV channel should not be confined to broadcasting sessions in the House or in committee.
There should be room for much more explanation, interpretation and analysis of, and debate about, the work going on, as with C-SPAN in the United States.
Every major political party, since Charles Stewart Parnell devised it in the 1880s, has operated the party whip.
Irish public representatives are more bound by party discipline than their counterparts in the UK, US, or most of the western world.
As long as individuals group together to put a common agenda to the people, they will organise together in our elected assemblies in order to see that agenda advanced.
Under our system the Government depends for its survival on retaining the support of a majority in the Dáil.
It is constitutionally obliged to resign if it loses that support.
There must be some form of parliamentary discipline and cohesion on the part of those who support the Government.
But the time has come for a rebalanced approach, which gives greater recognition to the standing of individual members rather than the interests of the party.
We cannot bring this change about simply by changing any rules set out in the Constitution or in legislation or standing orders.
The issue is one of attitude, across the parties.
If our proposals are accepted and implemented then, under a reformed Dáil, with greater independence and greater power to hold the Government to account, TDs themselves will have greater standing and independence.
Inevitably the parties will react to changed circumstances by moving towards a more relaxed, less whipped regime.
Oireachtas TV
The Whip
Public inquiries
Commissions of investigation were designed to ensure the co-operation of witnesses, without extensive legal representation, through a ‘carrot and stick’ approach.
The carrot element of the investigation is that it is held in private.
The stick element was meant to be that, if the commission of investigation could make no progress, a full blown public inquiry could be held.
Commissions of investigation have worked very well in practice – there have been 12 of them to date.
But the stick aspect means that setting up a tribunal of inquiry must continue to be a realistic possibility where no cooperation is being given to a private commission of investigation.
Tribunals of inquiry are unlikely ever again to be routinely employed but they do remain an essential reserve power.
We will legislate as recommended by the Law Reform Commission for a reformed tribunal process with targeted terms of reference, limited legal representation – and the ability to end it all if unforeseen or protracted problems arise.
We will also legislate to address in a targeted way the speciﬁc concerns raised in the operation of the IBRC commission of investigation.
Those concerns do not appear to reﬂect wider problems with the statutory model itself.
Parliamentary inquiries
We in Labour believe that it must be a function of the National Parliament to engage in scrutiny and oversight of the Government and the public service.
To assist Oireachtas inquiries, and to make them more efﬁcient and effective, we propose legislation allowing for the appointment of a parliamentary inspector, from time to time as occasion requires.
The investigator would provide a mechanism for the timely and costeffective investigation of issues giving rise to signiﬁcant public concern.
The investigator would have power to inquire privately into matters of public interest and, so far as possible, establish the factual position.
Where the investigator was unable to establish clear facts, the report would if necessary be followed by a formal parliamentary inquiry.
In those situations, the evidence collected by the investigator would be available to the committee or tribunal, thereby reducing time and cost.
The inquiry would “hit the ground running”.
Independent, diverse and quality media
A strong and accountable government needs the external oversight of a strong and thriving media.
We will ensure adequate funding for public service broadcasting and implement measures to support Ireland’s vibrant commercial broadcasters.
In government, Labour has moved to protect media diversity by enhancing the regulation of media mergers.
We will replace the TV licence with a public service broadcasting charge (PSBC) and will intensify efforts to combat evasion so that everyone pays a fair and affordable share.
This will both place the national broadcaster on a more secure long-term financial footing, and support commercial broadcasters by allowing for the abolition of the Broadcasting Levy.
Labour’s vision for local democracy is one that mixes empowerment and effectiveness.
We want to see ordinary citizens having more of a say in the management of their communities through direct elections.
We will rebuild urban government by legislating to establish directly elected councils in all medium sized towns with a separate budget and mayor.
Continued reform of our systems of local government is essential to meeting the needs of citizens and their communities.
The old system of town councils unevenly spread throughout the country has been ended, however a vacuum in local leadership has now opened up across many towns and villages across the country.
A new system of urban government is vital for the continued regeneration and growth of our towns and surrounding areas
.Labour has a longstanding commitment to establishing a directly elected Mayor of Dublin.
In government, we allowed the four councils to decide whether or not to allow the people of Dublin a vote on this issue.
Labour will give the people of Dublin their say by holding a countywide plebiscite.
A directly elected Mayor of Dublin City and County will be supported by a revamped Dublin Regional Assembly so that Dublin has the leadership structures it needs to thrive as a modern capital.
Strengthening local democracy
5.4 CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
Our constitution must be a living, breathing document, regularly adapted to make sure it reflects our society and our values.
We will continue to seek the permission of the people to make constitutional changes that will enhance their rights.
Labour will initiate and support referendum proposals:
To repeal the 8th Amendment
To recognise the state’s role as guardian of our environment, our heritage and our natural resources
To enhance our democracy
To modernise the reference to a woman’s place in the home
We will also reinstate the constitutional convention during 2017, and provide the convention with more time to consider broad issues in greater detail.
During the last five years we put a series of referendums before the people of Ireland.
The marriage equality referendum will long be remembered as a watershed moment in Irish society, while the people also had their say on the powers of Oireachtas committees, the future of Seanad Éireann, judicial pay, the creation of a new Court of Appeal, the rights of Children, and the age of presidential candidates.
As Ireland changes, so too must our basic law, Bunreacht na hÉireann.
In 2011, Labour proposed the establishment of a constitutional convention comprising 66 members of the public, 33 members of the Oireachtas and an independent chair.
The Convention, established in 2011, produced nine reports with a range of recommendations.
In government, we accepted the case made by the Convention for referendum to be held on the following questions: marriage equality, reducing the age threshold for Presidential candidates, reducing the voting age to 16, removing the offence of blasphemy, enhancing the references to the Ceann Comhairle and including a reference to Oireachtas Committees in the constitution.
In 2015, the people voted on the first two of those issues, passing the marriage equality referendum.
Labour will hold referendums on three of the four remaining areas which have been accepted within the first two years of the next Government.
The Constitutional Convention has made a positive determination in relation to Economic, Social and Cultural rights.
Given the number and complexity of constitutional matters involved, we will establish an independent expert legal panel, with broad membership, to assess the legal and regulatory impact of this before such a question can be put to the people.
We will re-establish the Constitutional Convention, with a mandate to examine in greater detail four issues which require careful and sensitive consideration: end of life issues;
the place of faith in the constitution (including the issue of religious declarations being required of office holders);
allowing for positive discrimination to combat inequality for those with disabilities in society;
and the role of the State as custodian of the physical environment, in particular the public water supply.
Labour believes that the State’s role as custodian of the physical environment, on land and sea and in the air, including plant and animal life must be explicitly recognised in the Constitution.
Consideration must be given to the appropriate mechanism to ensure that the public water supply remains in public ownership and cannot be sold to private interests.
In addition to respecting the view of the next Constitutional Convention on these areas, the Labour Party is committed to putting a small number of issues before the people which we do not believe require further consideration by the Convention.
The Constitutional Convention
In the wake of a number of terrible preventable tragedies in this country, Ireland has made some progress in advancing the rights and protections for pregnant women with the enactment of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act in 2013 and the development of the new National Maternity Strategy which is currently underway.
We will hold a referendum to remove Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution and, if this is successful, we will ensure that comprehensive legislation is put to the Houses of the Oireachtas to sufficiently protect the rights of women in pregnancy; in particular their right to life and to health.
In future legislation, Labour is committed to recognising the importance of sustaining embryonic and foetal life in pregnancy while allowing termination under strict conditions in the event of: fatal foetal abnormalities; real and substantial risk to the health of the woman (physical or mental) in the early stages of pregnancy; risk of severe or disabling damage to the woman’s health in the later stages of pregnancy; and where the effect of a pregnancy arising out of rape, incest or serious sexual assault has been to create a risk to the physical or mental health of the woman.
We also propose to amend the current provision dealing with women in the home in line with the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention.
In government, we asked the people of Ireland to make decisions on Oireachtas committees, the future of the Seanad, and the age of Presidential candidates.
In addition to these referenda, we have extended the number of hours the Dáil sits for, changed the role of Oireachtas committees to give them greater powers to hold the Government to account, allowed for the election of the Ceann Comhairle by secret ballot, and ensured that committee chairs will be appointed in an impartial manner through the use of the d’Hondt system.
Our democracy can only benefit from an ongoing process of reinvigoration.
We will hold a number of referendums on one day designed to enhance our democracy.
These will include reducing the voting age to 16, enhancing the references to the Ceann Comhairle and including a reference to Oireachtas Committees in the constitution.
In addition to these proposals from the Constitutional Convention, we will allow the people to decide on removing the absolute constitutional ban on revealing information about discussions at Cabinet, and allowing for citizen participation in nominating Presidential candidates.
Protecting the rights of women
Enhancing our democracy
5.5 ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
Labour believes that arts and culture are an intrinsic part of society.
Policy in this area must foster and strengthen the creative capacity of all of our citizens and communities, giving them opportunities for arts participation, while also supporting the world class artists we produce.
We have an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage that is being added to every day by our remarkably talented artistic community.
Labour will:
Increase funding for the arts and heritage by €150m, including doubling the funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board
Introduce a new Irish Culture and Heritage course for the Junior Cycle
Continue the growth of Irish-medium education so that parents have greater access to schools that allow for education through Irish.
Promote the establishment of new Gaelcholáistí especially in places that of proven demand for Gaelscoileanna.
Ireland is a wonderful country, with a heritage built on a rich tapestry of arts, culture and language.
Labour will ensure that we continue to build on the best version of ourselves.
We have an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage that is being added to every day by our remarkably talented artistic community.
Labour believes in treasuring our cultural past, while also supporting the artists of today.
The participation in and enjoyment of the arts and our cultural institutions should be for the many, not for the few.
Every citizen of this State should have an opportunity to participate.
That’s why we will push for greater access and more innovative uses of our artistic and cultural resources to the benefit of all our citizens.
Over recent years arts and cultural groups have operated with reduced budgets, while maintaining world class outputs.
Labour has begun the process of restoring funding to the Arts Council and Culture Ireland.
We also increased the income tax exemption threshold for artists from €40,000 to €50,000.
We oversaw the first ever Arts in Education Charter, reasserting the importance of the arts within education.
We will double State funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board and will explore the potential for making special provision for artists within the social welfare system.
For those receiving jobseekers payments, we will aim to relax activation rules subject to a maximum period of 18 months of continuous claiming.
We will review, on an ongoing basis, the thresholds for the artists’ tax exemption, with eligibility based on a five year income average.
We will create an Arts Capital Fund, similar to the Sports Capital Fund, and will make participation in the ‘Percent For Art Scheme’ compulsory for all public bodies.
Under Labour, arts funding will be used to ensure minority voices are heard and championed.
A clear online funding manual will be provided for artists and organisations with consistency across the sector, and we will review the rights of artists, including exploring ways of strengthening copyright laws and amending the Competition Act to ensure that artists benefit by enjoying greater financial security from their work.
We will expand the work already done under the Arts in Education Charter, and introduce a new Culture and Heritage course for the Junior Cycle to facilitate and promote the learning and exploration of all elements of culture, heritage and arts in Ireland, both historical and contemporary.
We will also support the introduction or expansion of translation services in our national cultural institutions in order to enlarge their potential audiences.
Presently, the Republic of Ireland contains two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Brú na Bóinne and Sceilg Mhíchíl.
We recognise the huge economic and cultural benefits of WHS-designation and will pursue a greater number of applications to UNESCO on behalf of more of our world-class heritage sites.
We will aim to strengthen partnerships and networks between the Heritage Council and our local authorities to ensure a more joined-up approach to preserving and promoting local heritage sites.
Arts and culture at the centre of Irish identity
In line with this work, we will roll out an Arts and Health Strategy across acute, community and children’s hospitals across the country.
We will conduct a full review of the Section 481 Tax Relief with a renewed focus to ensure that high quality and diverse films are being produced.
We have world class artists, musicians, writers and designers.
Modelled on the successful Global Irish Economic Forum, we will create a Global Arts Forum for Ireland which will provide an opportunity to highlight our talent, and to map a strong and healthy future for arts and culture at home and abroad.
We have world class artists, musicians, writers and designers.
Modelled on the successful Global Irish Economic Forum, we will create a Global Arts Forum for Ireland which will provide an opportunity to highlight our talent, and to map a strong and healthy future for arts and culture at home and abroad
Ár dTeanga dúchasach
Gaeltachtaí láidir
Labour recognises the central place of the Irish language in our heritage, in our history and as a rich resource in daily life.
We welcome the significant increase in the number of people who say they speak Irish daily and regularly and we are committed to continuing to promote the language in the next Government.
We are committed to the 20 year strategy for the Irish language and in the context of additional resources now available in the public finances, we will allocate more resources to implement the strategy.
Any Government that Labour is part of will ensure that Irish has central part of the Irish Education system.
We have introduced a new integrated languages curriculum for the youngest children in primary schools, so that children learn to speak English and Irish together.
The new curriculum allows for two full years of immersion in Irish in Gaelscoileanna.
The increased marks for oral Irish language at Leaving Cert level has increased the spoken use of the language, while also increasing to 42% the numbers taking the subject at higher level.
We will continue the growth of Irish-medium education so that parents have greater access to schools that allow for education through Irish.
We will consider the development of second level education through Irish, especially in places that have proven demand from Gaelscoileanna.
We will put an inspection system in place to ensure that high-quality, Irish-medium pre-school places are available for parents in Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht areas.
Added to that, we will put in place a new inspection system for Summer Colleges across the country.
Labour stands for the protection and development of the Gaeltacht.
We will continue to invest in employment through Údarás na Gaeltachta in areas such as tourism, artisan food projects and the growing areas of cultural tourism in the context of the development of the Wild Atlantic Way, the Green Way and Ancient East of Ireland.
We will provide funding to Irish speaking Gaeltacht areas to encourage those without Irish to use the language.
In terms of public services, we will work to ensure that all citizens can access all government services in Irish.
A living and vibrant national language
Strong and thriving Gaeltacht communities
5.6 AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE WORLD
As a small island nation, we need to constantly strive to build international relationships while preserving and nurturing our vibrant heritage.
We believe in an Ireland that is confident and secure in our national identity, and in the place we play in the world.
Labour will:
Support a strong, social Europe that delivers for its citizens
Increase our ODA budget by at least €200m by 2021 as we move towards the UN target of 0.7% as share of GNI
Despite the economic crisis, Labour in government maintained the monetary value of Overseas Development Aid.
We enacted Ireland’s first ever Climate Change legislation, placing us at the forefront of the international debate on how to effectively tackle Climate Change.
A strong Ireland in a strong Europe
Labour remains and will continue to be committed to the project of a social Europe.
We believe that Ireland will be strong and our interests are best served when there is a strong European Union.
The EU must enter a new phase of rebuilding its institutions, its infrastructure and its place in the life of all European citizens.
Labour believes Ireland as a small member state should be at the heart of this project.
The rebuilding must focus the Economic Union on the promotion of greater investment, jobs and stability.
The creation of good quality jobs for the coming generation will define the success or failure of the EU project over future decades.
The EU must be as much a social union as an economic union.
Economic imperatives cannot outweigh social rights and we will campaign to further defend workers’ and citizens’ rights.
Only a positive policy mix will offer assurance to the citizens of Ireland and in other member states that the EU will continue to be a force for good into the future.
It will also offer hope to the people of Greece that their country can be rebuilt be on a sustainable footing.
Together with its sister social democratic parties, the Labour Party will campaign at the highest levels of the EU to rebuild the EU social project.
We will legislate to provide on a reciprocal basis that citizens of the European Union who have been resident in Ireland for at least five years will be entitled to vote in General Elections.
The Political Union and engagement with EU citizens must be strengthened.
Labour wants to see a more effective role for national parliaments.
We support a strengthening of the “yellow card” procedure, whereby national parliaments can question the merit of proposed European legislation, and the trialling of a “green card” procedure, where a number of national parliaments can come together to propose legislation at a European level.
The EU must also strengthen its response to the migration crisis and provide further relocation and resettlement of refugees.
It must also provide greater assistance to bring peace and stability to war-torn countries in the region.
We will support social democratic efforts to reform the investor state dispute resolution mechanism within the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership.
In this way we can ensure that member states enjoy benefits of free trade with North America, without running the risk of undermining our essential consumer protections.
We believe that it is in Ireland’s interests and in the interest of the EU as a whole that the United Kingdom should remain as a full and positively engaged member of the Union.
We will facilitate the negotiations with the UK insofar as it lies within our power to do so, provided that any negotiated arrangement with the UK does not infringe on the fundamental values and cornerstones of the Union.
We will oppose any arrangement which serves to erect, whether by design or otherwise, barriers of any kind between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
We will work with our sister parties in the Party of European Socialists, including the British Labour Party, to ensure that the threat of UK exit is not exploited by conservative or xenophobic parties who might seek to weaken standards of workers’ rights, consumer protection, environmental law and the basic rights and protections guaranteed by the treaties to EU citizens.
EU: Economic and Political union
Brexit
Labour is committed to a strong all island economy and society.
As we enter into a decade of commemoration in 2016, Labour wants to commence a national conversation about the future of our island and within it our many diverse communities.
This new national conversation must explore the potential for greater co-operation in developing our common languages, our many sporting and artistic organisations, increased interaction at local authority level and between state agencies.
Labour continue to support the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions created under it and we will press for the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement to deal with outstanding issues and for securing agreement on key issues among the parties in Northern Ireland.
Notwithstanding considerable progress in recent years, chronic poverty, hunger, political insecurity and injustice persist in much of the developing world, and especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
These challenges are being exacerbated by climate change.
Despite the economic crisis Labour in government maintained the monetary value of Overseas Development Aid.
We remain committed to reaching the UN target of 0.7% of GNI, and will invest at least at least €200m towards reaching that goal.
Labour in government played a leading role in negotiating the Sustainable Development goals and we are committed to achieving those goals at home and abroad.
We support the policy goals set out in the 2013 White Paper “One World One Future”.
In particular, we support the reorientation of support towards fragile states.
We will continue to work with NGOs and CSOs in tackling hunger, injustice and the effects of climate change and in supporting human rights and gender equality.
We support the ‘Scaling Up Nutrition’ movement.
We will work with our international partners to prevent political insecurity and to mitigate its effects.
In particular we will work to assist people displaced or impacted by war and civil unrest.
Building on the symbolic support already approved by Dáil Éireann, we will ensure that the next government formally recognises the state of Palestine.
Labour recognises the link between tax and human rights, including how Ireland’s tax system can impact on financial flows from developing to developed countries.
Labour in government will develop the State’s first tax and human rights policy incorporating issues such as corporate transparency, double taxation agreements, and the interaction of national taxation systems.
A strong all island economy and society
Ireland and the developing world
Ireland’s tax and human rights policy will inform Ireland’s existing international corporate tax strategy and the State’s position in relation to BEPS and EU tax reform.
Labour will continue to work to achieve progress within the UN on the range of treaties and negotiations in the field of weapons of mass destruction, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the efforts to rid the world of landmines, cluster munitions and biological weapons.
Labour recognises the incredible work done by our armed servicemen and women in maintaining our excellent humanitarian reputation abroad.
We will continue to support the Irish Defence Forces in the Mediterranean and beyond.
We will also support them at home by allowing their representative association to affiliate to ICTU and take an active role in national pay bargaining.
Affiliation to ICTU will be subject to both the representative association and ICTU recognising the unique character of our security services and that their members voluntarily forswear the right to strike or to engage in other industrial action.
We will also work with veterans to create a National Veterans Policy that clearly and respectfully establishes the State’s obligations to those who have served in our armed forces.
6. Labour’s Economic Plan and Costings
Our Proposals
Balance the budget and reduce our national debt to 75% of GDP by 2021
Invest €3 in services for families and communities for every €1 reduction in tax
This means that we will invest an additional €8.368bn in the services families and communities need and reduce tax by €2.866bn for low and middle income earners.
We will use our strong economy to continue to build a decent society. Specifically, we will:
Deliver a job for everyone who wants one by 2018 through the creation of at least 150,000 jobs over the next three years
Abolish USC the first €72,000 of income and target additional relief to the low paid through reductions in PRSI
Increase the Minimum Wage and raise it to a living wage of €11.30 per hour
Create 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship places over the next five years
Increase the state pension to €260
Make free GP available to all
Reduce class sizes to the smallest levels in the history of the State
Cap and reduce childcare costs, increase child benefit, and extend parental leave
MACRO ECONOMIC FORECASTS
Our economic assumptions are underpinned by independent forecasts for the economy and the public finances which were produced by the Department of Finance for Budget 2016 and endorsed by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.
These projections, outlined below forecast average growth of 3.1 per cent over the next five years.
These are cautious forecasts, with significant potential to overachieve in the near term as reflected in upward revisions in recently published forecasts, including those produced by the Central Bank and the European Commission.
However, we will adhere to the Department of Finance forecasts in our spending plan.
Labour is committed to tackling the national debt. EU fiscal rules require us to reduce our debt to GDP ratio by 1% a year over the lifetime of the next Government.
However, we propose to achieve this at a faster rate of 3%, in order to get the debt ratio back to 75% or below by 2021.
If growth is stronger than expected, we will use the additional resources to increase investment in infrastructure to reinforce the growth potential of the economy.
This is the most effective means of reducing the national debt and keeping the public finances in a safe place.
A BALANCED BUDGET
Labour will manage the public finances in a responsible and sustainable manner, underpinned by realistic assumptions for growth in the economy.
We will use the fruits of that recovery to provide tax reductions for low and middle income families, and to invest in the services families and communities need.
Labour supported the ratification of the Fiscal Treaty in 2012.
We believe that fiscal rules are a necessary part of currency Union.
Labour will comply fully with the terms of the European fiscal rules.
We are committed to maximising the flexibility in the European fiscal rules to increase the level of public investment in infrastructure
and we will support reform, as proposed by our social democratic colleagues in Europe to increase this flexibility further.
The review of the Capital Investment Plan – Building on Recovery - will be brought forward to the end of 2016.
The capital plan, which is already investing €42bn into our economy and sustaining over 35,000 jobs, is based on cautious macroeconomic assumptions.
Therefore stronger economic growth may free up additional resources.
This is already apparent in recent macroeconomic data.
If economic growth exceeds expectations, we will use the additional fiscal space to increase capital spending, targeting identifiable bottlenecks in social and economic infrastructure.
SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEBT
Over the next five years Labour will balance the budget and target a reduction in Ireland’s national debt to 75% of national income in 2021.
This is an interim target on the way to achieving a debt ratio below 60% of GDP.
The EU Fiscal Compact specifies that a Member State’s budget is in balance when the headline deficit is below 3% of GDP and the deficit in structural terms does not exceed the country specific Medium–Term Objective (MTO).
In Ireland’s case, the Department of Finance now expects that the MTO will require a structural deficit of no more than 0.5% of GDP.
Under our fiscal plan, the MTO will be achieved by 2018.
Compliance with the fiscal rules requires a reduction in the debt burden at an annual average rate of 1% of GDP between 2016 and 2021 with larger reductions in the early years.
Under Labour’s plan the debt burden will decline at an annual average rate of almost 3% of GDP over this period, reaching an interim target of 75% of GDP by 2021, with the ultimate target of 60% of GDP.
LABOUR’S ECONOMIC PLAN
We have set out below the total amount of resources that will be available over the next five years for taxation and spending measures, while complying with the requirements of the EU fiscal rules.
The Department of Finance set out in Table A8 the 2016 Budget documentation, the estimated amount fiscal space for the period 2017 to 2021 according the EU fiscal rules.
On Budget day, the Department estimated gross fiscal space for the period 2017-2021 (including the technical assumption of indexing the income tax system) at €11.070 billion.
If the tax system is not indexed, this increases the available fiscalspace by an additional €1.768 billion to €12.838 billion.
When allowance is made for expenditure necessary to maintain services at current levels while allowing for demographic pressures, for the cost of the Lansdowne Road pay agreement and for increased capital spending committed under the Public Capital Programme, the net amount of remaining fiscal space is €8.672 billion.
Labour will further boost the available space to €11.234 billion with a limited number of revenue raising measures of approximately to €1,099 million after five years.
We believe that the majority of the fiscal space should be used to invest in improving the quality and scope of our public services
and for tax reform that is targeted at low and middle income families.
Tax relief measures amount to €2.866 billion.
Total discretionary expenditure will amount to €8.368 billion.
The ratio of additional expenditure measures to gross tax relief measures is approximately 3:1
IMPROVING LIVING STANDARDS FOR WORKING PEOPLE
Labour will deliver a new deal on tax and living standards for working people by abolishing USC for low and middle income earners.
Labour will:Abolish USC on the first €72,000 of income.
Change how PRSI operates to reduce the burden on workers earning between €18,305 and €36,608
Change the tax credit system to ensure those on low to middle incomes benefit most from these changes, while those earning over €120,000 do not benefit at all
Labour will abolish USC on the first €72,000 of income. This will be done progressively over the five-year term of the next Government
USC will be phased out on the first €72,000 of income
In response to the crisis Fianna Fáil hiked taxes on income.
They introduced the Universal Social Charge and reduced the personal tax credits.
The USC applied to all income provided the individual taxpayer earned more than €4,000 a year.
Labour in government increased this threshold to €13,000 and removed 700,000 taxpayers from the USC net.
We have also reduced the rate of USC payable on the first €70,000 of income. Now we intend to go much further.
Labour will abolish USC on the first €72,000 of income.
This will be done progressively over the fiveyear term of the next Government.
Tax credits
We will adjust personal tax credits for individuals earning in excess of €100,000.
The combined effect of this measure and the elimination of USC on the first €72,000 of income will be to gradually reduce the overall financial benefit to such taxpayers.
Individuals earning in excess of €120,000 will not benefit from our tax proposals – the gains resulting from the USC measure will be offset by the loss of personal tax credits.
The credit will be withdrawn at the rate of 5% for each €1,000 of income in excess of the threshold amount.
This means that the credits will no longer apply for a single person at income in excess of €120,000 (single).
A single income couple on income of €120,000 will retain €1,650 in tax credits or €2,650 if they have dependents.
The effect will be to ensure that those earning €120,000 or more continue to pay precisely the same amount of tax as they do now.
PRSI threshold
The third part of our tax plan is to target additional relief at low and middle income working people, earning between €18,305 and €36,608.
In the last Budget, we reduced the burden on low and middle income workers by introducing PRSI relief. We will continue this approach, extending PRSI relief of up to €14 per week for those on incomes under €704 per week or €36,608 per year.
The effect will be that the payment of PRSI kicks in gradually, ensuring more take-home pay for low income workers.
Equak treatment for self-employed
We believe that people should pay the same amount of tax whether they are employees or selfemployed.
We introduced a tax credit on income earned from work of €550 for the self-employed in the last budget to bring them closer into line with PAYE workers, and we will continue to qualize the tax treatment of self-employed workers and employees.
The earned income tax credit will be increased from €550 to €1,100 in 2017 and €1,650 in 2018 to bring tax on self-employed trading and professional income into line with PAYE earnings.
We will also abolish the USC surcharge of 3% on income over €100,000 for the self-employed to bring the USC top rate to 8% for everyone in this income bracket
Other tax changes
In order to maintain a sustainable trading environment, Labour recognises that non-banking peer to peer seed investment is a vital part of the support jigsaw for new and early stage firms.
We will increase the CGT entrepreneur relief to 15% and increase the lifetime limit to €10m.
The bank levy will be increased by €350 million and will remain in place at this rate until the banks have fully run down their tax loss reserves and resume the payment of corporation income tax at the normal rate.
A tax on sugar sweetened drinks will be introduced at a volumetric rate of €36.96 per hectolitre.
This will result in a 15 cent increase in the VAT–inclusive cost of a can of soft drink.
Tobacco duties will be increased each year to yield approximately €260 million after five years.
INVESTING IN THE SERVICES FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES NEED
Labour will target 75% of the available fiscal space to investment in public services that are available to all to transform the availability and delivery of key services like health, education, childcare and housing.
We will ensure that no family has to worry about the cost of accessing healthcare;
that childcare costs do not deter women from working;
that children are getting the best possible start in life;
and that our older people can grow old with dignity and with the best of care.
Building a Better Future 2016-2026
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION2
REDUCE THE COST OF LIVING6
BUILD AN IRISH NHS9
TACKLE CORRUPTION WITH AN INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY 12 CREATE A COMMUNITY BANKING SECTOR13
END CHILD POVERTY15
BACK LOCAL BUSINESSES TO GROW AND CREATE JOBS16
MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE18
DRIVE QUALITY AND ACCESS IN EDUCATION21
EMPOWER THOSE WITH DISABILITY24
MANAGE IRELAND’S NATIONAL FINANCES RESPONSIBLY25
SUPPORTING CHILDCARE AND EARLY-YEARS EDUCATION27
SUPPORT PENSIONS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS28
SUPPORT THE ARTS30
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH32
ENSURE FAIR PAY AND DECENT WORK34
ENSURE PLURALISM IN EDUCATION35
IMPROVE WELFARE36
REPEAL THE 8TH AMENDMENT39
ABOLISH WATER CHARGES39
END THE MORTGAGE CRISIS40
SUPPORT THE IRISH LANGUAGE41
OPPOSE THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (TTIP) 41 UPDATE COPYRIGHT42
GROW AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY43
TACKLE CRIME AND SUPPORT POLICING44
TRANSPORT45
CHAMPION CLEAN ENERGY46
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE48
COMMUNITIES - THE THIRD SECTOR49
SMART CITIES50
MAKE POLITICS WORK51
ENSURE GREATER TRANSPARENCY52
ESTABLISH AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION53
INTRODUCE GENUINE OIREACHTAS REFORM55
MAKE RADICAL CHANGES TO POLITICAL FUNDING58
INTRODUCTION
The Social Democrats are ambitious for Ireland’s future.
We want Ireland to be a republic in which every person has opportunity and dignity.
We are a new party, unhindered by the past and the old style of politics.
Irish people have enormous resources of energy, creativity, and compassion.
We deserve better than an economy that swings between boom and bust;
a political system that refuses to be accountable to its citizens;
public services that fail those citizens when they need them most;
and a society hampered by poverty, division and injustice.
Irish people are tired of short-term thinking,
stroke politics, electoral bribes and power that refuses to be held to account.
We call for open and transparent government.
Honest politics that works in the best interests of the people and not the party or the selected few.
We are asking the Irish people to join us in building a new politics that reflects the best of Irish culture.
The most prosperous, inclusive and progressive countries on earth are social democracies.
We believe Ireland can join this group, and that a great many Irish people want us to.
We know that a strong, creative, prosperous, fair, equal and democratic country - in which all children have the opportunity to achieve their potential - is not just an aspiration.
It can, and should be, Ireland’s reality.
Achieving this requires equal focus on three core areas.
First:Policies that support a healthy, inclusive and progressive society.
Second:Policies that ensure a strong, stable and vibrant economy, and support Ireland’s SMEs with the same vigour that’s applied to the multinational sector
Third:Policies that make politics and government more transparent and responsiveto public, rather than party need.
In this manifesto we set our priorities in each of these areas, which include: Investing in public services, ensuring a recovery for all and building an inclusive and progressive society.
Ending child poverty;
Ending the housing crisis;
Building an Irish National Health Service;
Driving quality and access in education;
Enabling those with disability.
Fostering a strong, stable and vibrant economy, which supports innovation, indigenous and foreign business, job creation and development.
Helping SMEs create 100,000 jobs;
Building a community banking sector;
Reducing the cost of living;
Managing our national finances responsibly.
Creating better, more open and accountable politics, with decisions based on evidence.
Establishing an Anti-Corruption Agency;
Creating a strong parliament;
Demanding transparency and evidence.
The Social Democrats know that none of these aspirations matter without the trust that is fostered through personal and collective integrity.
We will respect the Irish people enough to tell them the truth as we see it.
We will have respect for divergent viewpoints and philosophies but we will not compromise our basic principles in pursuit of power or popularity.
We will not make promises we know we cannot keep.
We will put the long-term needs of our society ahead of opportunistic gain.
It is time to take Ireland on a better path, to a better future.
One in which every citizen is afforded opportunity and dignity.
One in which we look to the coming decade not with uncertainty, but with ambition, determination and hope.
A WORD ON OUR FISCAL APPROACH
A growing number of people in Ireland and international organisations are warning against exactly the sort of auction politics we’re seeing from the establishment parties.
Fine Gael and Labour are proposing to massively erode the tax base - abolishing the USC, for example, would wipe €4-5bn off the revenue base each year.
They are justifying this recklessness on the grounds of a growing economy and unexpected tax returns.
This is exactly what Fianna Fail did before the crash in 2008 - they ignored all the warnings, and pointed to the good news.
Then as now, our economy was growing faster than other countries, unexpected tax revenues were appearing, home ownership was becoming impossible and commercial rents were soaring.
Then as now, government investment was too low.
Then as now, pre-election promises were aimed at buying votes at any cost.
The result of all of this was a lost decade, and a great deal of hardship for millions of people.
What Fine Gael / Labour are proposing is, however, even more irresponsible than what Fianna Fail did.
Why? Because there are no safety nets left.
When the crash hit in 2008, many households, business and voluntary groups were able to cut back.
The State was able to borrow vast sums of money.
Today, people, businesses, and voluntary groups have nothing left to give.
Public services are over-stretched and the state can’t borrow additional funds.
So if another global economic shock hits Ireland, as it did in 2008, we will be far more vulnerable to it than we were then.
The chances of such a shock are rising rapidly.
Stock markets are seeing big drops in recent weeks, and emerging market economies, including China, are slowing down.
The Social Democrats don’t want Ireland to experience another lost decade.
We believe the economic breathing space available should not be used to buy the election, but instead to safeguard the future.
We are proposing the tax base be maintained, with some minor adjustments.
Instead of stripping out billions, we should be doing things like creating a modern healthcare system
, putting in place the infrastructure needed to support business for years to come
, sorting out the housing market,
rebuilding communities and supporting parents in areas like affordable childcare.
€4 to 5bn a year would let us do a lot of very good things in the short term, and let us start planning for big long term challenges like pensions,
flooding and climate change.
The way to put money back is people’s pockets is by reducing the costs of living.
We are proposing a range of measure to do this, including in the areas of childcare, healthcare, insurance, education and energy.
Many people in Ireland want a credible alternative to the political cartel.
They want a political vision that marries strong social vision with responsible economics and better government.
That is exactly what the Social Democrats are offering.
A WORD ON OUR COSTINGS
We are aware of the false promises made by so many parties before elections.
We do not believe that false promises should be ‘something you do during an election campaign’.
We are therefore stating very clearly that this manifesto lays out our priorities and our plans for the short, medium and long-term.
They are the policies we will champion in the next Dail.
Are they ambitious? Yes, they are, because we believe Ireland and its political system must be ambitious if we are not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The fiscal approach taken by the Social Democrats will ensure that higher than usual levels of State funds will be available as opposed to the other parties alternative approach of eroding the tax base.
For example, abolishing the USC would reduce the revenue base by €4-€5 billion per year.
This is a significant sum of money that we believe would be best used for strategic investment in repairing and building top quality public services.
It is important to note that many of the policies we propose would save very significant sums of money in the medium term.
For example, investment in children has a return of about seven to one.
This means that money invested today would radically reduce future costs.
Similarly, moving to a modern, community-based healthcare system would require up-front investment.
However, that investment would quickly start to reduce a range of existing healthcare costs.
Ultimately this is about long-term, strategic measures that will both immediately and in the future reduce the overall cost of living for those in every section of society.
REDUCE THE COST OF LIVING
The cost of living remains very high in Ireland.
Years of austerity have left families with several new household bills as a range of new charges have been introduced.
We continue to have some of the highest costs for childcare, housing and healthcare among developed countries, while even services that are meant to be free, such as primary education, are not free at all with parents under strain each year just to send their child to school.
These costs have impacted harshlyon living standards, particularly for low and middle income families, and have undermined the ability of many families to make ends meet.
They have also undermined our competitiveness by driving up costs across the economy and fuelling wage pressures.
Simply cutting income taxes, as most other political parties are promising to do, won’t address these costs.
In fact, cutting taxes is likely to increase general demand in the economy and drive up costs even further.
By investing in public services and targeting some key costs in family budgets, the Social Democrats believe that government can have a far more positive impact on household budgets, without eroding the tax-base.
It would also be a far fairer approach, leaving no-one behind.
By investing in public services and targeting some key costs in family budgets, the Social Democrats believe that government can have a far more positive impact on household budgets, without eroding the tax-base.
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WOULD IMPROVE FAMILY BUDGETS BY PRIORITISING THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
Improve state funding for childcare providers by increasing capitation rates, link funding to quality improvements and reduce and cap childcare charges (see separate childcare proposals).
Introduce paid parental leave for the first 12 months of a child’s life and legislate for better work flexibility for toddler years and beyond.
REDUCE PRESCRIPTION CHARGES
Halve prescription charges for most of the 1.7 million people with a medical card.
This would greatly improve prescription compliance.
INTRODUCE FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION
The public investment of €103m would mean parents would save on the cost of school books and school transport costs.
REDUCE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES
Restore subsidies to public transport providers on the basis that all of the extra funding is used to reduce fares.
END WATER CHARGES
Save up to €260 per year by ending the idiocy of a charging system that is costing as much as it is collecting.
LEGISLATE FOR RENT CERTAINTY AND SECURE OCCUPANCY
Stop rent costs spiralling by ensuring future rent increases would be linked to the cost of living.
We would strengthen legislation to provide for far more robust tenure security (see our Housing section for more details).
ESTABLISH A NEW RETRO-FITTING HOME ENERGY SCHEME
Save on heating bills by allowing all families access to a new retro-fitting scheme that can be paid for through the utility bill and so doesn’t require the family to have up-front funds.
REDUCE MOTOR INSURANCE COSTS
Provide better non-litigation methods to settle personal injury claims so that legal costs are reduced, improve industry data-sharing to reduce fraud and enhance competition, and reform how claims costs are set by the Courts and the PIAB so that Irish settlements come more into line with the average costs in other countries.
ESTABLISH A LOCAL AUTHORITY FUND TO ENABLE MORE HOUSING ESTATES TO BE TAKEN IN CHARGE
This would reduce/eliminate management fees for thousands of families living in regular houses.
We would also reform planning law to address current legal difficulties faced by Local Authorities.
REDUCE THIRD LEVEL FEES
Reduce and cap student charges to €2,000 per student per year.
EXTEND FREE GP CARE TO ALL CHILDREN
Complete the roll-out of free GP Care to all children
ENSURE COMPETITION WORKS FOR THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF CONSUMERS
Some sectors, such as energy, have not seen wholesale price reductions passed on to consumers.
We would confer new market investigation powers on the Independent AntiCorruption Agency to do whole-market investigations.
This would ensure that competition is working to drive down consumer prices.
We would give powers to market regulators such as the CER and the Central Bank to refer their industries for whole-market investigations, as in the UK.
In the medium/longer term, other policies that the Social Democrats are committed to such as lowering the cost of housing and a single-tier health service would also deliver significant savings for families in mortgage costs and health insurance.
BUILD AN IRISH NHS
Our health service is at breaking point following decades of mismanagement andthe resulting problems have a hugely negativeimpact on people’s health and well-being.
Vulnerable patients are left on trolleys for days in overcrowded emergency departments.
Citizens are dying after spending years on waiting lists for life-saving operations.
Rural communities live in fear of accidents when ambulances can take hours to arrive.
Patients and their families must travel for basic procedures that could be done closer to home.
We have a very hospital-focused health system (rather than a community care focus as in higher performing countries)
and a top- heavy administration of the service.
Yet there is hope – we have incredibly talented frontline healthcare staff, we have a health budget in line with other developed countries with great health systems, and widespread public support for major reform of our health service.
This is a great opportunity to undertake a root-and branch reform.
As the Chinese proverb goes: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is now”.
The focus of health reform must be on the great opportunities we have to improve health outcomes and reduce the cost - these include tackling the A&E and waiting list crises, expanding primary care provision, delivering a smart ambulance service, preventing health problems before they happen, and getting value for money from administration and procurement.
Implementation is key - we can have all of the plans in the world but if there is no means or political will to implement them, they are worthless.
We need to set out a long-term vision for the service, restore frontline staff morale, work across government departments, and build cross-party support for a modern single tier healthcare system.
We must ensure there is a publicly funded, universally accessible, high quality healthcare system along the lines of the NHS model in the UK when it was properly resourced.
This, in time, would end the current two-tier health service and reduce the need for private health insurance in Ireland by making public and private healthcare effectively equivalent in terms of quality and accessibility.
Inevitably, implementation would bring up challenges and roadblocks and the approach to reform must include a dedicated team to drive reform, openness & data transparency, and aligning of incentives across the system.
If fundamental reform of the health service were easy, it would be done already.
But we are ready and prepared to take on the challenge so that we can have a health service that keeps all of our citizens healthy and of which we can all be proud.
The focus of health reform must be on the great opportunities we have to improve health outcomes and reduce the cost.
The aim of the Social Democrats is to build an Irish National Health Service - a publicly funded health service that would be accessible to all, improve health outcomes and reduce the cost to deliver high quality healthcare.
Over the next decade, we would propose to:
Phase 1: Re-orientate the health service by switching activity and care away from acute hospitals and into the community;
Phase 2: Provide universal access to primary and community healthcare services
Phase 3: End the current two-tier hospital service by raising the standard of our public hospital service in terms of access and quality,
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS PRIORITIES IN THE NEXT DÁIL TERM WOULD BE.
Support Staff:
Launch a major recruitment programme for G.P.s and nurses to come back from abroad to be centrally involved in this major organisational and cultural reform programme;
Invest in primary care centres around the country and progressively build up primary care services through the recruitment of additional frontline community health staff that would be able to deliver better care, at lower cost, closer to home;
Determine the most appropriate skill mix across the health service;
Develop a new career structure for specialist hospital doctors.
Improve Access: Launch evidence-based health campaigns to reduce the cost on the health service from obesity, tobacco, alcohol and drugs and review and optimise preventative care guidelines;
Carry out a full health-need and socioeconomic analysis of each health area, and establish an objective resource allocation model to determine all staff/ facilities allocations;
Publish up-to-date Waiting List Data on-line so that patients can be referred to hospitals and consultants with the shortest waiting times;
Align Community Healthcare Organisations with Hospital Group areas;
Provide full medical cards for children who qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance, free GP-Care for all children, and improve medical card access for older people (see section on older persons);
Reduce spend on health service administration, improve commissioning of private sector care, and move towards the average OECD per capita spend on pharmaceutical drugs.
Service Delivery
Reduce A&E pressure and waiting lists by implementing measures that reduce demand for these services and improve efficiency of the service.
Examples of these measures include out of hours minor injury units in the community, improved diagnostic technology in hospitals and step-down facilities for patients that need medical supervision but not necessarily hospital care;
Improve access to diagnostics for GPs;
Complete and implement the 5 main Chronic Disease Management programmes at primary care level i.e. diabetes, COPD, asthma, stroke, and heart failure.
While these would be led by GPs, it would be necessary to significantly improve practice supports, increase the number of practice nurses, and improve access to allied health professionals in order to fully roll out these key reforms;
Build a smart ambulance service that positions ambulances dynamically to minimise response times, ensure that it works seamlessly with first responders in rural areas, and has sufficient vehicles and staff to ensure quicker responses.
Implementation is as important as policy in health reform. Our approach would be:
Co-create a long-term vision for our health service by working collaboratively with staff and patients to make it happen;
Work across government departments, including housing, finance and education, to optimise for overall government spend;
Create transparency in the health service with open data that would allow opportunities to improve the service to be identified;
Remove disincentives in health service that encourage poorer outcomes and higher cost;
Reform and extend the Fair Deal scheme to provide a legal entitlement to a home-care package;
Fund A Vision for Change so that mental health and counselling services can be built up around the country, with a particular focus on adolescents. adolescents (see Mental Health section).
TACKLE CORRUPTION WITH AN INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY
Ireland does not have an effective means of preventing, detecting, and prosecuting corruption and white collar crime.
Various Tribunals and Commissions of Inquiry have come and gone with little consequences for corrupt and reckless behaviour.
Anti-corruption law is spread across a multitude of legislation, and responsibility for preventing and prosecuting corruption is spread across a multitude of agencies.
The Social Democrats have a plan to tackle white collar crime and corruption and we believe this can improve accountability, end cronyism, and restore confidence in public life.^
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS:
Establish a new law enforcement body, an Independent AntiCorruption Agency (IACA), to tackle white collar crime and corruption in the corporate world and political spheres;
The IACA would act as a standing Commission of Investigation and would end the need for expensive and ineffective Tribunals of Inquiry;
The IACA would initially assume some/all of the remit of a number of existing bodies including the Standards in Public Office Commission; the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement; the Registrar of Lobbyists and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It would act as an advisory body to several other public bodies;
The IACA would have a monitoring and investigative role over public procurement activities, and would be able to conduct sectoral reviews and initiate investigations as it saw fit;
Establish a new Dail oversight committee, called the Public Interest Committee, to oversee IACA and Ministerial resource allocation decisions;
Update anti-corruption legislation, to include, among other things, minimum standards for eligibility to hold public office.
Our full proposals for an Independent Anti-Corruption Agency are set out in a detailed policy document, Independent Anti-Corruption Agency, available at www.socialdemocrats.ie or on request.
CREATE A COMMUNITY BANKING SECTOR
There has never been a greater need and demand for full-service community banking in Ireland.
Post-recession, many people would rather bank with publicly-owned, or community- owned, institutions.
Across the country, households and small businesses are finding it difficult to secure loans, including for mortgages and business investment.
A new report outlining the opportunities for local banking, done in consultation with Irish Rural Link, points out that ‘improved access to finance will be vital for a continuous economic recovery and development - especially for the local Irish SME sector and the local population across the country.’
The Social Democrats agree.
Ireland has about 380 credit unions and over 1,100 post offices across the country, giving them a physical presence in towns and villages in every county.
We propose an ambitious project where the State and Central Bank of Ireland would work with both networks to build a strong community banking sector in Ireland.
This would result in credit union and post office customers having full current account facilities, including debit cards and online banking.
Enhanced loan facilities would be provided by credit unions (on an opt-in basis by branch).
In addition, we propose a feasibility study for post office branches to offer enhanced services, potentially via the broker model used by the Royal Mail in the UK.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE NUMEROUS BENEFITS; INCLUDING:
Access to financial services in smaller towns and villages;
Increased access to credit for local businesses and theself-employed, including the
c.€8bn of credit union deposits which are currently unused;
Local savings being available for local investment;
The choice to bank with publicly-owned institutions;
Profits reinvested locally and distributed to members;
Increased sustainability for credit unions, and in particular for post offices, which are under sustained financial pressure.
Enhanced services for credit unions, to include:
Provision of full current accounts for personal and small business banking, including debit cards that can be used on the full national and international ATM network;
Provision of mortgage lending, with expertise and financial aggregation of risk provided at a county and/or regional basis;
Provision of online banking and associated services including electronic payments;
Support for on-going development of lending expertise, in particular with regard to mortgages and business lending;
Support for all corporate governance changes required to ensure compliant oversight of new financial activity;
Increased savings limit beyond €100k for credit union customers;
Wider investment options for credit union deposits than current options (limited mainly to government bonds, bank bonds and cash deposits);
Feasibility study to see if credit unions could become conduits for small savings loans underwritten by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, as per the model currently used in the retail banks:
Enhanced services for post offices, to include:
Provision of full current accounts, as per the credit unions;
Provision of online banking, as per the credit unions;
Feasibility study to see if post offices could become brokers for wider banking services, including lending, as per Royal Mail model in the UK.
END CHILD POVERTY
The early years of a child’s life are precious and set the foundation for success in life.
There is only one chance to make the most of this formative stage and we have a duty to ensure that every child gets a good start.
Disgracefully, it is children who have borne the brunt of austerity and inequality.
130,000 children live in consistent poverty in Ireland, a figure which has doubled since 2008.
One in 9 children have to go without basics such as proper food, adequate heating and warm clothes.
Poverty robs children of their potential.
It’s time we put an end to this.
All children deserve an equal chance in life.
130,000 children live in consistent poverty in Ireland.
A SUMMARY OF OUR PRIORITIES IN THIS AREA
Set official all-of-Government target of ending Consistent Child Poverty by 2021 - led by An Taoiseach;
Within 6 months develop a New AntiPoverty Strategy, with clear targets, timeframes and lines of responsibility, and with families as a key focus;
Replicate targeted area-based investment similar to the YoungBallymun programme in other disadvantaged areas to allow larger numbers of children to benefit from a programme with proven success in improving learning and well-being outcomes;
Provide free primary education to cover the costs of transport, books and classroom resources;
Subsidise childcare services for low income families and in disadvantaged areas, with some funding to make childcare more affordable where services are not viable (see further childcare proposals in childcare section);
Invest heavily in early years supports such as speech and language, early childhood health clinics, parental leave, social work, childcare & public health nursing;
Extend the school meals programme on a priority basis to ensure that all children have access to nutritious food;
Increase spending on early years up to the OECD average;
Implement a range of programmes and initiatives of support to parents in the critical 0-3 stage of development, focusing on parental well-being and early infant development;
Poverty-proof all Budgets and set against the targets of the new Anti-Poverty Strategy.
BACK LOCAL BUSINESSES TO GROW AND CREATE JOBS
Ireland’s small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, account for 3 in every 4 jobs in private sector employment.
There are about 185,000 businesses in Ireland, and SMEs account for 99% of them.
While employment in on the rise, the rate of job growth for SMEs is far behind total growth.
Why? Because our local businesses and self-employed aren’t getting the level of backing given to multinationals.
The Social Democrats want to see Ireland’s success in foreign direct investment mirrored for local businesses and the self-employed.
There are still 190,000 people looking for jobs in Ireland, with a further potential additional workforce of 35,000.
And while total unemployment has thankfully fallen below 10%, it is still nearly 20% for youth.
Properly supporting Ireland’s SME sector is the greatest opportunity available to create new jobs,
and in particular new jobs for Ireland’s youth.
The Social Democrats believe that Ireland’s SMEs could be supported in the creation of about 100,000 new jobs.
Among the policies we would prioritise are:
REDUCING COSTS AND ADMIN:
Reforming the commercial rates regime to account for turnover and employment, thus lowering the rate paid by many small and medium-sized local businesses;
Simplifying compliance for small business and the self-employed, including review of all paperwork and removing unnecessary bureaucracy (e.g., in tax, employment, change-of- use planning and certifications);
Implementing a user-friendly web portal for businesses to file tax returns, employment compliance, etc., similar to the Altinn system successfully introduced in Norway1.
Tasking the Commission for Energy Regulation with ensuring lower energy costs for businesses, in light of significant falls in global oil prices.
1. In 2003 the Norwegian eGovernment system was established initially to assist corporations do their statutory reporting, and has progressed to delivering the services of 33 public agencies, including some of the municipalities. 86% of all Norwegian business used Altinn. More than 80 million forms that would have otherwise been printed were made unnecessary. 17% less hours were spent on administration. The total hours spent on administration by Norwegian business dropped from 6,000 to just less than 3,000 in roughly ten years. Since its introduction the total money saved was $7billion.
SUPPORTING INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Introducing new apprenticeship programmes, including advanced qualifications;
Improving self-employed tax credits and providing same social protections as PAYE workers on a voluntary opt-in basis;
Making R&D tax credits available for small businesses, ensuring simplicity of access to qualification;
Building a network of innovation centres to provide high quality affordable offices/ incubator units for start-ups;
Investing in education to support innovation (see education policy recommendations for detail);
Expanding mentoring programmes for small businesses and the self-employed.
ENSURING CREDIT AVAILABLE TO SMES AND THE SELF EMPLOYED:
Creating a community banking sector in Ireland (see specific policy);
Reviewing the current programme by the Strategic Investment Bank to ensure planned additional lending is occurring, and enhancing the programme if necessary:
INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING FOR THE LONG TERM:
Accelerating the roll-out of high speed affordable broadband for local businesses;
Significantly increasing investment in other productive infrastructure, including transport links and innovation hubs;
Developing regional enterprise plans to drive economic recovery outside Dublin;
Supporting the connection of local businesses to the supply chains of multinationals in Ireland;
Enhancing training for businesses in client sourcing, to include training in social media and networking.
INCREASING ACCESS TO WORK AND OTHER POLICIES FOR SMES:
Supporting parents and making childcare and early years education affordable;
Developing programmes to increase participation in senior roles of women and minority groups;
Instigating a Smart Cities initiative to stimulate innovation and investment in all of Ireland’s citiescities (see specific policy recommendations);
Introducing measures to improve participation of people with disabilities.
MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE
The Social Democrats want to ensure that vibrant, sustainable communities are developed with good tenure and social mix so that every person and every family is able to access the right type and location of housing, at the right time of life.
Housing policy in Ireland has largely been seen as a market responsibility, which has led to an over-exposure to economic shocks for both individuals and the state.
Since the property crash the private rented sector has doubled in size and now accounts for at least one in five households.
Renting has become the most expensive form and least secure housing tenure.
Because of decades of under-investment, Local Authority housing lists have grown beyond 100,000.
More and more individuals and families find themselves either homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Yet there are thousands of vacant housing units and also ample evidence of significant levels of over-accommodation.
The absence of a housing delivery agency primarily with a co-ordination function, has directly led to a repeated housing boom-and-bust situation.
The Social Democrats believe in the state's vital co-ordinating role in helping to deliver a proper, first-class housing system.
We recognise that the state's role in directly providing housing steadies the market, insulates against economic shocks and ensures that our communities develop in a sustainable, coordinated way, well-served by physical and social infrastructure, so that the optimal quality of life can be achieved.
Housing must also be delivered to scale.
In general, the cost of risk can be substantially reduced, and therefore aid affordability, by building certainty and predictability into every stage of housing delivery.
We believe that the coordinating model we propose would bring about a great degree of certainty to home- purchasers, builders, suppliers, lenders and the exchequer - the kind of reliability that is noticeably absent in both boom and bust periods.
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WOULD PRIORITISE THE FOLLOWING POLICIES:
Create a new Department of Housing Communities and Planning with a Minister at full Cabinet level;
Establish a key new body, Housing Ireland, and give it a central, hands-on coordinating remit in the procurement, planning, design and delivery of new homes and the creation of sustainable communities.
OUR PROPOSALS CONTINUED:
This new body would replace an existing agency, the Housing Agency.
Some of the key roles/tasks of this new body would include:
work in conjunction with the Private Sector, Local and Regional Authorities, NAMA, Approved Housing Bodies and the Co-operative movement to ensure delivery of supply, help achieve scale, and provide long-term planning for the future;
utilise innovative financing models, and work with local authorities to produce local master plans for in-fill, brown-field and green-field sites so that funding constraints and planning risks that have slowed up the supply of new homes can be addressed;
have a specific target of reducing public waiting lists by 10,000 per annum by the provision of appropriate housing;
As immediate measures to improve housing supply:
An immediate increase in Rent Supplement/HAP limits as a short-term measure to prevent homelessness;
An immediate investment in the financial contribution scheme for senior citizens, to incentivise scaling-down where desired and where possible, and in the process free up family homes;
New financial incentives to encourage the use of over the shop/business premises;
New fiscal measures to encourage the use of vacant accommodation;
Reform the Fair Deal Scheme conditions to improve incentives to let vacant homes;
The introduction of a development site levy as early as possible before 2019;
FURTHER PROPOSALS:
Reinstatement of the Part V requirement of 20% for social and starter housing.
Immediately set down binding guidelines that NAMA builds sustainably, not just with a focus on the number of units;
Rent Certainty - we would link future rent increases in areas of high rental inflation to the cost of living.
Secure Occupancy for Tenants - We would undertake a review of current security of tenure provisions to robustly strengthen tenure security, including ensuring that tenancies don't end with the sale of the property and that tenants acquire security of tenure rights after two months, instead of six.
Change planning laws so that all new developments must include a range of homes suitable for all stages of the life-cycle;
Amend the Multi Unit Development Act to reduce costs for certain home-owners;
Reduce the interest rate applying to Local Property Tax deferrals to the level of State borrowing costs, and explore other ways that this tax can be reformed to improve ability to pay.
We will be publishing a wider housing policy in advance of the General Election.
DRIVE QUALITY AND ACCESS IN EDUCATION
Everybody, regardless of background or means, should get the best education possible.
It is the single greatest driver of opportunity, quality of life, social equality and economic growth.
Ireland should be a republic in which every child has the opportunity to achieve their potential - that can only happen with a well-funded and modern education system.
Such a system should ensure that our early years professionals, teachers, principals, lecturers and professors are free to be the very best they can be.
Resources must be targeted to where they are most needed, and every effort must be taken to ensure access at all levels across all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Literacy is key to unlocking other areas of learning.
It is simply unacceptable that 44% of pupils in the most disadvantaged primary schools perform at or below the lowest levels of reading proficiency.
Parents play the most fundamental role in children’s learning and it is essential that they are given the supports they need to do this.
Social Democrats would invest in the delivery, by schools, community organisations and others, of a range of programmes and initiatives to engage and support parents in their children’s learning and development.
As a small country in an increasingly globalised and competitive world, Ireland’s education system is our single greatest competitive advantage.
And yet, funding to Ireland’s schools and colleges has been cut year-on-year - resources for teachers, schools and colleges have been slashed, and much-needed modernisation across the sector hasn’t happened.
Let’s be clear - Ireland has a good education system by international standards.
But the ongoing lack of investment and modernisation means that many are being left behind, and that what’s been achieved is being put at risk.
We must strive, instead, to have an education system that helps every child achieve their potential, one that competes with the best education systems on earth.
The Social Democrats believe Higher Education is predominantly a public good, and our ambition is to provide universal equality of opportunity to a world-class, globally competitive third-level system.
It’s clear that significant investment in Higher Education is required to address the chronic underfunding of recent years, significant demographic demand, and to maintain, protect and enhance quality.
There are many policies that should be implemented in the next Dail term and others that will take longer to bring to fruition.
Listed here are what the Social Democrats believe should be the policy priorities in education for the next ten years.
PRIMARY AND POST-PRIMARY:
Steadily reducing primary school class sizes to the EU average of 20;
Making primary education free by funding school books, schools transport and classroom resources;
Restoring capitation grants for schools to 2010 levels;
Ensuring resources are targeted to greatest need, including both areas of high economic disadvantage (as pursued by the DEIS programme) and the needs of disadvantaged students outside these areas;
Investing in Special Needs Assistants, SNAs, including removal of cap, to ensure sufficient resource and provide continuous professional development for SNAs;
Ensuring SEN students have access to education based on their needs;2
Connecting every school with fibre broadband
funding ICT hardware and software for education;
Equipping teachers to help close the gap in literacy outcomes, and reinstating literacy and numeracy professional development services;3
Ensuring pluralism in schools, by ending the practice of children being refused a place in a school because of their parents' belief system (see separate section on pluralism in education);
Introducing curriculum to proactively develop children's mental health and wellbeing in the classroom;
Enhancing continuous professional development for teachers and principals;
Re-establishing the role of career guidance councillors;
Lifting the moratorium on the recruitment of Special Duties posts, allowing principals focus on school leadership;
Introducing skills-based courses to include innovation, entrepreneurship, communications and critical thinking, together with required professional development for teachers.4
THIRD-LEVEL:
Capping and then reducing the Student Contribution Charge to the level of the Dutch system (€1.9-€2K) in the lifetime of the next Government;
Reforming the maintenance grants scheme, to provide better targeting of supports;
Investing in access programmes, building on existing successes, to ensure broad sociodemographic representation across the third level system;
Restoring maintenance grants for postgraduate students;
Progressively increase funding to achieve EU average funding levels;
Improving the level of autonomy of colleges, together with accountability for results - a programme of modernisation that must be developed in partnership with the third level sector;
Creating new apprenticeships and advanced qualifications.
2 Multiple approaches to this should be considered, including working with the NCSE to increase the cap on resource teachers, or working with the NCTE in rolling out the proposed changes in 'Delivery for Students with Special Educational Needs’.
3 For example, increasing capitation to allow schools to budget for CPD or providing in service for CPD in Literacy and Numeracy.
4This would complement Civil, Social & Political Education, CSPE, course now in place
EMPOWER THOSE WITH DISABILITIES
Ireland is not a society of equals.
A number of groups are unfairly treated, including disabled people.
The 13% of the Irish people who have disabilities and/or mental health difficulties (CSO, 2012) are at significantly greater risk than non-disabled people of experiencing poverty, social exclusion, unemployment and lack of opportunity for education, training and retraining.
This unfair treatment of disabled people is not unique to Ireland but is a deep rooted global problem.
So ten years ago the United Nations agreed on global action in the form of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, 2006).
Ireland took a leadership position when it signed the Convention on the first day possible in 2007 but the State has regressed in the intervening years.
To date, Ireland has not ratified the UNCRPD and this failure means that the convention is not yet in force in this country.
In contrast, over 150 other countries including the overwhelming majority of EU member states, are implementing the Convention.
The current government committed to ratification of the Convention in its programme in 2011 but that promise has not been kept.
Furthermore, recession and austerity measures since 2007 have been especiallyand disproportionately severe in their impact on people with disabilities and their families.
This is a very short-sighted approach as well as being unjust.
Long term problems are being stored up which will impact negatively both on individual lives and on public spending in the future, especially where disabled children and young people are affected.
The UNCRPD maps out a very broad ranging set of requirements along with implementation mechanisms.
These are aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities across the whole of society including economic life, social life, political involvement, independent living in the community, transport, housing and many other policy areas.
The plans were developed in consultation with the global movement of people with disabilities, including Irish representatives.
So the primary action to which the Social Democrats are committed is to ensure that any incoming government provides dignity and opportunity to people with disabilities by ratifying the UNCRPD as a matter of urgency.
Ratification would then be followed by the development of a national implementation plan accompanied by monitoring, reporting and enforcement processes.
THE AREAS FOR PRIORITY ATTENTION IN THIS PROGRAMME OF REAL AND CONCRETE CHANGE WILL
Ensuring that personal assistant and other individualised social care services are restored and improved so that the policy of independent living is honoured;
Ending barriers to disabled people entering or remaining within the paid work force such as inadequate educational provision, continuing benefit traps, discriminatory access rules and attitudes;
Recognising the extra costs of living for disabled people and helping them to stay out of poverty through a specific cost of disability payment, as has been promised but not delivered.
MANAGE IRELAND’S NATIONAL FINANCES RESPONSIBLY
Ireland is still firmly locked into a repeated sequence of pre-election budget giveaways and promises that erode the tax base and set the country up for a fall.
The worst example of this was Fianna Fail during the bubble, leading to economic instability, recession and high levels of public debt.
This allegation of irresponsible fiscal policy by FG/Labour is now being reported on by the EU.
Fine Gael / Labour are now repeating exactly what Fianna Fail did - they’re using one-off revenues, largely from unexpected corporation tax returns, to fund large scale tax cuts.
The results can already be seen in things like increased child poverty and people on trolleys in A&E Departments.
The size of the crash could be bigger under Fine Gael / Labour, as the various safety mechanisms that kicked in at the time of the last recession are gone.
Public debt is too high for any serious future borrowing, households have nothing left to give, businesses have nothing left to give, public services are already severely cut-back.
The Social Democrats propose an end to this boom-and-bust cycle, through responsible fiscal management.
To this end, there are many policies the Social Democrats would prioritise, including:
Maintaining the tax base at its current level;
Running a structurally balanced budget;
Increasing investment in social and productive infrastructure (e.g., schools, broadband, transport, flood defences, primary care centres, community centres);
Putting money back into people’s pockets by reducing the cost of living (see that topic separately);
Refuting validity of outstanding Anglo / INBS promissory note debt of €25 billion and seek multilateral agreement on burden sharing at earliest opportunity;
Beginning the fiscal planning necessary for the long-term provision of services, including pensions and healthcare.
CALL FOR A EUROZONE DEBT CONFERENCE
Our National Debt has increased from €93 billion to €183 billion during the lifetime of the current Government.
This has caused and will continue to cause deep hardship for our citizens.
A significant portion of this extra debt arose from the banking collapse and the decisions of this and the previous government to bail-out the banks using our money and that of future generations.
There remains a deep sense of injustice that these banking debts were foisted on the Irish people due to a combination of weak and incompetent Irish politicians and bullying from European Institutions.
Other countries in the Eurozone are also suffering severe hardship arising from debt problems.
We strongly believe a Eurozone debt conference should be convened to address this issue in a collegiate and rational manner.
This would help reinvigorate the solidarity among nations that should be at the core of the European project.
At a minimum the €25bn Anglo/INBS debt should be classified by the Irish State as odious debt, and full write-off should be pursued vigorously by the new Government.
A European debt conference was held in London in 1952 to restructure Germany's debts, including the writing off of significant amount.
This restructuring was one of the drivers of Germany's subsequent economic growth.
SUPPORTING CHILDCARE AND EARLY-YEARS EDUCATION
As parents we put our children first.
Yet when it comes to Government investment, children are always last in line.
This is why we have one of the most undeveloped childcare systems in the EU, why our pre-school services are so under-funded when compared with other developed countries, and why parents must still pay significant contributions for early years care and education.
Our children deserve a much better start in life and there is much evidence to suggest that if they get this, our economy and society will reap the rewards in the long run.
The Social Democrats want to put children first by starting a multi-year programme of investment for children’s services, especially for very young children.
This programme would invest in the child’s early years by ensuring parents have the choice to stay at home in the first precious year of their child’s life through extended paid parental leave arrangements, and more flexible work options for parents.
Furthermore, it would also help develop more affordable and higher quality childcare.
It would also provide a significant boost to enterprise by giving many parents the choice of returning to work.
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WOULD PRIORITISE THE FOLLOWING POLICIES:
Providing funding so that paid parental leave (counting maternity benefit) is extended to 36 weeks and commit to increasing this to 52 weeks over three budgets.
We would supplement this with legislation to guarantee flexible work options for parents;
Significantly improving childcare through a range of measures including:
Investing in quality of service provision via higher capitation payments to childcare providers, and linking funding to increased quality.
Setting maximum fees for parents for childcare, ensuring public funding does not simply push up prices, and enabling all families to benefit, with higher quality incentivised;
Extending subsidised childcare places to lower-income families in all areas, through extension and reform of the Community Childcare Subvention;
Investing in educational supports for childcare workers;
Carrying out a full economic review of the cost of childcare based on quality standards, implementation of national curricula, and the introduction of a proper career structure for staff.
SUPPORT PENSIONS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS
The Social Democrats want to ensure that people can feel confident about what they will receive at retirement, whether this is a pension payable from the state or a pension through a savings arrangement.
This confidence requires clarity and simplicity in communication, certainty that the rules governing the pension environment will remain unchanged as well as responsible planning for future increases to the pensions payable from the state.
However, security in old age is not just about income.
It is critical that we provide decent public services for older people to ensure their full participation in society, to counteract isolation, and to ensure they have access to appropriate housing and healthcare.
PENSION INCOME:
Raise the State Pension at least in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with further increases for pensioners living on their own;
Reform State Pension entitlement criteria to reflect time out of workforce for various reasons such as family care;
Give an unequivocal commitment that future raids on pension funds, such as the pension levy that was imposed by Fine Gael/Labour Government (and which removed €2.3 billion from people's savings) will not recur;
Introduce legislation to prevent employers with the financial resources to meet the liabilities in their pension schemes, from simply walking away from the benefit promises;
Commit that workers who wish to save to make their retirement years more comfortable would continue to be encouraged to do so and would continueto be financially incentivised by the State up to certain limits;
Ensure tax incentives for pension savings are limited to provide pensions no greater than €60,000 p.a.
The Fine Gael/Labour Government promised to do this but did not fully introduce this measure;
Ensure structures are in place to keep pension scheme costs to a modest level.
HOUSING:
Expand the list of work covered by the existing local authority housing aid grants scheme to include items such as windows and poorly functioning or damaged boilers;
Provide ring fenced local authority funding to build senior citizen accommodation, and fund financial contribution schemes in areas where it is demographically desirable;
Increase the budget for the community alert scheme by €1 million to provide a partial grant for annual monitoring costs (generally €60 - €80 per annum);
Change planning laws so that all new developments must include a range of homes suitable for all stages of the life-cycle.
MEDICAL:
Reform and extend the Fair Deal scheme to cover home-care packages;
Assess applications for the over 70s medical card on the net income of the applicant to make it easier for people with large medical bills to qualify; introduce a transitional income band for those over 60;
Recognise the importance of informal carers and the billions they save the state each year by removing the habitual residency condition for those with previous PRSI contributions;
COMMUNITY:
Adopt an implementation plan for the National Positive Ageing Strategy;
Recognise the intrinsic value of active retirement to the mental and intellectual wellbeing of senior citizens and protect funding to community groups providing social and educational opportunities to older people;
Give a commitment to protecting the Free Travel Scheme, and to improving rural public transport by ensuring it is linked to transport hubs;
Allow older people in areas with poor transport connectivity to exchange their free travel pass for “travel vouchers”, in the same manner as the UK’s Rural Transport Voucher scheme.
SUPPORT THE ARTS
Our policy on the arts is a continuation of our policy of evidence-based decision making.
For too long, successive governments have largely ignored the Arts as an afterthought, a peripheral concern to which little time, money or creative thought should be devoted.
A 55% cut in arts funding since 2008 typifies this mind-set.
Here, we recognise the importance of the Arts as:
A binding agent in our communities both rural and urban, an important forum for the formation of our national identity and for holding our democracy to account and an indispensable resource for the effective functioning of our society as a whole.
Key to our continued success in attracting foreign direct investment and especially as we move towards changing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) into STEAM in the “smart” economy and an expanding technology sector.
A potential cornerstone of a stronger, more equal economic recovery.
A central component in our current and future success in the all-important tourism sector.
87% of overseas visitors listed Ireland's “Interesting history and culture” as key to their decision to visit Ireland in 2014.
Key to the success of the Irish film industry, with further potential for the growth of film studios.
HOW WE DRIVE SUCCESS:
Success for the arts in Ireland will be dependent on the level of joined-up thinking and collaboration across government departments, state bodies and arts organisations/ practitioners.
Post review, liaison between the department for the arts and communications and the departments of social welfare, tourism and education will be of particular importance.
REVIEW
Before any investment or restructuring is done, a full review of arts funding and administration as well as consultation with stakeholders across the arts sector on the successes and failures of our current system is required.
This review would incorporate research into equality in the arts sector, the life of artists in Ireland today, funding practices and administrative processes as well as the relationship and need for enhanced collaboration between the arts and areas such as education, tourism and the social welfare system.
RESTRUCTURING
Formation of a new advisory body of arts practitioners and administrators to reflect the importance of a “bottom up” approach to decision-making and policy formation which includes input from the entire arts sector.
Establishment of a new Department for the Arts, Culture and Communications tasked with using its cross-sectoral competencies to foster and platform new Irish creative talent across traditional and digital media.
Engendering symbiosis between the state broadcaster and the creative sector is a key concern of this initiative.
Establishing a digital broadcasting unit within RTE tasked with delivering Irish film, television and arts programming to a wider domestic and international audience.
INVESTMENT
Progressive restoration of total arts funding to pre-crash levels.
Establishment of special commercial rates for creative/arts spaces as well as “rates holidays” for new projects.
Reconvene the expert group to recommend a solution to the barrier of the commercial rates regime, as applied to film studios
Expansion of tax break for lower income artists to include a wider range of arts practitioners beyond the current narrow limitations.
New program of grants, bursaries and other investments in working artists via the social welfare system to allow time for skill development and work on large projects.
EDUCATION
Enhanced investment in arts education in recognition of its unique, proven ability to raise performance standards across the board and improve dropout rates and engagement with education for disadvantaged students in particular.
The aim over the lifetime of the next government, would be universal access to arts education at both primary and secondary levels.
EQUALITY
It is no longer good enough that diversity of all kinds is not a default concern of arts programming and administration in this state.
The Social Democrats wholeheartedly support the Waking the Feminists movement and are committed to ensuring that state- funded arts organisations and programs lead the way in advancing equality and diversity in Irish society.
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
Decades of chronic under-resourcing and a lack of integration have hampered the effective development of mental health services in Ireland.
This lack of appropriate services due to inadequate resource allocation has stigmatised people suffering with mental health issues and isolated them in terms of treatment choices.
The Social Democrats want to eliminate that stigma and create a culture that fosters a positive approach to mental well-being.
The Social Democrats commit to delivering all aspects of the 2006 ‘Vision for Change' strategy as a cornerstone of our mental health plan.
Fully implemented, this strategy will not only be responsive to individuals suffering from mental health issues, but will also work to proactively equip people with basic tools to positively strengthen awareness of their own mental health and recognise when to seek help.
PROACTIVE CARE
As with any medical condition, prevention is always better than cure.
With regard to mental-health this poses a particular challenge as outmoded attitudes and cultural perceptions have contributed to a culture of silence.
The Social Democrats want to change this.
Early intervention is critical in addressing emerging mental health difficulties and we support the extension of successful infant mental health and well-being programmes where these are currently being provided on a pilot basis.
As part of the ‘Driving Quality and Access in Education' portion of our manifesto, we have committed to the introduction of a curriculum to proactively develop children's mental health and well-being.
In addition, the Social Democrats also recognise the importance for children of parental mental-health.
To this end special focus will be given to vulnerable new parents in the allocation of resources, (this also forms part of the ‘early years' portion of our manifesto.)
As part of our plan for education we have committed to restoring guidance counsellors to all secondary schools.
Building on this restoration, we will commit to developing a system whereby guidance counsellors are equipped with the skills to deliver classes on positive mental well-being in secondary schools
We support the aims of Connecting for Life; in particular we would seek to urgently address adolescent suicide by equipping teachers and guidance counsellors with best-practice training to be able to effectively identify and respond to children in need.
ENHANCING RESPONSIVENESS
Suicide is one of the biggest killers in our community; it is not acceptable that people should have to wait for crisis intervention.
The Social Democrats will work to ensure that in conjunction with pro-active efforts to improve mental well-being there are also dedicated mental health teams on call 24/7 in each hospital area.
HOLISTIC AND INCLUSIVE CARE
Studies have shown that prescribed physical exercise, CBT, Mindfulness and other forms of treatment are at least as effective in treating depression and anxiety as SSRIs and other drugs.
We will work to ensure that these options are offered to service users, empowering them to make choices about how they themselves want their treatment to develop.
For too long the solution to mental health issues in Ireland was seen to be medication.
While we recognise that medication plays a critical role in the treatment for many, too often GPs see this as the only treatment option in the absence of adequate talk and therapeutic services.
We will further invest in community mental-health teams as part of our primary care policy and allied health professionals will form a core of this investment.
The Social Democrats will work to fully resource and expand the Counselling in Primary Care service (CIPC) to ensure better access to properly accredited community based services that suit the needs of users.
We will ring-fence specialised mental-health funding for the most ‘at-risk’ groups, including young parents, the Travelling Community, asylum seekers, the LGBTQ community and persons with physical and mental disabilities.
A core aspect of the Social Democrat mental health policy is to tackle the service distinction between addiction and mental health.
Substance abuse and mental health issues often go hand in hand, and the first point of contact with a service provider for individuals with a dual-diagnosis should seek to tackle both issues in a holistic fashion.
A study by the UK Dept. of Health, suggest that 75% of users of drug services and 85% of users of alcohol services experienced mental health problems.
The Social Democrats would realign the mental-health and addiction services of the HSE to tackle the intertwined issues of addiction and mental health in a complimentary fashion.
Specifically in relation to substance misuse issues The Social Democrats support: The early enactment of all sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.
The amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Act to address the widespread problem of the street trading and abuse of prescription drugs.
The restoration of resources to the Garda Drug unit
A fundamental review of drug treatment services
An enhanced role for drug and alcohol task forces.
In line with our international obligations the Social Democrats have committed to enacting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a priority.
This will be done in conjunction with new legislation on patient advocacy, the regulation of community based counselling and therapy services and Advance Healthcare Directives.
5. http://www.dualdiagnosis.ie
ENSURE FAIR PAY AND DECENT WORK
Fair terms and conditions of employment, protecting rights of representation for workers, and ensuring respect and dignity in the workplace are fundamental to the principles of social democracy and to our values as a party.
THE PRIORITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS ARE:
Supporting the introduction of a living wage, which is based on the real cost of living.
This would be done through achieving a social consensus as envisioned by the Living Wage Campaign, in consultation with employers and based on affordability.
Banning zero hour contracts, as well as addressing the prevalence of ‘if and when' contracts as identified in the recent study by the University of Limerick.
Supporting the ICTU Charter, including the right to representation and collective bargaining, respect, equality & ethics at work, and fair public procurement.
Extending the terms of reference of the Low Pay Commission to include a proper oversight framework for internships, low hours and precarious work in the wider economy.
Reforming Irish labour activation policy by ensuring schemes are better regulated and targeted for different groups with very distinct needs (e.g., Graduates, early school leavers, long-term unemployed).
Closing the legal loophole in Irish company law which led to the denial of entitlements to workers recently made redundant by Clery's, by preventing company directors who are found to have engaged in this practice from serving as directors for a period of five years or more.
Honouring the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement in full.
Introducing a series of measures so that the cost of living for workers is reduced (e.g. childcare, water charges).
Legislating to prevent employers with the financial resources to meet the liabilities in their pension schemes, from simply walking away from the benefit promises, as is standard in other EU countries.
ENSURE PLURALISM IN EDUCATION
A modern Irish democracy must respect and reflect the diversity of Irish society and the citizens which it serves.
The State has a responsibility to ensure that each child has access to a State-funded school within their locality, and that the ethos of the school is inclusive of their family’s belief system.
A significant number of parents feel that that they have no option but to send their child to a school which does not align with their belief system.
In areas where there is pressure on school places, many parents feel that they are required to adopt a particular religion for their child for the purpose of ensuring that their child can enrol in a State-funded school.
This situation is entirely unacceptable.
Although there have been some attempts to introduce pluralism to the Irish Education system, 96% of State-funded schools remain denominationally-controlled.
This is not reflective of the wishes of large numbers of parents and the Social Democrats believe that reform is urgently needed.
In 2015, the Social Democrats proposed an amendment to the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013, to repeal section 7 (3) c of the Equal Status Act which currently allows schools to favour certain religions when deciding its enrolment policy.
The government voted against the amendment and it was rejected by a majority in the Dail.
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS ARE COMMITTED TO PLURALISM AND ENDING DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION AND PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:
Repeal of Section 7 (3) (c) of the Equal Status Act so that children cannot be refused admission to a local school on the basis of their religious beliefs.
That the patronage of all new schools in developing areas should be representative of local parental preference.
Where a demand for a new inclusive school is proven in an established area, the State should ensure that either a suitable denominational school building would be provided under an agreed divestment programme, a suitable public building would be made available, or funding would be provided for a new school building.
Once the viability of a potential new school is established, the State should accommodate this demand within three years.
The Minister for Education and Skills should be required to report annually to the Dail on the progress of the State in ensuring an inclusive State-funded school system which reflects the diversity of Irish society and which upholds the right of all citizens to an education, appropriate to their beliefs.
IMPROVE WELFARE
A strong social safety net is vital to prevent poverty and social exclusion.
It must also provide security in old age and with the onset of disability or other difficult life events.
The best designed welfare systems also ensure that there are good incentives and opportunities to progress out of unemployment or into education or training.
The social safety net in Ireland has been significantly eroded in recent years with cut-backs in the basic rates of social welfare payments by Fianna Fail and the Green Party, and cuts in secondary benefits by Fine Gael and Labour.
Some groups, such as lone parents and the young unemployed have been particularly badly affected.
Meanwhile long-standing issues such as the cost of disability, older people living alone, and direct provision remain to be adequately addressed.
If we truly want to achieve a recovery for all, then we believe the priorities of the next Government should be as follows:
ELIMINATE POVERTY TRAPS BY:
Progressing to a Living Wage and improving job protection and conditions for parttime and casual workers. (see section of Fair Employment for more details);
Funding more affordable childcare (see childcare section for more details);
Reforming Rent Supplement so that the barrier to full-time employment is completely eradicated;
Providing far better information to jobseekers - particularly around part-time and casual work options and benefit retention, and by streamlining the application system so that casual workers can return to payment quickly when their casual work is exhausted;
Exploring how better access to Family Income Supplement for the self-employed could be provided;
Restoring genuine rehabilitative work option while retaining a benefit for long-term recipients of a disability payment;
Giving greater discretion to decision makers and encouraging far greater feedback from frontline services when genuine anomalies in the social protection system are discovered;
Restoring tapering arrangement for Lone Parents.
MAKE ACTIVATION ABOUT THE PERSON RATHER THAN JUST COST-CUTTING BY:
Improving jobseeker/case officer ratios and ending private sector involvement in job activation programmes;
Linking case interventions with needs of the workforce and interests of the jobseeker;
Improving further education, training and apprenticeships options, and offering better basic literacy and job-hunting skills;
Providing more one-to-one sessions;
Scrapping JobBridge, as it has led to the exploitation of unemployed people, and
introducing a new internship programme that offers genuine and career-advancing work experience;
Guaranteeing subsidised childcare for lone parents.
INCREASE ALL SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSION RATES AT LEAST IN LINE WITH COST OF LIVING INCREASES WITH EXTRA COMMITMENTS TO:
Improve tapering arrangements for Lone Parents;
Improve Living Alone Allowance above the CPI rate;
Improve the rate for jobseekers who are under 25 above the CPI rate;
Improve Rent Supplement and HAP rates as a short-term measure to reduce homelessness;
Reinstate the full Christmas Bonus;
Introduce a Cost of Disability Payment;
Scrap the habitual residency condition for Carers payments.
END DIRECT PROVISION:
Ireland’s system of direct provision was only ever intended to be a short-term solution, but has become a national disgrace.
We can and should do more to make a timely decision on a person’s asylum status, particularly in light of the pressing Syrian, Somali and Afghani refugee crisis.
A clear short to medium term goal of the Social Democrats would be to end Direct Provision.
NEW ANTI-POVERTY STRATEGY:
The current anti-poverty strategy has been completely ignored by Fine Gael and Labour. Child Poverty has doubled since 2008 while poverty rates for Lone Parents remain particularly high.
Within 6 months we would develop a New Anti-Poverty Strategy, with clear targets, timeframes and lines of responsibility, and with families as a key focus (see Child Poverty section for more initiatives in this area);
All Budgets would be properly poverty-proofed and set against the targets set down by the new anti-poverty strategy.
BETTER ADMINISTRATION:
Hire more medical officers so that the time it takes to decide on applications and appeals can be reduced.
Reducing appeal times saves the state money;
Explore the possibility of a unitary means-test across all Government schemes to cut down on form-filling and administration costs.
REPEAL THE 8TH AMENDMENT
We will campaign in support of removing the 8th Amendment from the Constitution.
The 8th Amendment (Article 40.3.3) was inserted into the Irish Constitution in 1983.
Its immediate effect was to make it impossible for any meaningful or responsive legislation to address the issue without a referendum taking place.
As a result of this amendment, later codified in the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act, a woman is not allowed to avail of an abortion unless her life is deemed to be in immediate risk.
There is a pressing need to introduce a modern legislative regime.
We support the urgent holding of a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment in as short a timeframe as possible; but at the latest within 18 months of the general election.
Within that period, we support the holding of a people’s convention, the publishing of draft legislation (based on the recommendations of this convention) that would come into effect if the 8th Amendment was abolished, and the holding of a referendum on the removal of the 8th Amendment from the Constitution.
ABOLISH WATER CHARGES
The money being charged on domestic water charges is not being used to run, or to upgrade, the water system.
Even if everyone paid their water bill, the money collected would do nothing other can cover the costs of the water meters and the costs of billing.
Here’s what the Social Democrats are proposing.
Water charges should be abolished, as should the conservation grant.
The meter rollout should be stopped.
A full and open financial review of Irish Water should be conducted to identify what cost savings can be achieved each year and how they can be reinvested in the water system.
Irish Water should be abolished and reconstituted as a public body, rather than as a commercial semi-state, to ensure it can never be privatised.
Public ownership should be protected via a referendum to change the Constitution.
END THE MORTGAGE CRISIS
Years of government inaction have allowed the mortgage crisis in Ireland become far worse than in other countries suffering similar economic difficulties.
The result has been years of unnecessary stress and suffering for hundreds of thousands of men, women and children.
While total arrears are now falling, the recovery could be faster, fairer and less expensive if the right policy changes are made.
It is important to recognise that the number of mortgages in arrears of over two years is not falling.
This cohort represent tens of thousands of families in serious trouble, many of whom are in court, have unsustainable loans and are most at risk of eviction and homelessness.
The Social Democrats propose a comprehensive policy response to the mortgage crisis, addressing a wide range of opportunities and shortcomings.
Unlike the current situation, this response would minimise repossessions, provide equal and fair treatment for borrowers, ensure appropriate solutions are offered on a case by case basis, and minimise on-going social and economic damage.
It would do all of this without the need for further recapitalisation of the banks.
The Social Democrats propose a comprehensive policy response to the mortgage crisis, addressing a wide range of opportunities and shortcomings.
THE MAIN ACTION POINTS INCLUDE:
Mandating maximum income payment period of two years, post-bankruptcy;
Creating a one-stop-shop for borrowers in distress, that is free at the point of use and provides expert financial and legal advice and representation;
Equipping the courts to refuse possession orders based on the sustainability of a proposed restructure;
Mandating a set of restructuring options to be considered in all cases;
Improving access to the mortgage-to-rent scheme;
Piloting local authority mortgage subsidy scheme for qualifying households;
Increasing sustainability of restructures, by redefining it to include consideration of total debts, including residual debts and payments post-retirement.
SUPPORT THE IRISH LANGUAGE
The Social Democrats acknowledge the important place that the Irish language has, and would support a range of measures to build on successes in recent years.
We would task an Oireachtas Committee with conducting a major review of the 20-year strategy for the language, updating the strategy with the latest evidence (particularly around developing new speakers of the language).
Demand for new Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholaistf is increasing, and this demand must be catered to as part of the overall reform of school patronage models.
We would ensure that early years education facilities (particularly in Gaeltacht areas and in major towns) can be run through Irish.
We would conduct a review of the effectiveness of economic stimulus programmes in the Gaeltacht and fund measures that are proven to stimulate local economies and are cost effective.
We would invest in greater training for Irish language teachers to equip them to inspire students to continue their language journey beyond school.
OPPOSE THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (TTIP)
TTIP presents very serious concerns for the Social Democrats.
While we support the removal of unnecessary barriers to trade where they bring benefits of sustainable economic growth and job creation,
we do not consider consumer protections and product standards as barriers to be removed.
We recognise the threat the regulatory coordination principles contained in the draft agreement make for very hard won standards and citizen protections in how products are manufactured and sold.
We do not support the dilution or watering down of consumer protections under any circumstances.
Furthermore, the proposed Investor-State Resolution mechanism appears to give undue influence and power to large corporations in determining public policy.
The Social Democrats strongly believe that these provisions, as proposed, represent a threat to the proper democratic functioning of national parliaments and the right of governments to determine policy in the interests of the people alone.
We also consider the secrecy of the process to be fundamentally undemocratic.
We would therefore not support TTIP.
UPDATE COPYRIGHT
Ireland’s copyright law is outdated.
Like many countries, we have not kept pace with advances in technology and our present law does not take into account the changed nature of how ideas and original work are consumed and enjoyed.
We have no legal framework to support genuine innovation - artistic, technological or otherwise.
At the same time, people who wilfully infringe on copyright face no serious deterrent, whilst innocent online intermediaries can be held accountable for those infringements.
This needs to change - particularly if we are to safeguard jobs and enhance Ireland’s reputation as a global centre for the information industry.
The Social Democrats, mindful of developments at EU level in both the development of new European copyright law and recent CJEU rulings, will work to fully implement the recommendations of the Copyright Review Committee, including introducing the report’s suggested legislation to Dail Eireann.
In particular, we want a new Copyright regime that will:`Include strong citizen and consumer protections, including consumer representation in official dispute resolution mechanisms.
Provide for genuine free speech and free expression.
Move from a Fair Dealing system to Fair Use within an Irish and EU legal context.
Provide legal certainty for all; strike a reasonable legal balance between the copyright holder’s need to produce a return on his or her investment, and the public good which includes the right to innovatively build on what has gone before.
GROW AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
The Social Democrats understand that Agriculture and the Agri-Food sector must be supported as a key indigenous industry, a major employer and one of our biggest exporters.
We recognise that the strength of the industry lies in targeting that support to the small and medium farmers whose incomes have been in decline in recent years.
Ireland must take steps to protect their work and produce, and to market that high quality brand overseas.
At the same time, we should be encouraging farmers to take advantage of new opportunities for income generation.
Climate change and extreme weather events present as serious a threat to farmers’ livelihoods as everyone else, perhaps more.
By encouraging new farm practices such as biomass and renewable electricity generation, we can allow for new income supports to farmers
as well as tackling harmful emissions.
THE PRIORITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS ARE:
In a very competitive market, we understand the strength of Irish produce lies in its clean, high quality brand.
We will take steps to protect and strongly trade from this brand, through a new green certification process.
This label will apply to all Irish agricultural products that have reached the standard and will be strongly marketed abroad.
We will enhance the continued viability of the family farm by encouraging greater participation in agricultural co-operatives, thereby achieving more efficient uses of resources, allowing for larger-scale capital investment and better equipping farmers to compete
We will tackle the increasing threats to the incomes of small scale family farms by providing supports for farmers who wish to increase the
microgenerating capacity of their farms through small-scale wind, solar and other forms of clean energy generation.
We will also encourage wide scale participation in the GLAS scheme.
We will provide extra incentive for the planting of trees for both longer-term carbon sequestration, and for the development of sustainable wood products and biomass.
We will work to enhance the tourism and amenity potential of our forested land.
We will continue other existing supports for afforestation, and will work to develop ambitious targets to 2030 for woodland coverage, including a vital concurrent target for Woodland Conservation and Sequestration.
TACKLE CRIME AND SUPPORT POLICING
Morale within Garda Sfochana has been described by many within the force as at an all- time low.
This follows a number of scandals which led to high profile enquiries.
Their findings included identifying massive systems failures in how crimes are recorded, managed and classified.
Inadequate training and management leading to widespread gaps and inefficiencies were also found.
The closure of stations, and new roster and pay arrangements, have also contributed to the morale problem.
It is essential that the culture within the force changes to one where clear lines of accountability are established,
a training and modernisation program is accelerated and the force receives the investment in the systems, equipment and personnel essential for a modern police force to do the job asked of it.
PRIORITIES
Phase in recommendations outlined in the Garda Inspectorate Report in conjunction with the All Party Justice Committee.
Priorities for the Social Democrats include:
Invest in modern IT systems - phase out the Pulse System;
Develop new in-service training programs;
Maximise the use of new systems to support investigation of crime and a more consistent approach to the recording/classification/detection of crimes;
Design better accountability into every level of management;
Implement new investigation management systems with inbuilt performance measurements;
Deploy personnel based on crime statistics and demographic changes;
Ensure that Gardaf deployments can support wide scale adoption of a Community Policing model;
Review the new roster arrangements against crime investigation strategies;
Introduce a work force planning program aimed at recruitment and upskilling;
TRANSPORT
OBJECTIVE
Comprehensive development of our public transport infrastructure is in Ireland’s vital social and economic interest.
However, historical investment in high capacity solutions like rail has been lacking; and big public transport projects are too often victim of short-term political considerations.
While a high-quality road network is essential and requires investment to be delivered,
this should not be at the expense of better- capacity, cleaner and more efficient forms of public transport which can serve as viable alternatives to car-based travel.
The Social Democrats believe that future population growth, particularly in our urban centres, must be adequately planned for today in terms of transport provision if we are to avoid unsustainable urban sprawl, disconnected communities and ever- increasing car commutes.
To do this we need to support a modal shift away from carbon intense, car- based transport towards high- capacity public transport options.
We must also drastically reduce emissions in transport if we are to meet emissions reduction targets.
PRIORITIES:
Rebalancing of capital spending in public transport incrementally, ensuring capital spending on roads is at least matched by capital spending on other forms of public transport on a multi-annual basis;
Encouraging greater use of public transport by reducing public transport fares (see Cost of Living proposals);
Building the DART Underground at the earliest practicable date.
Delivering new road infrastructure where there is a critical need, e.g. a high-grade connection between Cork, Limerick and Galway;
Examining ways to rollout a national smart ticketing system that is integrated, accessible and efficient, and applies to all forms of public transport.
We would maintain free travel for those over 66;
Ensuring focus on suburban and hinterland commuter transport in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and other urban centres; working to provide greater reliability and frequency of services to move people out of cars;
Continuing the development of light rail and tram services where they are needed, along with the rollout of Bus Rapid Transit in specific urban centres;
Enhancing cycling infrastructure in our major cities and towns, and work on developing inter-urban cycleways and scenic greenways.
We would implement cycle-friendly traffic management systems in major city and town centres.;
Increasing incentives and subsidies to purchase Electric Vehicles, including subsidies for the installation of charge points domestically.
We would increase the availability of fast-charge points nationwide;
Reviewing current regulations governing taxi-drivers, with a particular focus on age of vehicle requirements, and improve consultation processes with the industry.
CHAMPION CLEAN ENERGY
OBJECTIVE
Securing safe, clean and dependable energy sources is one of the most pressing challenges the State faces in the first half of this century.
The Social Democrats recognise that fossil fuel based generation must eventually be phased out in its entirety and that this will form an essential part of Ireland’s overall climate strategy.
Ireland has made important steps forward in the development of renewable capacity, but we still remain among the most fossil-fuel dependent nations in Europe.
This must change.
PRIORITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS INCLUDE:
Set a target to see Ireland as a leader among the 23 coastal EU Member States in developing and harnessing ocean energy, and recognise the great potential that exists there.
We will increase funding for new and existing research and development tenders in ocean energy.
Establish a new Offshore Wind Development Agency with a specific mandate to attract investment -aiding this task by simplifying the regulatory and foreshore regime for offshore wind with the aims of reducing investor risk, and providing a stable regulatory setup.
We will also prioritise State support for offshore through the introduction of a limited Feed-In-Tariff, subject to EU State-Aid approval and determined through a competitive bidding process.
Our approach to the development of large-scale onshore wind needs to be fundamentally rethought.
In many areas large scale development proposals have been imposed on local communities. .
This needs to change.
The Social Democrats recognise that we must place community and citizen concerns at the heart of the planning process.
We will seek urgent publication of updated planning guidelines to ensure that adequate consideration is given to community concerns around scale, height, density, setback and other considerations.
Ensure that, where possible, there is a rebalance in the ownership model of onshore wind projects towards local communities, looking to the Danish and German models of community ownership for inspiration.
Under this approach, it is local communities who will benefit most and who will have the final say on the scale of any proposed new developments.
Introduce legislation to effectively underpin the Aarhus Convention in Irish law to ensure access to information on the environment is readily available.
PRIORITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS CONTINUED:
Phase out state subsidies for carbon-intense forms of electricity generation, favouring the subsidisation of renewables where appropriate.
Continue the conversion of peat-burning electricity plants to co-fired biomass, and set an achievable target towards the elimination of peat-burning altogether utilising domestically-produced biomass as far as possible.
Implement a credible plan to achieve full deployment of smart grid infrastructure.
Encourage electricity suppliers to expand home microgeneration pilot schemes, covering wind, photovoltaic and combined heat and power.
We will focus particularly on the capacity of small-holding farmers to benefit from such a scheme.
Enhance the supports available for home energy retrofit, including the rollout of a Pay-As-You-Save scheme.
Introduce a comprehensive energy auditing programme for all public buildings, to include retrofitting and other energy saving programmes where commercially viable.
Work with Local Authorities and to greatly enhance Community Energy Schemes and Cooperatives, drawing on the Haringey model utilised in London and on our Smart Cities policy.
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
The Social Democrats recognise the great opportunities and benefits in transitioning to a low- carbon, energy efficient economy.
We understand that action on climate is needed today.
We want to guarantee our future environmental, social and economic health by implementing robust domestic emissions-reduction legislation with credible, incremental national and sectoral plans, based on ambitious but attainable goals.
PRIORITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS INCLUDE:
Reforming our present climate-action regime to make it more robust, dependable and successful, by including:
specific domestic targets on emissions reduction and fossil fuel use, taking due regard of our emissions profile;
comprehensive, attainable mitigation action plans with regular reviews and mandatory corrective measures;
enhancements to the powers and functions of the Climate Change Advisory Council.
Ensuring that Ireland is a world leader internationally on tackling harmful emissions,
and that our negotiating position at EU level reflects the urgency with which action is required on climate change.
Ensuring that emissions reduction targets are applied appropriately to all nonEmissions Trading Scheme sectors of economic life in the State.
Funding technical assistance to aid organisations develop carbon mitigation programmes.
Encouraging greater take-up of proven methods of carbon sequestration - chiefly forestry and wetlands.
COMMUNITIES - THE THIRD SECTOR
CURRENTSITUATION
One of Ireland’s strongest attributes is its community sector.
Since the foundation of the State this sector has been depended upon to provide essential services, often in the absence of adequate public services.
In recent years some of these services have been provided through Charities and Community Employment and Partnership Schemes, which have been vulnerable to cutbacks during the recent downturn.
It’s not hard to see that the under-development of public services has happened in part because of a pre-existing over-reliance on the community sector.
We have also failed to recognise the sector as being that of a cohesive social movement of engaged citizens - with all the benefits that this official recognition could bring.
The paternalistic approach by the State underpins the Irish model, and works against development of the kind of popular mass movement the Third Sector enjoys in places like Sweden and Denmark.
VISION
The Social Democrats recognise that Irish society is a network of interwoven communities.
We have a strong tradition of fostering positive interdependencies and building a robust sense of social solidarity in all our communities.
We recognise that key supports are necessary to sustain community links, promote integration and positive self-development, and that more often these initiatives work best when community-led.
We need to build the community sector into a cohesive Third Sector, modelled on the Swedish approach.
This involves establishing a Third Sector Council to promote a collective policy agenda for the community sector.
It ultimately involves the participation of civil society in collaborative policy-making in conjunction with civil servants, politicians, academics and other stakeholders.
FIVE SPECIFIC POLICY POINTS:
Establish a Third Sector Council based on the Swedish Model.
Reform our political system commencing with the Local government system, in particular at Municipal level, to greatly increase the involvement of communities.
Embark on a program of public service building involving, where appropriate, the Third Sector.
Restore cuts to Pobal’s Community Development Programme to allow it to undertake the full range of vital activities in the community.
Re-focus emphasis on community integration and positive outcomes, rather than just counting progression rates for community employment schemes.
SMART CITIES
Rapid urbanisation creates opportunities and challenges.
A smart city policy can provide a framework to re-think Ireland’s urban centres to make life better for Irish citizens.
It can help us to approach grand challenges such as environmental sustainability, the needs of an ageing population, and efficient transportation.
We propose a holistic smart cities policy that aims to strengthen the infrastructure needed to inspire and promote multiple smart projects and initiatives.
This vision involves policies for supporting a range of actors, investing in infrastructure, research and development, and leveraging finance.
It brings together government, the private sector and academia, to seek ways to use technology to bring about better lives and greater business opportunities.
This Irish smart cities policy builds on Irish strengths and seek to make Ireland outstanding in a global context.
To make our vision a reality, we need to invest in infrastructure, education, smart governance, economic development.
PRIORITIES FOR ACHIEVING THIS INCLUDE:
Increasing connectivity, particularly in broadband rollout;
Piloting free city wifi networks;
Piloting an integrated, open-access, city-wide data sharing platform;
Establishing a network of ‘Smart City’ innovation hubs/centres throughout the country;
Educating users about the risks associated with data sharing and how to mitigate these;
supporting national digital literacy programmes targeting marginalised groups and older people;
Updating national and local government’s information platforms;
Ensuring adequate copyright and IP legislation, within EU framework;
Enhancing the digital economy and society by maintaining and improving connectivity, use of internet, integration of digital tech, and digital public services;
Marketing Ireland’s cities as Smart Cities and locations to pilot smart city innovation;
Supporting tourism by ensuring Irish cities are easily accessible digitally, navigable, and have apps and Wi-Fi to support this;
Ensuring sufficient data regulation to protect citizens’ rights;
Establishing a national Smart Cities Pilot Fund to improve city services;
Establishing a National Smart Cities Annual Awards to recognise innovation.
MAKE POLITICS WORK
The Irish political system is cloaked in secrecy and bureaucratic red tape and is too far removed from the needs of the citizens it is supposed to serve.
We need to undertake a programme of substantial political reform that can bring real and meaningful change to the way politics is practiced in this country.
There must be real and meaningful reform that will change the way politics is practiced in this country.
We must revamp our public institutions and ensure they are fit for purpose and make them accessible and responsive to the needs of the citizens they are designed to serve whilst putting accountability to the forefront of our political system.
To achieve this, we are bringing forward comprehensive reform proposals in four key areas:
Achieving greater transparency in decision-making;
Establishing an independent Electoral Commission;
Making genuine reforms to the Oireachtas;
Fundamentally changing how we fund politics.
ENSURE GREATER TRANSPARENCY
We want to introduce a new culture of open decision-making, where resources are allocated on the basis of identified need and no other consideration.
Too often public money is used by Ministers as if it is their own.
Public resources quickly become political slush funds where the needs of insiders or the electoral success of Government are favoured over genuine public need.
An over-riding purpose of our new political movement will be to finally end “Golden Circle” politics and as part of a range of new measures we want to arrest the culture of “jobs for the boys”.
We would abolish the Economic Management Council.
We would abolish the Official Secrets Act which we believe is inconsistent with whistleblowers legislation.
We would introduce a clear and transparent system of resource allocation, where allocations are based on objective, pre-constructed and evidence-based criteria.
We would publish extensive data in open source as part of the introduction of a general presumption of openness in relation to State-held data.
We would end the political appointment of judges and introduce a new system of judicial appointments so that qualification is based on an exam/open competition.
Vetting of all senior appointments by Oireachtas Committees.
ESTABLISH AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Though the centrepiece of our system of governance, the management of the democratic process has simply not been treated as a priority by governments past and present.
The Social Democrats aim to change this.
Rather than continuing to rely on a number of ad-hoc bodies to administer our electoral and referendum processes, it is our position that Irish electoral politics must instead be administered by an overarching independent statutory body with full operational and regulatory powers.
Led by an individual known as the Chief Electoral Officer of Ireland, this body would be the Irish Electoral Commission.
WHY DO WE NEED AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION?
The Irish electoral process enjoys a consistently high level of trust on the part of the Irish electorate; but we can do better.
In particular, the mechanisms of our electoral process are disjointed and are under-performing;
the inaccuracy of the electoral register is a prime example of how lack of coordination can lead to duplication and inaccuracy.
An overarching body that would take full responsibility for overseeing and regulating all facets of the electoral process would strengthen existing levels of trust in the electoral process,
streamline its administration,
and provide a transparent one stop-shop for citizens to interact with on all matters electoral.
WHAT WOULD THE IRISH ELECTORAL COMMISSION DO?
The remit of the Irish Electoral Commission (‘the Commission’) would pertain to all areas of the electoral process, including: voter registration, boundary divisions, campaign oversight, political financing, and voter education.
The Commission would assume the current functions of the ad hoc Referendum Commissions formed to take responsibility for individual referendums, the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO), and much of the electoral functions currently carried out by Local Authorities around the country.
In addition to its responsibility for direct electoral engagement, the Commission would also conduct research and explore options to enhance and improve all aspects of the electoral process.
Those electoral commissions operating in other jurisdictions regularly trial new options to increase mobilisation and make voting more accessible to all eligible voters.
In that vein it one of the primary functions of the Commission would be to identify best practice initiatives to continually strengthen the electoral process in Ireland.
HOW WOULD THE IRISH ELECTORAL COMMISSION OPERATE?
This would be a permanent statutory body with financial accountability to the Comptroller & Auditor General.
This is to be distinguished from the temporary, ad hoc nature of the highly successful and respected Referendum Commissions founded to take responsibility for specific referendum campaigns;
The Commission is to be led by a Chief Electoral Officer appointed through an open, transparent, non-political recruitment process conducted by the Public Appointments Service with due regard to the achieving a gender balance within the Commission;
Staff appointments to the Commission would be made through an open, transparent, non-political recruitment process conducted by the Public Appointments Service with due regard to the achieving a gender balance within the Commission;
The Commission would have full powers of regulation, sanction and enforcement regarding matters of electoral politics;
The Commission would take responsibility for administering a single unified electoral register for the Irish state.
This would replace the 31 separate electoral registers maintained at present.
WHAT REFORMS COULD THE IRISH ELECTORAL COMMISSION BRING ABOUT?
Centralised management of the electoral register to ensure more accurate measures of voter turnout and better strategies to increase voter participation;
Voting locations selected to suit the electorate, not government institutions;
Easier access to postal voting;
Improved voting rights for recent emigrants;
Rollout of on-going and thorough voter education initiatives aimed at mobilising citizens, increasing participation in the democratic process, and educating voters as to how the system works and how they can maximise their electoral choices;
A more open and transparent electoral process brought about by comprehensive oversight and effective regulation.
INTRODUCE GENUINE OIREACHTAS REFORM
Dail Eireann is one of the weakest parliaments in liberal democracy and its lack of authority and autonomy has substantially undermined its ability to carry out the fundamental functions of scrutinizing and holding government to account.
The Social Democrats believe we must return power to parliament so that the power to legislate, scrutinize government and hold the executive to account exists in reality and not just in theory.
VOTING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
The Irish Whip System is one of the most stringent in western democracy in that, as a rule, parliamentarians voting against the instructions of their party Whip face drastic consequences irrespective of the level of importance placed on the item being voted on.
These consequences include being expelled from the parliamentary party, which results in the loss of much needed parliamentary funding and basic resources such as administrative, and research support.
Crucially ‘losing the Whip’ also involves being removed from involvement in the Oireachtas Committee system and often having access to speaking time in the Dail withdrawn.
We see this as fundamentally undemocratic.
CEANN COMHAIRLE
The Ceann Comhairle is a central figure in Irish parliamentary life and we recognise the vital role this office holder plays in ensuring the democratic functioning of Dail Eireann.
We believe the power to nominate and elect the Ceann Comhairle must be removed from the hands of government and placed back into the control of the members of the Dail.
It is imperative that the nomination process is open and that the election process be conducted through secret ballot.
STANDING ORDERS
These are the backbone of parliament, yet a comprehensive review, revision and reform of the rules governing Dail Eireann has not been undertaken since the foundation of the state.
The Social Democrats believe it is time to change that and, as such, we propose to undertake a consultation process aimed at revising the current Standing Orders.
OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE SYSTEM
The Oireachtas Committee System is not being used to its fullest potential and we propose to change that by strengthening their powers of scrutiny, ensuring the system operates independent of party patronage and placing committees at the centre of the legislative process.
The number of Oireachtas Committees was reduced during the term of the 31st Dail and this resulted in committees that were overburdened and ill-equipped to tackle the volume of business that came before them.
We propose a slight expansion of the number of committees in order that each can conduct its work in a more focused and specialised fashion.
The cost of increasing the number of committees will be offset by full removal of salary top-up payments made to committee chairpersons.
We propose to alter the mechanism for appointment of committee chairpersons.
First the d’Hondt system is to be applied in the apportionment of the number of committee chairpersonships each party and group receives.
Second, as opposed to being appointed externally, the committees themselves must elect committee chairpersons to those positions.
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
It is proposed that the first stage of the legislative process be changed significantly to strengthen the role of parliament in the legislative process and to place committees at the heart of the legislative process.
The process through which government legislation is initiated in the Dail and Seanad must be altered to incorporate increased committee engagement in the drafting stages, thereby strengthening the role of parliament in producing and scrutinising legislation prior to enactment.
We propose the following additional changes to the legislative process:
This process should not end with enactment; rather legislation must be subject to post enactment scrutiny to ensure it is operating as was originally intended.
This would be achieved by attaching a brief outcome report to all new legislation so as to ensure the precise intention of the legislation is clearly understood and having committees review the operation of legislation approximately one year after enactment.
We propose that all legislation and policy decisions are poverty proofed by working with interested parties likely to be affected by the outcomes of each decision.
EMPOWERING THE OIREACHTAS
As it currently stands the Oireachtas operates subject to the will of government;
legislation is produced and enacted subject to the instruction of government ministers and the Government Chief Whip schedules all business.
As such Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann lack the basic freedom to produce legislation and determine what items are debated, when and how.
This has resulted in the Houses of the Oireachtas becoming one of the weakest parliaments in western democracy, a situation that is wholly unacceptable.
The following reforms are proposed as a means of empowering the Oireachtas:
It is proposed that a Dail Business Committee and a Seanad Business Committee be established on a formal footing, that proceedings of these committees be minuted or that they sit in full public view.
The purpose of these committees is to involve the parliament in a central way in the scheduling of the business of each house.
This change is intended to alter the power deficit which currently exists where the Government as opposed to the Parliament determines the agenda.
The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is the body corporate charged with overall responsibility for running the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Among other things this authority determines the distribution of parliamentary resources and presides over a range of other administrative functions of parliament.
Yet government appoints the majority of the Commission with only minimal opposition involvement being permitted.
We believe this is a major impediment to the independence of the Oireachtas and we therefore propose that the membership of the Commission be appointed subject to proportional representation determined under the d’Hondt system.
We also propose that the salary top-up payment made to each member of the Commission be removed.
There is currently an excessive amount of localism and short-termism in our national politics and we need to redistribute power to a reformed Local Government system so as to ensure that the National Parliament is freed up to direct its focus to national matters.
We intend to introduce new requirements for public representatives to declare significant liabilities as well as assets.
It is the position of the Social Democrats that by bringing about a number of much-needed strategic reforms in the areas of political funding and parliamentary operations we can revitalise rebalance and re-invent our political system.
By undertaking wholesale, meaningful reform of the system in a way that truly respects the democratically expressed will of the citizens, operating for the sole purpose of serving the best interests of the electorate rather than the political establishment we can create a system that citizens engage with, understand and, most importantly, can be proud of.
Ultimately, this is about developing a culture that centres on openness and transparency that has at its heart the ultimate goal of serving the citizens.
MAKE RADICAL CHANGES TO POLITICAL FUNDING
Effective political funding and Oireachtas reform cannot be brought about by piecemeal efforts at tinkering with the timing of Dail business and introducing lip-service initiatives.
It requires the introduction of meaningful changes that will result in a more open and accessible parliamentary and party system that caters to the needs and wishes of the citizens of Ireland.
As it currently stands the Irish parliamentary and political funding systems work to the benefit of established parties, with the complex regulations governing both often resulting in confusion for those peering in from the outside.
The Social Democrats propose a number of key reforms that would alter how we fund politics in order to bring about a more transparent, representative and accessible party system.
CHANGE HOW POLITICS IS FUNDED
Politics is currently funded in a very insular way that is designed to protect the established parties and make it extremely difficult for new alternatives to emerge.
Two streams of political funding presently exist; they are parliamentary funding and electoral funding.
The former consists of funding and resources provided in respect of TDs and Senators to facilitate their work as parliamentarians,
and the latter is provided to qualifying political parties on the basis of the proportion of 1st preference votes they received in the preceding General Election.
PARLIAMENTARY FUNDING AND RESOURCES
Under the present parliamentary funding system the democratic mandate of each individual parliamentarian is neither fully recognised nor respected.
When a TD or Senator leaves their parliamentary party or is expelled from its ranks the party continues to receive funding and resources from the Oireachtas on their behalf but both are withheld from the parliamentarian for whom they are meant.
This undermines the mandate of such parliamentarians as lack of adequate resources directly affects their ability to perform their roles as legislators and public representatives.
We would change this system to ensure distribution of resources in such a way that parliamentarians have more control over the funding allocated to them.
This would ensure all parliamentarians are allowed to operate on an equal footing and, we believe, would strengthen the parliament as a whole as it would empower parliamentarians to negotiate policy positions with their parties from a position of increased strength.
We anticipate this would go some way towards loosening the rigidity of the party whip.
FUNDING UNDER THE ELECTORAL ACTS
A second stream of political funding is paid to registered political parties who receive a minimum of 2% of all first preference votes cast in the preceding general election.
These ‘qualifying parties’ are allocated an annual fixed sum payment and receive a share of an annual €4.98 million fund proportionate to the percentage of the vote they received.
Interestingly though, the distribution of this fund does not take account of votes cast for nonqualifying parties and independents, so for example although the presently qualifying parties collectively received just 83% of first preferences cast in General Election 2011 they share 100% of the €4.98 million fund between them.
The Social Democrats propose that this distribution mechanism be changed so that parties receive sums calculated against the exact percentage of first preference votes received in the preceding general election, with the remainder of the fund being allocated to the Irish Electoral Commission to engage in political education and outreach work.
ADDITIONAL MEASURES
We will poverty proof all legislation and policy decisions by working together with interested parties who will be affected by the outcomes of each decision.
We will systematically introduce an e-governance platform based on the Nordic initiative which provides for integrated service delivery and ensures accessibility to citizens.
Thanks to the hard work and resilience of the Irish people, our economy is now recovering.
While the economic recovery remains fragile and cannot be taken for granted, we now have it in our grasp to make Ireland a country where our people can once again prosper, work, start a business, raise a family and grow old with dignity.
Fine Gael's promise is to give our people the solid foundation on which they can build their lives -no more boom and bust, no more reckless waste of taxpayers' money, no more sense of a CriSIS.
Our Long Term Economic Plan offers our people the stability and certainty needed to keep the recovery going. lt has three steps: 1. More and Better Jobs
2. Making Work Pay
3. Investing in Better Services
By keeping the recovery going, the aim of our Plan is that by 2022-the l00th anniversary of the foundation of the State-Ireland will be a country which: • Makes a job available to everyone who wants one •
Gives every family the supports needed to escape from poverty •
Has brought home at least 70,000 of our friends and family forced to leave because of the CriSIS •
Gives every child  an equal opportunity in life by providing the health, education and family services they need Fine Gael has learnt from the mistakes made by previous governments
-we know that only a strong economy that supports people at work can pay for the services needed for a just society.
We are determined not to let Ireland go back-not to those who wrecked our economy in the first place, and not to those who would kill jobs with new taxes on work.
In an uncertain world, our Long Term Economic Plan will reinforce Ireland's position as a projobs and pro-family country of stability, growth and opportunity for all.
My commitment to you is to keep it that way.
Together with the Irish people, Fine Gael will keep the recovery going.
£nda~Tf) Leader Fine Gael FINE GAEL General Election Manifesto 2016
<<text below is a translation of the above>>
REAMHRA ON TAOISEACH
<<text above is a translation of the English preceding it>>
The Long Term Economic Plan -Three Steps to Keep the Recovery Going
Thanks to the hard work and resilience of the Irish people, our economy is now recovering.
There are more people back at work.
Our roads and shops are busier.
We all remember the depth of the crisis that gripped the country only 5 years ago.
An economy in freefall; banks on the brink of collapse; 300,000 jobs destroyed; and Ireland's international reputation in shreds.
A country in a Troika bailout.
In 2011, Fine Gael promised to get Ireland working again.
While every element of our 5-Point Plan hasn't yet been delivered, most of it has, with the rest on the way.
This Government, working with the people, implemented a recovery plan to bring us to where we are today.
Together, we ended the bailout and restored our international reputation.
Together, we supported the changes to help create 135,000 extra jobs since 2012.
There is, of course, a long way to go.
Families know that the recovery is fragile and incomplete.
Many don't yet feel the benefits.
All remain nervous about the risks ahead and the danger of slipping back.
Fine Gael's commitment to you is that we are never going back.
Underpinning our manifesto is Fine Gael's Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going.
lt has three steps.
1. More and Better Jobs
The first step is to create even more job opportunities, spread across the country.
Since 2012, businesses have delivered an extra 135,000 jobs-more than the 100,000 we promised.
But this is not enough.
We will build on this during our second term of office by delivering Sustainable Full Employment.
This will mean:
An extra 200,000 jobs by 2020, leading to more people at work than ever before; and
70,000 Irish emigrants returning home to work
These targets are ambitious, but achievable with the right policies.
That's why our manifesto commits to more measures to support both lrish-owned businesses and foreign investment in this country, including:
The establishment  of a new €4bn "Future Jobs Investment Fund" to future-proof the economy and our jobs plan against rising global risks and challenges
Sectoral  growth strategies for food, agriculture, tourism, financial services, aviation and transport
Doubling  to 31,000 the number of apprenticeships for new and growing sectors of the economy, as part of a step change in the capacity of our higher level education system to educate, develop, deploy and retain talent
A new 10% CGT rate on start-ups from 2017
€42bn in infrastructure investments, shaped by clear regional jobs strategies, to bring unemployment to below 7% in every region of the country
Protecting  our 12.5% rate of corporation tax and further enhancements to our corporate tax regime to encourage more investment, innovation and job creation
2. Making Work Pay
Fine Gael believes that work, rather than welfare, is the only sustainable route out of poverty.
The second step in our Plan is to continue to make sure that, as more jobs are created, work pays more than welfare, and that hard work and entrepreneurship are better rewarded.
That's why our manifesto commits to:
Completing  the equalisation of the income tax system for the self-employed by 2018
Completing the abolition of the USC over a 5-year period, as part of a wider income tax reform plan that broadens the tax base and limits the benefits for the highest earners
Doubling housing output to 25,000 per year by 2020 to make housing more available and affordable for working families
Sensible, affordable increases in the minimum wage to €10.50 over the 5-year period
A Working Family Payment designed to ensure that every parent working 15 hours or more per week takes home at least €11.75 per hour
The extension of free GP care to the children of all families by 2019
A  second free pre-school year, and a €2,000 childcare subsidy for working parents of children aged between 9 months and 36 months in formal childcare settings
Through these measures, our Plan aims to -by 2020 -move 70,000 long-term unemployed people into a job, cut the national unemployment rate to 6%, and reduce the numbers of people living in Jobless Households towards the European average.
3. Investing in Better Services
Only a strong economy that supports people at work can pay for the services needed for the type of just society that is at the heart of Fine Gael's vision for Ireland.
With the boost to the public finances from increasing numbers back at work and a growing economy,
the third step in our Plan is to continue to invest in better services that improve people's lives and protect the weakest and most vulnerable in our society from poverty and exclusion.
Our Plan will use the resources generated by the economic recovery to fund, by 2021:
An additional 10,183 doctors, nurses, Gardaf, teachers, social workers and other frontline service professionals within a well-run and cost-effective public service
A significant increase  in investment in our health services, to meet the needs of our growing and ageing population, reduce waiting lists, and to fund better primary and community care
A €20 increase in weekly social welfare payments to carers, the disabled and the sick
A package  of measures for the elderly, including a €25 per week increase in the State pension, a €30 per week increase including the Living Alone Allowance, more "Fair Deal" nursing home places, and 2 million more home help hours
We will also set up a "rainy day fund" to cope with unexpected events.
Our Long Term Economic Plan will leave €2.5bn of the available fiscal space unallocated as a Contingency and Stability Reserve.
This reserve will act as a buffer against unexpected shocks, both domestic and international, and will be allocated according to a set of conditions to be set out by Government in Budget 2017, with the advice of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.
The money will either be saved (used for additional debt reduction) or injected into the economy, in line with the needs of economic and fiscal stability.
In this way, our Plan will eliminate new government borrowing by 2018, and will keep the public finances in surplus thereafter.
Together with our plan to sell at least half of the taxpayers' stakes in the bailed-out banks by 2021 (with the rest to be sold thereafter),
our Long Term Economic Plan will bring government debt levels down to well below the EU average, providing the economy with a safety buffer against unexpected shocks.
1. Agriculture and Food
The Agriculture and Food sector is a strategic priority for Fine Gael.
We recognise that farm families are the heartbeat of the rural economy and our vision for the sector will inspire the next generation to continue the tradition of family farming.
Our ambition is to position Ireland as the highest quality food producing nation in the world, based on innovation, sustainability
and family farming.
The Agriculture and Food sector is a strategic priority for Fine Gael.
We recognise that farm families are the heartbeat of the rural economy and our vision for the sector will inspire the next generation to continue the tradition of family farming.
Our ambition is to position Ireland as the highest quality food producing nation in the world, based on innovation, sustainability and family farming.
Food Wise 2025 is our strategic plan for continued growth in the agri-food sector.
This cross-sectoral strategy has been developed in conjunction with industry stakeholders and maps the way forward for all sectors including dairy, meat, prepared consumer foods, seafood, whiskey and craft beer, horticulture, forestry and tillage.
The implementation of the Food Wise 2025 strategy will be a fundamental priority for Fine Gael and will help inform decision making in terms of policy and taxation measures for future budgets.
Fine Gael is committed to ensuring that agri-food businesses are supported, from the largest operators in the sector to the smallest of artisan food businesses.
Conscious that the number of artisan food businesses has increased substantially in recent years, we will build further on this growth and help small artisans scale their businesses.
By 2025, we will deliver:
An increase in value of exports by 85% to €19bn
An increase in value added by 70% to €13bn
An increase in value of primary production by 65% to almost €10bn
The creation  of a further 23,000 jobs in the agrifood sector
Protecting Farming Incomes: We successfully negotiated a reformed and fairly redistributed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), securing €12.5bn in CAP funds, and introduced a new tax credit and reduced use rates, enhancing the viability of Irish farms.
We also introduced new regulations under the Consumer and Competition Act to tackle unfair practices in the grocery trade and
will pursue further actions at an EU and domestic level to deliver transparency and fairness in the food supply chain.
During a second term we will:
Continue  to seek out new markets and promote sustainable farming practices to mitigate the difficulties which price volatility can create
Fine Gael has delivered the first legal framework for Producer Organisations in the beef sector.
We will encourage the use of this framework to develop a more professional negotiating relationship between farmers and processors, ensuring farmers are not just price takers.
Continue to use the tax system to encourage strategic change in agriculture to support farm incomes
Farm Gate Investment: Fine Gael has committed €4bn to on-farm investment through the Rural Development Programme (RDP).
Schemes like GLAS, TAMS, the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, locally led environmental schemes, knowledge transfer programmes, horticulture, organics and Areas of Natural Constraint are being rolled out as a priority.
Fine Gael will drive the implementation of the RDP in the interests of all farmers, big and small, across all sectors and will carry out a mid-term review to ensure the full draw down of all EU funds.
We have renegotiated a new Farmer's Charter and will deliver on the agreed targets for processing payments, schemes and services , to the benefit of all farmers.
GENERATIONAL CHANGE -FARM FAMILIES
The level of ambition that Fine Gael has for agriculture will particularly encourage the next generation of farm families.
Young Farmers: Young farmers and new entrants are vital for the continued growth and success of the sector.
We have consistently prioritised young farmers, establishing the Young Farmers Scheme, a fund of over €24m for each of the years 2015 to 2019.
We have ensured that the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme was the first under the new TAMS 11 to be opened under the RDP.
Fine Gael established priority for young farmers and new entrants under the National Reserve.
Agricultural Colleges: Irish agriculture is in a better place than ever before and this is particularly evident in our agricultural colleges, which are full with ambitious students.
Fine Gael has increased the teacher allocation in agricultural colleges to meet this growing demand
and will ensure that this sector continues to respond to the ambitions of these students and to the needs of the sector, while continuing to produce high-calibre entrants to the workforce.
We will also review the Green Cert to make sure it is fit for purpose.
Agri-Taxation Measures: We completed the first ever extensive agri-taxation review, resulting in a package worth €300m, leading to greater land mobility and increased productivity.
We are committed to using the tax system strategically to modernise and support agriculture through land leasing, partnership and mobility measures.
Farm Safety: Farm safety continues to be a critical issue facing farming today.
We have committed €12.2m, under the RDP, to support an increased range of safety items.
We will continue to work with the farming community in promoting safe farm practices.
Social Farming: Fine Gael will build on the existing social farming initiative, which supports farming operations on family farms or in institutional settings, offering, on a voluntary basis, farming, horticultural and animal-related work experiences to people availing of a range of day support services.
SUPPORTING ALL SECTORS
Beef: We are committed to the beef sector and to increasing profitability through greater efficiencies.
The Beef Forum has demonstrated the effectiveness of bringing industry and farming organisations together in positive and open engagement.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme will spend over €300m on modernising and improving efficiency in the beef herd as well as supporting farm incomes.
This, in tandem with the introduction of a framework for producer organisations and knowledge transfer schemes (discussion groups), will support farmers in increasing efficiency and profitability.
Dairy: The abolition of milk quotas continues to represent the biggest opportunity for the Irish dairy sector and, as markets stabilise, Fine Gael will ensure that Irish producers are best placed to benefit from this, on the back of prudent investment.
We will continue to convene a dairy forum to manage growth, ensure sustainability and address challenges within the sector.
Fine Gael has invested heavily in the future of this sector through supports for processors expanding their enterprises, and this is being matched by on-farm capital investment through TAMS and knowledge transfer schemes.
We have also supported farmers through the recent period of market volatility with a €25m compensation fund.
We will also encourage the establishment of a futures market for dairy produce and encourage price stabilisation tools to combat price volatility.
Sheepmeat: Developing the sheep sector is a key focus of the Food Wise 2025 strategy.
We will improve efficiency and profitability in the sector through the knowledge transfer programme (discussion groups).
We will further support sheep farmers through GLAS, the Areas of Natural Constraint scheme and TAMS.
Fine Gael is also committed to a specific new support programme for the sheep sector in the context of the mid-term review of the RDP, reflecting the priority that we attach to maintaining numbers in the sheep flock.
Poultry: We have established a dedicated scheme for investment in the poultry sector, assisting producers in modernising their facilities, increasing competitiveness and returns within the sector.
Fine Gael will also continue to support the industry in addressing animal health issues like campylobacter through the established working group, involving all stakeholders across the sector.
Pigmeat: We are providing support for on-farm investment through TAMS 11.
The on-farm animal health and welfare scheme, provided through the RDP, will benefit the pig sector.
We will work with the Pig Industry Stakeholder group to enhance areas such as food safety, quality, animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
The development of a viable pigmeat sector is a priority for Fine Gael and we will continue to pursue new and alternative markets to provide opportunities for certainty and growth in the sector.
Organic Sector: Under Fine Gael, support for the Organic Farming Scheme has doubled, with €52m earmarked for the sector over the course of the RDP.
As a further support, a dedicated Capital Investment Scheme for the organic sector has been included in TAMS 11.
Tillage Sector: We are committed to a growing and profitable tillage sector in Ireland.
Fine Gael will continue to put in place supports and measures aimed at improving the level of production, quality and viability of the Irish tillage sector.
We will introduce a new TAMS scheme aimed specifically at the tillage area to improve efficiency and profitability.
We are currently seeking EU approval for this scheme.
Horticulture: We recognise the importance of the horticulture sector and will continue to prioritise capital investment for development in this area.
We recognise the potential to grow the output value of this sector to over €500m in the medium term and will deliver on the actions in the Food Wise Strategy to achieve this target.
We are conscious of the need to safeguard this sector from potential unfair practices in the grocery sector and will monitor the impact of new legislation in this area in that context.
Forestry: The role of forestry in the effort to mitigate against climate change is very significant.
Fine Gael will implement the Forestry Programme 2014-2020.
The programme targets an increase in planting each year over the lifetime of the programme, commencing with 6,000 ha of new forests in year one, increasing to 8,290 ha in 2020.
The programme will aim to build on research by COFORD on the eligible land considered suitable for forestry across the country.
Island Farming: In recognising the unique challenges of island farming under the new Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, we secured, for the first time, a special payment to assist island farmers in preserving traditional farming methods and preventing land abandonment.
€15m will be invested in island communities during the course of the RDP.
Commonage/Hill Farmers: Fine Gael recognises that some farmers are working in challenging conditions.
The ANC Scheme will invest €195m annually in areas of disadvantage.
Fine Gael will also continue to prioritise access for farmers in commonage or restricted areas through agri-environment schemes like GLAS.
We will continue to play a supportive role in sustainably managing farming on commonages.
Locally Led Agri-Environment Schemes: Fine Gael will roll out Locally Led Agri-Environment Schemes (LLAES), which will target habitats such as the hen harrier, pearl mussel, Burren, along with other locally led schemes which address specific environmental concerns.
Horse and Greyhound Sectors: Fine Gael has shown a determination to prioritise the Horse and Greyhound sectors, by significantly increasing funding over the last 5 years.
We see these sectors as fundamentally important to rural Ireland and will continue to prioritise strategic investment, support and modernisation in this area.
Committing to projects like the new Curragh racecourse is a sign of things to come in terms of capital investment in the sector.
In the greyhound sector, we have encouraged strategic reform and growth, and increased prize money by 25%.
We will prioritise further reform, through the implementation of the lndecon Report recommendations and the introduction of new governance legislation.
Fine Gael recognises the contribution of the sport horse industry and will work with stakeholders to implement its 10-year strategy, which is designed to improve quality through improved breeding, education and training as well as welfare, marketing and sales expertise.
We will explore new funding models for the sport horse sector, to provide the kind of finance needed to develop and maintain Ireland's position as a world leader in the breeding and training of sport horses.
REALISING OUR AMBITION
Growing our Exports: Food Wise 2025 sets out a framework to harness the ambition of Irish producers for further growth across all subsectors of the Irish agri-food industry.
Fine Gael's record in increasing returns to Irish farmers by delivering access to new markets is unrivalled.
Through continued cooperation with Bord Bia and our network of Irish embassies, we will continue to drive trade missions and seek out new market opportunities for Irish goods.
In this context we are committed to significantly increasing Bord Bia staff numbers in strategic new markets.
Climate Change : Fine Gael has made it very clear that agriculture has a significant role to play in meeting our climate change targets in the future.
We are committed to protecting the environment and reducing the emissions intensity of our production systems.
Ireland is, and will continue to be, a world leader in responding to the new challenges of climate change and global food security.
We are committed to designing and delivering a very ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy for Irish agriculture and the broader food industry.
Our record is clear in the RDP and Origin Green programmes, where climate change strategies on farms and in food businesses are well underway.
Improving Competitiveness and Sustainability: Our ambition for the agri-food sector is based on growing the food industry sustainably.
Ensuring our food is produced to high environmental standards will deliver enhanced profits for farmers through greater efficiency at the farm level and a better margin in the marketplace
as well as delivering for the environment.
We are committed to being the first country in the world to adopt a sustainability audit system, across producer, processor and manufacturing levels.
The audit system will continue to be developed through the Origin Green programme and will be enhanced by measures under the RDP, climate change policy and the Food Wise 2025 strategy.
Origin Labelling: We will harness Ireland's reputation and avail of any competitive advantage generated by existing labelling rules.
Live Exports: We remain committed to live cattle exports, under a licensing system, while continuing to work with the World Organisation for Animal Health, to ensure animal welfare standards are met.
We believe that live exports are an essential part of ensuring price competition for farmers.
Research and Innovation: Fine Gael believes Ireland can become a global centre for innovation in the food and drink sector.
By promoting partnerships between the Department of Agriculture, Enterprise Ireland, Teagasc, Bord Bia, universities and the food and drink sector, we will develop new projects and increase the competitiveness of Irish goods.
Maintaining Access to Credit: We are now working with the European Investment Bank and the European Commission to deliver new and more affordable lines ofcredit for farmers and the agri-food sector generally.
We are determined to see these new financial products in the market in 2016 and will continue to provide state-backed financing options for the sector.
Trade Negotiations: Fine Gael will safeguard Ireland's defensive and offensive interests in the context of any future international trade negot1at1ons.
We will ensure that our national interests are protected in any future trade discussions, with particular focus on beef and food safety standards.
We will work with the European Commission and our strong network of colleagues across the European People's Party to ensure the best possible outcome for Ireland in any future negotiations.
Industry Innovation: Fine Gael will continue to consider new industry development opportunities in areas such as energy crops and sugar beet.
New opportunities will be assessed in conjunction with the relevant research organisations.
ROBUST SYSTEMS AND WELFARE
Animal Health and Welfare: Fine Gael has overseen the most comprehensive reform and updating of standards to protect the health and welfare of animals in 100 years.
Animal welfare laws have been strengthened and supports for welfare organisations have been enhanced, with almost €9m awarded to animal welfare organisations during the last 5 years.
Fine Gael introduced a new dedicated animal welfare helpline for reports of animal cruelty, a new inspection system for puppy farms, microchipping for dogs, a new code of practice and unannounced inspections for circuses, a ban on tail docking and a range of legislative changes under the Control of Horses Act.
The further implementation of the Animal Welfare Act 2013 will continue to be prioritised by Fine Gael.
Fine Gael has also invested in an Urban Horse Project, to encourage greater care and welfare of horses in urban environments; we will roll out this project to additional locations.
Flooding: Many farmers were adversely affected by recent flooding conditions.
We prioritised the delivery of animal welfare assistance to farmers in flooded areas through the provision of emergency fodder, through a fodder aid scheme and a hardship scheme for farmers in very difficult circumstances.
This is an essential component of the broader effort to help farmers in challenging circumstances while also investing in appropriate flood defences.
Animal Health: We will continue to develop a range of programmes across the animal health area to improve outcomes and quality across all sectors and will publish a new Animal Health Strategy to fundamentally underpin our agri-food sector quality assurance programmes.
TB Eradication: We are committed to fully eradicating TB by 2030.
We have enhanced compensation arrangements for farmers to mitigate the losses experienced by those dealing with significant losses from an outbreak.
We recognise the improvement in TB levels in some areas is still challenged by individual blackspots, such as in parts of Wicklow and we are committed to targeting these localised issues.
Food Safety and Traceability: Our success as an industry is fundamentally linked to food traceability and safety.
Fine Gael will continue to build on our existing systems to ensure producers and consumers can be assured of quality from farm to fork.
2. Arts, Culture and Heritage
Promoting and supporting our arts, culture and heritage is good for our society, our economy and our national identity, both at home and abroad.
Fine Gael recognises that our arts and culture have always been, and always will be, one of Ireland's enduring strengths.
The arts belong to everybody and Fine Gael is committed to increasing access to, and participation in, the arts, boosting our creative industries and preserving our heritage.
Our approach is based on the belief that societies which invest in the arts and heritage are more prosperous, successful societies.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Ireland 2016 : The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is the national initiative to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years, and look ambitiously to our future.
Fine Gael will continue to implement the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme throughout 2016, to ensure that this pivotal period in our history is commemorated in an inclusive, appropriate and respectful way.
This will include an extensive education programme, a series of state commemorative events and more than 2,000 community events planned through the local authority network.
Decade of Centenaries: In the coming years we will commemorate the centenaries of some of the most significant events in the history of this State.
Building on the success of Ireland 2016, we will ensure that these commemorations are inclusive, and enhance our understanding of our shared history, particularly among children and young people, so that they have a meaningful and lasting impact.
National Cultural Policy: We will publish the first ever national cultural policy-Culture 2025 -as part of our effort to recognise and promote our arts, culture and heritage, and to ensure they reach their full potential.
Culture 2025 will consider a range of important issues including: supporting artists and creative workers, improving access to culture, breaking down barriers in areas of social exclusion and disadvantage,
and how culture is enriched by greater cultural diversity.
The publication of Culture 2025 follows a widespread consultation process with relevant stakeholders.
lt is intended that this will be a living document, supported by an annual National Cultural Consultation Day.
The Arts Council: Fine Gael supports the important work of the Arts Council as the principal state agency for the promotion and development of the arts and will work with the Arts Council to ensure more artists, arts organisations and events are supported, while at the same time further increasing transparency in the Arts Council's decision-making processes and improving communication with arts officers and other relevant stakeholders.
Regional Arts and Cultural Centres: We will introduce a new small grants scheme to provide essential upgrades to existing regional arts and cultural centres around the country, including regional theatres.
We will also introduce a new programme to increase the participation of young people, particularly in socially disadvantaged areas, in their local theatres.
Regional Museums: We will boost supports to regional museums and facilitate increased loans between our National Cultural Institutions and our network of regional museums.
Inspiring Ireland: Fine Gael will continue to support Inspiring Ireland, a project to make Ireland's rich cultural heritage available online.
Collections from the National Cultural Institutions will be available to view free of charge, making Irish culture and heritage accessible to people worldwide.
International Artistic Footprint: Ireland is recognised worldwide as a country of immense cultural talent and artistic creativity.
Through the work of Culture Ireland, Fine Gael will continue to support opportunities for Irish artists to present their work abroad, which has significant benefits for Irish artists, as well as attracting business and tourism to our shores.
Creative Education: Fine Gael acknowledges the benefits to children who engage in the arts and will continue to implement the Arts in Education Charter, which provides an unprecedented opportunity for children and young people to engage in a proactive and meaningful way with arts in education in Ireland.
Culture Night: Fine Gael recognises Culture Night as a unique occasion in the Irish cultural calendar, where the Irish public are given unrivalled access to arts and heritage venues.
We will work to increase the regional spread of Culture Night through direct engagement with, and support for, local authority arts officers.
National Musical Instrument Library: Fine Gael will roll out a National Musical Instrument Library for children and young people, where a variety of instruments can be rented out for a nominal fee on a countrywide basis.
We will also continue to support 'Music Generation' to ensure programmes are sustained on a long-term and lasting basis with Local Music Education Partnerships.
Recognising Artists: We will introduce a standalone award that recognises and rewards lrish-based artists for their work and seeks to promote them at domestic and international level.
Public Art: Fine Gael will work with the Arts Council and local authority arts officers to identify and promote public art spaces in our major towns and cities.
These spaces will help to showcase the work of emerging artists and will help to drive economic regeneration in urban areas.
Building Links with the Business Community: We will further encourage strong, mutually beneficial links between the business community and arts organisations.
This approach will be based on helping arts organisations to capitalise on sponsorship opportunities, and develop business partnerships and fundraising skills.
Boosting Philanthropy: Fine Gael believes philanthropy should be pursued as a positive complement to, rather than substitute for, state funding for the arts and our cultural institutions.
We will build on the success of initiatives such as the New Stream initiative, which has helped to boost the fundraising capacity in the Irish arts sector.
We will also establish a dedicated philanthropic fund to help drive philanthropic giving to our cultural institutions.
Tax Relief on Donations: We will extend the Section 1003 tax relief to important heritage items that are donated to regional museums, as well as cultural institutions.
European Capital of Culture: We will promote the European Capital of Culture, which Ireland will host in 2020, as a key driver of tourism and urban regeneration.
lt will be used as an opportunity to showcase the successful city and the entire country as a location for artistic expression.
Arts and Heritage Officers: We will encourage each local authority to strengthen the role of arts and heritage officers.
We will establish stronger links between arts and heritage officers, the OPW, Failte Ireland, the Arts Council, as well as with the Local Enterprise Office, to develop and promote opportunities for arts and cultural tourism.
Irish Film Board: Fine Gael will work with the Irish Film Board/Screen Ireland to ensure that Ireland is maximised as a location for international film production.
Having increased the cap from €50m to €70m in Budget 2016, Fine Gael will work to further improve the Section 481 Tax Relief.
We will also increase the number of training courses available in Screen Training Ireland for graduates seeking to enter the audio-visual industry, including our thriving animation sector, and will introduce a new scheme aimed at increasing the number of women working in the film industry.
Fine Gael will work with industry to set up an apprenticeship programme to address the skills needed in the audio-visual sector.
Skills Database: We will establish a new online portal which will act as a skills database for the audiovisual sector, for the benefit of both domestic and international employers, and prospective employees.
Creative Sector Taskforce: We will establish a Creative Sector Taskforce, which will draw up an Action Plan for Growth across the entire sector, including audiovisual, gaming, animation and music.
HERITAGE
Promoting our Cultural Heritage: We will establish a strategic partnership between the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Tourism, OPW, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and other relevant agencies to promote our unique and valuable culture and heritage assets in a unified way, in order to boost cultural tourism.
National Heritage Plan: Fine Gael will develop and publish an updated National Heritage Plan that sets out policies for the protection and promotion of our built and natural heritage and responds to challenges within the heritage sector.
Protecting our Heritage: We recently announced a €2m Built Heritage Investment Scheme for the repair and conservation of unique heritage structures across the country.
This fund, which is based on the successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, is jobs intensive and will help to regenerate urban and rural areas.
We will continue this programme on an annual basis to support the conservation of heritage structures across the country.
Historic Towns Initiative: We will expand this initiative to include an additional 15 towns, following the successful pilot in 2013 and 2014.
The scheme harnesses the cultural and natural heritage assets of Ireland's historic towns, to stimulate regeneration and to bring benefits in terms of the local economy, employment, and social, environmental and cultural factors.
Living City Initiative: We will review the Living City Initiative and the conditions that apply to the size of properties in order to boost the attractiveness of the scheme, which will contribute to both built heritage and urban regeneration.
Historic Houses: We will implement the recommendations of the recently published Historic House Action Plan to support a sustainable future for the historic Irish country houses.
UNESCO Cultural Heritage: Fine Gael will implement the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage so that Ireland's unique cultural heritage assets, such as hurling, uilleann piping and the Folklore Collection in UCD, are given UNESCO recognition and status.
National Parks: Fine Gael recognises our national parks as one of our most significant natural resources, as well as a major tourism and local recreational resource.
We will work to improve existing trails in our national parks and examine how this network could be expanded further to offer improved heritage trails and related tours of local heritage sites.
To further this goal, we will also work with the relevant tourism bodies to ensure our national parks are better promoted.
Peatlands Management: Fine Gael will implement the National Peatlands Strategy, which sets out a wholeof-government approach to managing our peatlands in a sustainable way, based on engagement with the local community.
We will also work to develop our peatlands as tourist attractions and recreational resources for the local community.
Inland Waterways: We will continue to develop our blueways as a tourism and recreational resource, and as a suitable location for events, festivals and sporting activities.
We will also enhance our waterways as important local amenities, by improving adjoining facilities, such as walkways and cycle paths.
Ulster Canal: Following the recent Fresh Start Agreement, we will ensure that the Irish Government undertakes a review, with the Northern Ireland Executive, to identify options for jointly developing future phases of the Ulster Canal restoration project, for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council in June 2016.
3. Banking
Fine Gael is putting consumers at the heart of our plan for the banking sector over the next 5 years.
We want to empower consumers with choice, credit and confidence.
Fine Gael is putting consumers at the heart of our plan for the banking sector over the next 5 years.
We want to empower consumers with choice, credit and confidence:
Choice in competitive services and products, choice in how to manage your money and choice in how you spend your money
Credit for consumers and businesses which is easily accessible and available in diverse forms
Confidence that your money is secure and that you will be treated with fairness at every stage of your life
CHOICE
Increasing Take-up of Bank Accounts: Approximately one-fifth (20%) of Irish households do not have a bank account and this problem disproportionately affects the poor,
the disabled
and the elderly.
In an increasingly digital era, not having a current account can prevent people from accessing cheaper goods and services which are exclusively available online.
Fine Gael will seek to promote the use of new enabler/standard bank accounts (such as the new An Post ePayment account).
Empowering these households will unlock the benefits of epayments and complement the Pathways to Work Plan for Jobless Households.
We are determined to include everyone in this recovery.
New National Payments Plan: Fine Gael will instigate a National Payments Plan, with particular focus on SMEs.
A key priority will be encouraging SMEs to switch from cheques to electronic payments, to reduce both red tape and costs.
We want all consumers to have the option of paying electronically.
Credit Unions: Fine Gael recognises the vital role that credit unions play in their communities and the support they provide to the local economy in which they operate.
We are committed to ensuring that credit unions do not just survive, but that they benefit from regulatory support, in order to respond to the needs of a changing economy and to increasingly sophisticated users.
Specifically we will:
Support the rollout and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme, which is providing simple microloans to members and helping to combat the use of moneylenders
Assist credit unions in making successful applications to retain members' savings in excess of €100,000 (CP88), recognising the independence of the Registrar of Credit Unions
Ask the Central Bank of Ireland to instigate a review of the continued appropriateness of the savings limit within a year of the formation of the next government
Work with the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing
Support credit unions' move towards more electronic and online services, including the rollout of debit cards and enhanced online banking services
Ask the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) to conduct a review, and report by the end of June 2016, on the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Commission on Credit Unions.
A Competitive Banking Sector: Fine Gael has stabilised the banking sector, with both AIB and Bank of Ireland functioning as strong universal banks, and Permanent TSB increasingly operating as a challenger bank.
Fine Gael wants to see more entrants and a vibrant banking sector with real competition in order to support the recovering economy.
We will actively support measures to increase competition in the market
and achieve a fairer deal for consumers and SMEs.
Standard Variable Rates: We believe increased competition from outside and within the banking sector is the best way to drive down standard variable rates.
We wi11:
Establish a code of conduct for switching mortgage provider, administered by the Central Bank, which should inform and encourage mortgage holders to switch to more competitive banks
Propose  a standardised and dedicated switching form, which will be simple to use and quick to administer
CREDIT
Access to Finance: Access to finance will be absolutely critical to realising our ambition that Ireland will become a leading country for start-ups and that our enterprises will more easily progress in capacity and scale.
To achieve this, we need to deliver €1bn per year from new sources of finance to supplement normal bank offerings to SMEs.
Such an ambitious goal will require a mixture of sources and include:
New forms of equity
Mid-size investment rounds
Development  finance for manufacturing and international services
New forms of export and trade finance
Peer-to-peer lending
We will also ensure that there is careful monitoring of the performance of the institutions in this area (such as Microfinance Ireland and the SBCI) so that we continually update our knowledge on the needs of enterprise, as they emerge, as we move to deliver on this ambitious target.
European Investment Bank (EIB): Fine Gael recognises the valuable resource that the EIB represents, in funding projects of social value and delivering balanced regional development.
We will work with the EIB to:
Facilitate easier access to capital, especially for SMEs
Streamline  procedures to help businesses across Ireland to compete for EU-funded projects
Focus  on directing structural funds to the areas most in need
International Financial Services: Fine Gael prioritised international financial services by appointing a Minister of State with specific responsibility for the area.
We are targeting 10,000 jobs in this sector through our IFS 2020 Strategy and we will seek to exploit emerging sub-sectors such as payments and financial technology (fintech).
Payments Industry: Fine Gael believes Ireland's payments industry has high growth potential.
We will create a Payments Forum to coordinate the key players in the payments industry and ask the Forum to publish a national strategy for the industry, drawing on best international practice.
Fintech: Ireland is a world leader for fintech startups and Fine Gael will work with industry, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to bolster funding for this sector.
NAMA: We will work with NAMA to repay all senior debt by 2018 and generate a surplus of €2bn by the time of its wind-down, in 2020.
We will also seek to ensure that NAMA continues to deliver new residential and social housing units,
agree rent reductions for SMEs and collaborate with the IDA to maximise new business investment opportunities from its portfolio.
Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Responsible Investment: Fine Gael believes that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues impact on long-term investment performance and we will direct the ISIF to continue to operate a Responsible Investment Policy and remain a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
Capital Acquisitions Tax: We will improve the tax treatment of gifts and inheritances from parents to young adults, by increasing the capital acquisitions Group A threshold to €500,000.
CONFIDENCE
Selling Bank Assets: We are committed to disposing of the State's investments in the banking sector when market conditions are right, and to recovering all the taxpayers' money invested by the current Government.
In order to help undo the damage to Ireland's public finances from the banking crisis and to provide a buffer against future risks, all proceeds from the disposal of bank assets will be used to pay down government debt.
Financial Regulation: Fine Gael has played a key part in building a new EU regulatory framework for financial and banking stability.
We will continue to support the establishment of a European Banking Union with a single rulebook to ensure the Eurozone crisis we have just experienced can never happen again.
We have radically overhauled and strengthened the powers of the Central Bank.
We are determined to build on the structures and supervisory mechanisms in place to ensure the banking malpractice and lighttouch regulation of the 2000s is never allowed to reemerge in Ireland.
Independence of the Central Bank: We will protect the independence of the Central Bank as a guardian of financial stability.
We support the introduction of the recently announced "Countercyclical Capital Buffers" as a way to ensure that never again is runaway credit growth allowed to destroy our financial stability and economic prosperity.
European Banking Union: Ireland will participate fully in the European Banking Union and support the introduction of a European-wide deposit insurance scheme.
we believe this will help reduce interest rates, for SMEs and homeowners, to European norms.
Central Credit Register: We will work with the Central Bank to introduce a Central Credit Register within the first few months of the next Dail term.
This register will for the first time bring together comprehensive financial information on borrowers and should help prevent individuals over-indebting themselves, as happened in the lead up to the crisis.
Framework to Support Mortgage Holders in Arrears: Fine Gael established the Insolvency Service of Ireland, a strict set of mortgage arrears resolution targets for the banks and a mortgage-to-rent scheme.
Fine Gael wants to keep people in their homes and, building on the progress which has seen the number in mortgage arrears decline for 9 consecutive quarters, we will continue to adapt and strengthen the existing mortgage arrears framework as necessary.
In addition, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has been established as a "one-stop shop" point of information and guidance for homeowners in mortgage arrears, with a dedicated mortgage arrears service in key locations and with nationwide coverage.
We will also introduce a new scheme to help people who are insolvent, and in mortgage arrears on their home, to access independent expert financial and legal advice.
This scheme will offer very important support and hope to people in genuine financial distress and anxiety, who can't afford the help they need.
MABS will be the gateway to this scheme and will arrange for advice and representation from a personal insolvency practitioner, a specialised MABS adviser, or a solicitor, as needed.
4. Bringing our Friends and Family Home
By keeping the recovery going, our aim is that by 2020, Ireland will have brought home at least 70,000 of the emigrants forced to leave because of the crisis.
Fine Gael believes that the lives of all of our citizens will be enriched by their return.
BRINGING OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY HOME
#HomeToWork Campaign: Our recovering economy has provided new employment opportunities for emigrants who wish to return home.
We will continue the #HomeToWork campaign.
We will build on the recommendations of the inaugural Global Irish Civic Forum to further identify and address the needs of emigrants wishing to return home to Ireland.
More and Better Jobs: Our Long Term Economic Plan aims to deliver sustainable full employment by 2020.
We are replacing the unsustainable enterprise model left behind by Fianna Fail with an export-led strategy to add a further 200,000 jobs.
Our targets are ambitious but will be underpinned by a series of sectoral growth strategies and regional action plans for jobs across the country.
usc Abolition: As well as encouraging greater domestic labour market participation and entrepreneurship, we believe that usc abolition, as an integral part of our Long Term Economic Plan, will encourage at least 70,000 emigrants to return home, by increasing Ireland's attraction as a dynamic hub for talent.
Investing in Better Services: Our Long Term Economic Plan will provide for better-resourced public services and an additional 10,183 doctors, nurses, Gardaf, teachers, social workers and other frontline service workers.
We have also committed to a €42bn Capital Plan to provide for more schools, better roads and better health facilities.
Supporting Families: We will provide for an extension of free GP care to all children, a second free pre-school year, and a €2,000 childcare subsidy for working parents of children aged between 9 months and 36 months in formal childcare settings.
To meet housing demand, Fine Gael will support an increase in annual housing output to a sustainable level of 25,000 by 2021.
A More Inclusive, Diverse, Fair and Progressive Society: Fine Gael will continue to promote a more inclusive, diverse, fair and progressive society.
As the first country in the world to vote for marriage equality, Ireland should continue to lead by example.
We will promote equal gender treatment in the workplace, recognise the diversity of our communities and assist those with a disability to fully participate in society.
Fine Gael will also strengthen parental choice and diversity in our schools system, reflecting the need in modern Ireland for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational education.
Opportunities in the Public Sector: After years ofblanket recruitment freezes across the public service, as a result of the economic crisis, we are committed to allowing public service bodies to begin new hiring programmes that bring new skills, energy and vitality into the public service.
Fine Gael will extend open recruitment across all grades of the civil service and wider public sector and we will offer more opportunity for staff development and promotion.
As the economy recovers, public servants' pay will gradually recover in line with the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
THE IRISH DIASPORA
Fine Gael has always cherished the Irish Diaspora and our commitment was underlined by the creation of a Minister for Diaspora Affairs, the publication of Ireland's first ever Diaspora Policy and the creation of the Global Irish Civic Forum.
Support: We will continue to support Irish communities overseas through the Emigrant Support Programme.
Business Networks: We will continue to work closely with Irish business networks around the world, providing important mentoring and networking opportunities for Irish people overseas.
Global Irish Forum: Following the successful fourth Global Irish Economic Forum, we will revitalise and restructure the Global Irish Network, recognising the changed economic circumstances since its establishment.
U.S. Immigration Reform: Advocating for immigration reform in the United States will remain a priority.
We will continue to use all appropriate avenues to advance the case of undocumented Irish citizens and continue to support the undocumented through the Emigrant Support Programme.
The Gathering: We will have a successor to The Gathering in 2019, building on the successful year of The Gathering, which reached out to local communities and the Diaspora in a unique way.
Local Diaspora Engagement: Fine Gael will support local communities and counties in Ireland to reach out to their own Diaspora and build new relationships, recognising that Irish people around the world have a keen sense of attachment to their home place.
In particular, we will fund the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund to support local Diaspora engagement projects and initiatives and the Local Diaspora Strategy Development Fund to assist local authorities to invest in developing strategies for Diaspora engagement at local and community level.
Voting Rights: We will fully explore the matter of voting rights for Irish citizens resident outside the State, with a view to holding a referendum on giving them the right to vote in presidential elections.
5. Climate Change, Energy and the Environment
Maintaining our natural environment and combatting climate change is an essential part of our plan to keep the recovery going.
During our first term in office we have introduced a range of progressive policies to clean up our water and air.
Fine Gael's priority is to build on this progress so that we can safeguard our environment for future generations.
CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
We strongly supported the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in December 2015, where Ireland, in partnership with 195 countries, adopted the first ever universal global climate deal, which sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C.
Climate Change Act and Climate Change Vision: We introduced the first ever climate change legislation in Ireland, which reinforced our international commitments to tackle climate change.
Fine Gael believes that the transition to a low carbon society by 2050 is an achievable and realistic goal and one that will support a more sustainable economy.
Climate Change Transition and Mitigation Plans: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act sets out how we will produce a National Low Carbon Transition and Mitigation Plan.
The Plan will set out Ireland's first statutory low carbon strategy for the period to 2050.
A primary objective of the mitigation plan will be to bring a clear and strong focus to both the challenges and the opportunities of transitioning to a low carbon future, and the importance of a positively focused and cost-effective national transition agenda.
The first National Mitigation Plan will focus on four key sectors:
Electricity gGeneration: The Plan will examine specific measures to reduce emissions in electricity generation, and will outline how new technologies can be ready for incorporation into Ireland's electricity system and that the cost of existing renewable technologies can be lowered.
Built Environment: The Plan will focus on the role of energy efficiency and use of renewable energies in both residential and non-residential buildings, with the aim of reducing emissions and making homes and businesses more comfortable, healthier and more efficient.
Transport: The Plan will focus on the development of a cost-effective policy platform for reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency across all transport modes.
lt will examine the role of technology, sustainable land use patterns, modal shift, travel demand, alternative fuel options and the impact of proposed measures on other national policy objectives.
Agriculture: The Plan will focus on balancing the need to control emissions with the economic and social objective of promoting the sustainable development of a rural economy.
lt will examine how to improve the environmental impact of agriculture through measures in the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, improving the uptake of mitigation practices by farmers, increasing the level of forest cover and continuing to undertake relevant research.
Sustainable Agriculture Industry: Fine Gael believes that protecting our environment and growing our agri-food industry in an environmentally sustainable manner is essential.
We have produced, with industry, the Food Wise 2025 strategy, which charts a course for strategic investment in environmentally sustainable approaches to agriculture, food and forestry production.
Innovation in agriculture can play an important role in tackling climate change and we want Ireland to remain as a world leader in the production and management of low carbon and high-quality sustainable food by:
Further enhancing  the Origin Green programme designed to establish Ireland as a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink
Continuing  to measure our environmental sustainability credentials, ensuring they are underpinned by best scientific practice
Implementing environmental elements  of National Programmes and the EU eo-funded Rural Development Programme 2014-2020
Prioritising  research funding for sustainable food production
Making Use of Carbon Sinks: We will continue our very active afforestation programme during a second term of government.
This programme has a significant carbon sink value and should contribute to the grassbased system of agriculture we enjoy in Ireland.
This type of "joined-up thinking" will help us meet our emissions reduction targets while also ensuring that vital industries, such as agriculture, continue to thrive.
International Climate Change Funding: As part of our Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), we provide €34m per year to build resilience to climate extremes and integrate climate-smart agricultural solutions into the economic planning of some of the world's least developed countries.
This year we will commence contributions to the United Nations Green Climate Fund, with an initial contribution of €2m that will rise in coming years.
We will also continue to support former president Mary Robinson in her role as UN Special Envoy for Climate Change and the Mary Robinson Foundation in its work on Climate Justice.
Electric Vehicles: Fine Gael wants Ireland to become a leader in the take-up of electric vehicles.
Within 6 months of government we will establish a dedicated taskforce to work on this goal, involving relevant government departments, agencies, industry and representative groups.
We will implement the recommendations contained in the Government's energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 20152030, designed to increase the number of low carbon vehicles on the road.
RENEVVABLEENERGY
Fine Gael believes that Ireland's long-term interests are best supported by further decreasing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels through the continued development of indigenous renewable energy.
We will support the development of a range of technologies and will put in place a planning framework that offers a balance between protecting the interests of local communities and the need to develop indigenous energy generation.
Supporting Renewable Energy: Fine Gael will comprehensively review price supports for renewable energy following the closure of the REFIT 2 scheme and will introduce a new competitive, technology neutral price support for renewable energy from 2016.
Onshore Wind Planning Guidelines: Fine Gael understands the concerns of local communities who feel that wind farms are imposed on them.
The technology surrounding wind farms has evolved significantly since the last set of guidelines was introduced in 2006.
Fine Gael will update the wind farm planning guidelines, within 6 months, to offer a better balance between the concerns of local communities and the need to invest in indigenous energy projects.
Community Involvement in Energy Development: Fine Gael supports community participation in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects as it is in both the national and local interest.
We will advance this by implementing the White Paper on Energy which, among other things, commits us to:
Developing a framework  for how communities can share in the benefits of substantial new energy infrastructure which is located in their area
Providing  support for community-led projects in the initial stages of development, planning and construction
Establishing  a register of community benefit payments, and exam1n1ng shared-ownership opportunities for renewable energy projects in local communities supporting, in particular, the emerging energy cooperative movement as one means of facilitating community participation
Wave, Tidal Energy and Offshore Wind: Fine Gael believes that wave and tidal energy will have an important role in Ireland's future renewable energy mix.
In the immediate term these technologies are still in the research and development stage and Fine Gael will continue to provide exchequer support to fund further research, development and demonstration of these technologies.
This will include continued support of research and testing facilities such as Irish Marine and Energy Research Cluster (IMERC) and the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site.
Fine Gael will continue to implement the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan to develop the broader offshore energy sector.
Bio-Energy: Ireland has some of the best biomass growing conditions in the world and as such Fine Gael believes the development of a sustainable sector will play a big role in decarbonising our economy.
We will continue to support the transition of peat power plants to greater amounts of biomass, and we will work with industry to develop a sustainable indigenous supply chain.
We will also introduce a renewable heat incentive (RHI), targeted at larger heat users, subject to state aid clearance.
PRICE COMPETITIVENESS
Greater Competition and Lower Energy Prices: Fine Gael will ask the Commission for Energy Regulation and New ERA (the statutory shareholder advisory body within the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) to examine the current level of competition in the energy market and to make recommendations to Government, by the end of 2016, on structural reforms to encourage greater competition in the market.
Competitive Networks: To ensure that a competitive transmission market benefits consumers, we will separate ESB Networks from ESB's generation and supply activities to create two seperate publicly owned companies within the ESB Group, as recommended by the European Commission, by the end of 2017.
NewERA and Commercial Semi-States: We will add the Dublin Airport Authority, the CIE companies, and the sea ports of national significance to the list of commercial semi-states under the NewERA portfolio.
We will, subject to EU competition policy constraints, transfer shareholdings in all the commercial semi-states under the NewERA portfolio to either the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
NewERA will provide both ministers with financial and commercial advisory services in relation to the activities of these commercial semi-states, including on the exercise of any ministerial consents required.
This centralisation of the ownership functions will help address the conflicts that can arise from many ministers' current responsibilities, as both shareholder of a commercial semi-state and as a policy maker.
Line ministers will remain responsible for policy matters in transport, water, energy, forestry etc.
NewERA will be asked to set out a new dividend policy for the commercial semi-states to increase overall dividend receipts.
NewERA will also be mandated to prepare a new comprehensive 5-year strategy by March 2017 for the portfolio of commercial semistates to ensure maximum coherence, cooperation and synergy in the delivery of renewable energy, broadband and infrastructure services.
The cabinet handbook will be changed to require that every year when the annual report and financial statements of each semi-state are presented to cabinet, they will be accompanied by an analysis by NewERA of the financial statements and company strategy.
Single Irish Electricity Market and Regional European Energy Markets: In the interests of supporting lower prices for consumers, we will continue to support a fully functioning single electricity market for the island of Ireland and we will also work with our European neighbours to develop a regional European energy market.
A competitive market is essential to underpin sustainable growth and keep the recovery going.
Better Energy Programme: Fine Gael will continue investment in the Better Energy Programme, which has already provided grants to 170,000 households.
Smart Energy Management: Fine Gael will continue to use the public sector (including schools and hospitals) as exemplars of Smart Energy Management, and we will set targets for achieving savings through energy efficiency, monitoring and control.
Energy Efficiency: Fine Gael will support the Action Plan for Jobs goal to expedite the achievement of the 33% Energy Efficiency target for the public sector by working with public sector organisations with an annual energy spend of €500,000+ to go to the market to identify solutions for the delivery of energy reduction services.
We will launch another round of the successful Energy Efficiency Fund to assist investment in large-scale projects.
ENVIRONMENT
Air Quality: To improve air quality nationwide, Fine Gael will extend the ban on the sale and use of smoky coal across the country.
Forestry: The role of forestry in the effort to mitigate against climate change is very significant.
Fine Gael will implement the Forestry Programme 2014-2020.
The programme targets an increase in planting each year over the lifetime of the programme, commencing with 6,000 ha of new forests in year one, increasing to 8,290 ha in 2020.
The programme will aim to build on research by COFORD on the eligible land considered suitable for forestry across the country.
Water Charges and Quality: Through Irish Water, the quality of Irish natural and drinking water supplies and wastewater treatment will be improved through a €5.5bn investment programme to 2021.
Water quality will be improved, boil water notices will be eliminated, and the scandal of raw sewage being pumped into our rivers and seas will be ended.
We will also ensure that Irish Water is kept in public ownership.
We will keep water charges at their current level until 2018. .
Any rise in average charges after 2018 will be limited to, at most, the overall rate of consumer price inflation.
We will also maintain a cap on maximum charges for the entire duration of Irish Water's Business Plan (2016-21).
Recycling: Fine Gael is committed to continuing to make the progress necessary for Ireland to become a recycling society.
We will move towards eliminating landfilling of municipal waste, while also maximising the resources that can be recovered from this waste.
We will also look to implement a practical and pragmatic Circular Economy package that will make Ireland a more competitive, resource-efficient economy, while also ensuring that any targets that are set for Ireland are fair and achievable.
Haulbowline: Fine Gael prioritised the remediation of the Haulbowline site in Cork, adjacent to the naval base.
Work will continue in 2016 to deal with the environmental clean-up required and the remediation of the island for future use as a multi-amenity site.
Green Public Procurement: Given the scale of the Government's annual procurement budget, the State has the ability to significantly shape the environmental performance of activity in the Irish economy.
Fine Gael will work to ensure that the Green Procurement Guidelines are applied across the public sector and we will amend those guidelines, if necessary, to ensure their implementation.
This action complements our commitment to drive energy efficiencies in all state buildings such as schools and departments.
FLOODING
Fine Gael understands that the recent flooding has been extremely difficult for many communities across our country.
We have seen an unprecedented level of rain, with December 2015 recorded as the wettest month ever on record.
Fine Gael is determined to act and we have a plan in place to mitigate against flooding, protect homes, businesses and livelihoods and to help those who have been impacted in recent weeks, months and years.
National Flood Plan: We will provide €430m, as part of the Capital Plan, for flood mitigation initiatives to protect threatened localities from river and coastal flood risk.
This investment means we will spend more on flood relief over the next 5 years than we have in the last 20.
The introduction of a new Flood Risk Management programme by the OPW will put in place a long-term plan of works to systematically identify and mitigate the risk of flooding across the country, providing a proactive plan for at-risk areas.
Our investment programme will also support the largest ever flood defence scheme undertaken by the OPW and will offer protection from flooding to thousands of residential and commercial properties across the country.
Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Implementation and Coordination Group: This new group involving all relevant agencies will oversee the implementation of flood management plans to respond to the 66 areas along the Shannon at risk of flooding.
National Flood Forecasting: We are establishing a new national flood forecasting system, staffed with additional personnel, to provide regular, detailed and localised information on flood forecasting.
Pilot Scheme of Individual Home Protection Measures: Fine Gael believes that in some cases the best flood protection measures may involve individual protection measures for homes, such as flood gates.
We are rolling out pilot schemes in Crossmolina in Mayo and Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown in Co. Kilkenny and will monitor the pilots closely with a view to a full rollout.
Flood Insurance: We have established an interdepartmental group to examine the issue of households unable to access flood insurance.
We have asked the Department of Finance to examine best international practice in other countries and report on the most effective way to ensure that all homes and businesses can access flood insurance.
Coastal Erosion: Coastal erosion poses a significant risk to communities around the country.
Corrective measures are costly and it is simply impossible to provide protection to the entire coastline.
lt is primarily up to local authorities to identify and address priority areas, but Fine Gael will continue to invest in coastal protection when such expenditure is justified, drawing on the Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study (ICPSS).
NATURAL RESOURCES
Oil and Gas Exploration: Fine Gael supports the exploration and extraction of offshore oil and gas reserves in our marine territory to boost energy security, job creation and tax revenue.
We will ensure that Ireland operates a "best in class" regulatory regime that encourages more industry exploration and drilling.
While maintaining our current taxation model, we will seek an assessment, with industry, on whether the State should keep a minority equity stake in new exploration licences, with equivalent development costs, up to the point of on-site development.
We will also continue to invest in ongoing seismic surveying of the Irish offshore area, to help industry and Government evaluate future licensing opportunities.
Whitegate: Fine Gael supports the continuation of oil refining at Whitegate, as a way of protecting our energy security.
Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking): Fine Gael will not allow any fracking to take place before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its comprehensive study on the new technology.
There is an effective moratorium in place and that will remain in place until the EPA's advice is received and considered.
Geological Surveying: Fine Gael will continue to support the Tellus project.
This geological survey is generating invaluable data, which has the potential to lead to significant investment and a better understanding of our landscape.
Fine Gael will work with local agencies to ensure local farmers will be aware of the increased presence of low-flying planes and in particular that horse owners can plan around the project.
6. A Connected Ireland
Fine Gael knows Ireland needs to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly changing world of communications if we are to keep the recovery going.
We want to build on our progress to date, in making Ireland a leading location for digital innovation.
This will allow us to create jobs, help nurture the businesses of tomorrow, and keep Irish people connected.
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
Broadband: Within the next Dail term, Fine Gael guarantees to deliver next-generation broadband to every household and business in the country.
No town, village or parish will be left behind under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) through a combination of industry and State investment, we will ensure that 85% of premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband by 2018, with 100% access by 2020.
As part of the Capital Plan, the Government is providing an initial stimulus to provide for the early years of the State's support of the NBP.
Fine Gael is fully committed to providing the resources necessary to underpin this Plan.
We are acutely aware of the importance of high-speed broadband, especially to rural Ireland, and we will do everything we can to speed up this Plan.
Mobile Phone Coverage: Fine Gael will work with the telecommunications industry to improve mobile phone coverage by improving telecommunications infrastructure.
This will require collaboration with local communities and a number of state bodies, but work is already underway and we are confident that together we can improve coverage.
Roaming Charges within the EU: Fine Gael strongly supports the principle that roaming charges should be harmonised across the EU and we will work in Europe to speed up progress in this regard.
We believe EU roaming charges should be scrapped altogether, consistent with the principle of a single market.
Post Offices: Post offices are a local institution in hundreds of towns and villages throughout the country.
Fine Gael has endeavoured to halt the rapid decline in our post office network which took place during the 2000s under Fianna Fail.
We recognise that post offices face unprecedented challenges, in a climate of rapidly changing mail trends.
We have just renewed the Department of Social Protection's contract for cash social welfare payments at post offices, which in 2015 was worth approximately €54m, with over 38 million social welfare payments being made in post offices throughout the country.
We will swiftly act on the recommendations of the Post Office Business Development Group by supporting the introduction and rollout, by An Post, of an "ePayment Account" in 2016, to enhance post office activity in financial services and increase footfall.
We will also support the establishment of a post office network renewal process, to report within 6 months, to build on An Post's existing 5-year strategy for the network.
4G and SG: Fine Gael wants to see Ireland gain first-mover advantage in terms of releasing further spectrum and moving to new technologies.
We will work with Comreg and commercial operators to help with this goal.
BRINGING IRELAND UP TO SPEED
Making Ireland a European Centre of Data Innovation: Fine Gael will further enhance Ireland's reputation as a leading location for foreign direct investment (FDI), by operating a best in class regime for data regulation.
We will develop a new overarching strategy in the next 12 months, to ensure we stay at the forefront of new digital innovation in Europe.
Developing a European Digital Single Market: During Ireland's Presidency ofthe European Council, Fine Gael prioritised the development of the European Digital Single Market, as it presented new opportunities for Irish businesses, FDI and Irish consumers.
During a second term of government we will:
Support Irish businesses to get online through continued investment in the Government's Online Trading Voucher Scheme
Tackle the continued practice  of "geo-blocking" in a single market, all EU citizens should be able to access content freely across borders
Support European efforts to modernise copyright law
Support VAT simplification to eliminate red tape for business-without supporting any rate harmonisation
Supporting the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner: We have shown leadership in appointing a dedicated minister with responsibility for data protection and doubling the funding for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and we have established a Dublin office.
We will continue to ensure that this Office is adequately supported, to ensure that citizens' privacy is protected and that businesses adhere to data protection obligations.
Data Analytics in the Public Sector: We will ensure government departments and agencies meet their obligations to protect personal data that is entrusted to them by citizens.
We will also expand the remit of the recently established Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, to include a centre of excellence in data analytics, in order to provide skills and services across all government departments and agencies.
Ireland is becoming a leading destination for data analytics and the public service will benefit from using innovative approaches to improve efficiency.
Data Analytics in the Private Sector: Under our Action Plan for Jobs we established a taskforce on big data, which led to the launch of Insight, the Science Foundation Ireland supported research centre for data analytics and the largest publicly funded data analytics R&D Centre in Europe.
Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland also launched the CeADAR Technology Centre in data analytics.
The next phase of Fine Gael's support of big data will be to create a supportive environment to develop the "Internet of Things".
The Internet of Things (loT): Ireland is well placed to become a global leader in the development of the loT,
and we will support county councils in potential collaborations with industry partners on smart projects.
We will invest through Science Foundation Ireland in strategically important infrastructure projects such as the development of "Pervasive Nation", a new wireless network testbed to support new concepts, business models and devices, and to develop new radio technologies for loT.
We acknowledge the privacy and security concerns surrounding the loT and we will develop an appropriate regulatory environment that will support innovation while respecting privacy.
The Sharing Economy: The biggest change brought about by the Internet is that it allows people to connect.
In particular, it developed a whole new way for sellers to connect with buyers.
The Internet and the rapid evolution of mobile technology is allowing anyone to become a seller or a micro-entrepreneur, whether it be by renting an asset or providing a service.
New platforms are being developed that allow everyone to earn extra income in this sharing economy.
This change is happening and it is our responsibility to ensure we establish a safe and reliable regulatory environment to protect people.
The evolution of the sharing economy in Ireland will empower a new generation of micro-entrepreneurs and position us at the forefront of digital innovation.
To this end we will publish a National Sharing Economy Statement to be developed by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Finance, and with input from the Revenue Commissioners, to ensure clarity of tax reporting obligations and to provide advice on easy methods of declaring earned income.
Providing the Skills for a Digital Future: As part of our Digital Strategy for Schools, we will upgrade school ICT and install robust wireless networks in all schools.
This investment will provide the infrastructure to support ICT skills on the schools curricula and will encourage more computer coding clubs throughout national schools.
eGovernment for the 21st Century: Fine Gael will publish an eGovernment strategy with the goal of moving Ireland into the Top 5 internationally within a decade.
This strategy will emphasise an "Agile IT" approach to both system design and implementation, and partnerships with other countries who have relevant experience in the delivery of effective eGovernment.
We will set a deadline of 2017, by which all significant government transactions with business will be available online.
This is a significant step up in the reduction of the administrative burden, particularly for small Irish businesses.
A 21st Century Response to Cyber-Crime and Cyber Bullying: The increasing online presence of both young and old people presents many opportunities along with many challenges.
Fine Gael has introduced increased penalties targeting the use of modern communication technologies in the grooming of children and online exploitation.
We will continue to ensure that the most robust protections are in place to fully protect children while online.
We will also develop and expand the capacity and skills of An Garda Sfochana; other investigatory and regulatory bodies; and prosecutors to tackle cyber-crime and harassment such as introducing new models of civil orders to deal with disputes over on line posting.
BROADCASTING
Scrapping the Broadcasting Levy: We will improve the TV licence fee compliance rate.
We will use the additional revenues to, among other things, fund the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and scrap the existing levy on broadcasters.
This will help put Irish broadcasters on a more level playing field with foreign competitors, who do not have to pay the levy.
Ensuring Quality and Diversity: Fine Gael will ensure the continued support of public service broadcasting.
Local radio stations, independent producers, and national broadcasters all play an important role in Irish society.
We will improve the supports and regulatory environment of broadcasting to help deliver highquality, diverse broadcasting.
We are also committed to ensuring a competitive media landscape and we will monitor the new media merger guidelines to ensure they are effective.
To support a fair and level playing field in broadcasting we will also:
Accept and implement the recommendation from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland that it set advertising limits for all broadcasters, including radio
Request the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority to compile a report on competition within the broadcasting sector and to make recommendations to Government by end 2016
Supporting Irish Broadcasting Content: We will update existing laws to require satellite and cable operators to pay for the rights associated with the content provided by Irish broadcasters, as they currently enjoy this content free of charge.
This free charge policy was put in place at a time to encourage the rollout of cable networks but is now no longer required.
7. Defence
In a complex and changing security environment, Defence is critical.
We are committed to ensuring our citizens live in a safe and secure environment.
Fine Gael is proud of the Defence Forces and the patriotism and professionalism that the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps demonstrate both at home and abroad.
The environment in which the Defence Forces operate is more complex now than ever before.
Fine Gael recognises the challenges of the current security environment and has committed to building on the infrastructure and capability of the Defence Forces across the decade ahead through a series of actions outlined in the new White Paper on Defence.
Fine Gael will continue to build on our international reputation for peacekeeping and ensure our Defence Forces are equipped to meet evolving operational challenges.
Security Infrastructure: Fine Gael will review Ireland's approach to the complex and multifaceted defence and security infrastructure needed to address evolving security challenges, working in close cooperation with An Garda Sfochana and the Department of Justice, who have lead responsibility in this area.
Increasing Investment in the Defence Forces: Fine Gael is committed to delivering in full on the ambitions of the new White Paper for Defence, reinforced by reviews every 3 years.
This means ensuring at least 9,500 permanent Defence Forces personnel and a full-strength reserve.
Fine Gael recognises that there has been a historic underinvestment in Defence Forces infrastructure and is committed to providing the investment necessary to equip our Army, Naval Service and Air Corps to meet the complex challenges of a changing security environment.
Equipping the Defence Forces: Fine Gael will provide a significant boost in capital funding for Defence across the 2016-2021 period, with €437m allocated to Defence, under the Capital Plan, within that time frame.
The additional funds allocated will allow for expenditure in equipment and infrastructure across all areas of the Defence Forces:
Army: The priority is to invest in armoured personnel carriers, armoured logistic vehicles, the modernisation of equipment and refurbishment of barracks.
Naval Service: The ship replacement programme will continue and over the lifetime of the White Paper, Fine Gael will move from an 8-to a 9-ship naval flotilla, to provide for a multi-role vessel.
This will allow for continued humanitarian assistance and will enhance Defence capability for maritime security operations.
Air Corps: Fine Gael will ensure that existing aircraft will be replaced when necessary and invest in Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel.
Maritime Security: Over the past decade, the Irish maritime jurisdiction has effectively doubled.
This sea area encompasses a rich ecosystem and renewable energy environment, with largely untapped hydrocarbon and mineral resources.
Maritime security in Irish waters is a significant focus for the Defence Forces.
Fine Gael will support the Naval Service and Air Corps in carrying out fisheries protection, drug interdiction operations and protection of our marine resources.
Overseas Missions: Ireland is strongly committed to supporting conditions for a safe and secure environment, critical to a civil society.
We strongly support a robust EU contribution to UN peacekeeping and crisis management and will continue to support Ireland's contribution to a range of collaborative security arrangements within the EU, the UN, the OSCE and bilaterally with other states.
Fine Gael is committed to an increase in our Defence Forces presence in missions abroad and this will be reflected as soon as 2016.
We are committed to the continuation of humanitarian missions like the recent operation in the Mediterranean, which has received much public support.
Fine Gael will seek to maximise opportunities for cooperation between government departments and agencies in the context of action on UN Development Goals, with a particular focus on Africa.
Supporting our Veterans: Fine Gael values the public service and outstanding contribution made by former servicemen and women to the State and will work with veterans to deliver on the recommendations outlined in the White Paper.
Fine Gael will ensure Defence Forces personnel receive practical support and training when they leave the Defence Forces for other opportunities in society.
We will recognise those who have made such a contribution to the State through the Annual Veteran's Day and participation of veterans in commemorative events.
Reserve Defence Forces (RDF): The RDF is a significant element of the State's defence capability.
Fine Gael will ensure the strength, skills base and contribution of the RDF are maximised and will target full participation of the RDF at 4,000 personnel.
Fine Gael will seek opportunities to leverage specialist skill sets through the Reserve in areas such as cyber and medicine.
Fine Gael will also seek to develop opportunities for overseas service for the Reserve in areas where specialist skills add value or augment permanent Defence Forces capabilities.
DELIVERING ON NEW THINKING
Peace and Leadership Institute: Building on the history of the Irish State and the reputation of Ireland as a world-renowned contributor to international peacekeeping, Fine Gael will develop a new Institute for Peace Support and Leadership Training in the Curragh, starting in 2016.
The Peace and Leadership Institute will leverage Ireland's unique international reputation and relationship with the UN.
lt will develop new national and international partnerships with universities and other reputable interested parties and institutions.
Women in the Defence Forces: Recognising the very strong contribution made by female personnel, we will prioritise the need to address the gap in female participation in the Defence Forces.
Fine Gael will increase the level of female participation, with the goal of doubling the rate of participation from the current 6% to 12% in the next 5 years.
We will ensure future UN peacekeeping missions incorporate a number of gender-focused measures and the work of the Peace and Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for the development of expertise in these areas.
Workplace Culture: Fine Gael is committed to ensuring that the Dignity Charter for the Defence Forces is upheld and all Defence Forces personnel enjoy a supportive workplace.
Fine Gael will implement all of the recommendations of the Third Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG).
Fine Gael will continue to work cooperatively with the Defence Forces representative bodies, RACO, PDFORRA and RDFRA.
We strongly support the development of a diversity and inclusion strategy within the Defence Forces.
Fine Gael will build on the Defence Forces' values and ethos, which commits to an environment in which people are valued and talent is encouraged and enabled to develop to its maximum.
Employment Support Scheme: Fine Gael believes the Defence Forces have a significant contribution to make to individuals and to broader society.
We will provide individuals who would otherwise struggle to break out of a cycle of disadvantage an opportunity to discover new skills and longer-term employment capacity.
We will introduce a pilot employment support scheme in 2016, providing 3040 participants with skills and training identifiable with the Defence Forces.
Army Ranger Wing: Fine Gael will increase the capacity of the Army Ranger Wing and of special operation forces to assist in meeting emerging challenges in all environments, including land, air, maritime and cyber.
Aeromedical Support: Recognising the contribution of the Emergency Aeromedical Support Service (EAS) in Athlone to rural areas, Fine Gael has placed the EAS on a permanent footing and is committed to a sustainable long-term service arrangement into the future.
Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP): The Defence Forces provide valuable assistance to other arms of the State in response to national emergencies and day-to-day operations, most recently in response to widespread flooding.
Fine Gael will support the continued assistance of Army, Air Corps and Naval Service personnel to An Garda Sfochana in ATCP duties and will facilitate the most appropriate governance structures between all state and other stakeholders with a view to ensuring the most effective delivery of service.
Commemorating Our Past: Fine Gael strongly supports the Defence Forces' participation in annual state commemorative ceremonies and the Defence Forces will play a significant role in many of the events being organised to commemorate the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2022, including the valuable work on the Military Service Pensions Collection.
We will award a 1916 centenary medal to all members of the Permanent Defence Forces who are in service in 2016.
Army Equitation: Since its foundation in 1926, the Army Equitation School has promoted the Irish sport horse through international competitions on Irishbred horses.
We will prioritise investment in the Army Equitation School's facility in 2016 in recognition of the contribution it makes to the Irish sport horse sector.
We wi 11 seekto develop synerg ies between the Defence Forces and the sport horse industry.
We will also seek to develop an innovation network that leverages the relationship between the Defence Forces, the sport horse industry and the horse racing industry.
Innovation: Fine Gael is very supportive of the possible opportunities for innovation, technology and enterprise links to the benefit of the Defence Forces and Irish enterprise, and will continue to support efforts to develop these links to build on our economic development and capabilities within the Defence Forces.
We will seek to replicate the success of the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) in the development of two further Innovation Partnerships.
The first will be centred around the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh and will seek to leverage the numerous technical corps and areas of specialisation in the Defence Forces, creating and enhancing innovative technologies that improve Defence Forces capabilities while also stimulating job creation.
The second cluster will develop an Innovation Partnership at Baldonnel that will include a privately funded aeronautical museum and a leading technological entrepreneurial innovation partnership which will seek to leverage the Air Corps' technical competence and complement Ireland's leading role in the aircraft and tech industries.
Red Cross: Fine Gael has initiated new legislation, revoking existing Red Cross legislation, providing for the State's commitments to the Red Cross under the Geneva Conventions and copper-fastening the independence of the Society.
This will be enacted as a priority.
Civil Defence: Fine Gael is very committed to the ongoing support and development of Civil Defence.
We will update legislation governing the Civil Defence area and establish a coordinated inter-agency guidance team, bringing together Principal Response Agencies involved in dealing with major emergency management issues.
8. Disability
Fine Gael will continue to work to improve equality of opportunity and quality of life for people with disabilities and ensure that resources are allocated effectively and transparently.
Despite the economic crisis faced by the country in recent years, Fine Gael has maintained disability spending and sought to progress critical policy changes that will benefit people with disabilities.
In a second term, we will do more to empower and improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Our Long Term Economic Plan will help provide for this, while also freeing up resources for enhanced and targeted public services.
MAKING WORK PAY
Reducing Barriers to Work: Fine Gael will facilitate people with disabilities in finding a clear pathway into employment, training and education, by expanding the role of lntreo offices.
We will also address concerns surrounding the loss of secondary benefits, so that work always pays more than welfare.
Working with lntreo, Fine Gael will support people with disabilities, and allow them to transition into employment, by ensuring a seamless return of their entitlements should a particular employment opportunity prove unsuitable.
Inform and Engage Employers: We will provide prospective employers and employer organisations with information on the supports available to hire and retain people with disabilities.
Supported Employment: We will continue to support and expand supported employment opportunities and will work with stakeholders on options to make both more attractive to prospective employers and employees.
Prepare School Leavers: Fine Gael wants to equip school leavers with the skills required to move into further education, training or employment, if they so choose.
This means earlier intervention and planning, in order to widen job opportunities.
We will work with disability and education stakeholders to ensure that adequate and early post-primary transition planning takes place for all school leavers.
Ensuring equality of opportunity in accessing further education is also crucial.
Community Employment (CE) Schemes: Fine Gael will continue to support Community Employment throughout the country and will review the referral procedure to ensure that an increased proportion of places are taken up by those with a disability.
TAILORING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Personalised Budgets: Fine Gael is committed to empowering people with disabilities through the introduction of personalised budgets.
These budgets will provide more control and choice over the range of services an individual needs, thereby offering greater independence and transparency.
Fine Gael will set out an implementation plan and time frame for the rollout of personalised budgets within 12 months.
This will be done in consultation with disability stakeholders.
Brokerage Option: As part of the move to individualised budgets, Fine Gael will also introduce a system of support brokers to assist clients with their budgets to work out the best way to meet their social care needs, should they so wish.
These brokers may act as a support network and could be employees or volunteers of community organisations.
Pre-School Year Supports: Fine Gael introduced a new scheme to ensure access to the Early Childhood Care and Education programmes for young children with disabilities.
We will continue to work with stakeholders on the further development of this initiative.
Special Educational Needs: For a young child, parent and teacher, it is crucial that early detection and intervention takes place so that each child can reach their full potential.
Over €1.4bn is spent annually on special education, yet families still face anxiety in accessing services.
We will examine the adequacy of current funding provision, with a view to ensuring children get the earliest and best support possible.
Fine Gael increased the number of Special Needs Assistants from 10,575 to 12,040.
We also increased the number of resource teachers from 5,175 to 7,452 in 2016.
We will continue to do so.
We will consult with stakeholders to see how best to progress sections of the EPSEN Act that were introduced on a nonstatutory basis.
Housing Adaptation Scheme: Keeping people in their own homes as they growolderor ifthey have a disa biIity is a goal we aspire to.
The Housing Adaptation grants provided to local authorities are essential to this aim.
Budget 2016 increased this scheme by 10% to €55m, which will see over 8,500 households benefit from the scheme.
We will increase this scheme by a further 20% to €66m by 2021.
INDEPENDENCE AND INCOME SUPPORT
Income Support We will increase the Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disability Benefit and Allowance, Carer's Benefit and Allowance, and Blind Person's Pension by €20 per week, by 2021 (a €4 increase every year).
Mobility Allowance: Fine Gael will introduce a new mobility scheme to assist those with a disability in meeting their increased mobility costs.
UN Convention: Fine Gael is committed to the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and has published a roadmap setting out the steps to ratification.
We remain committed to delivering on this.
Disability Inclusion Strategy: We will mandate government departments and state bodies, including local authorities and the HSE, to work together to ensure people with disabilities are fully supported in their daily lives.
This Strategy will ensure that people with disabilities are treated as equal citizens, provided with independence to live how they choose and enabled to reach their full potential.
Congregated Settings: Fine Gael is committed to a continuation of the policy of moving people with disabilities out of congregated settings to more appropriate smaller units and homes in the community.
Currently 2,725 people live in congregated settings and our objective is to reduce this figure by at least one-third by 2021.
CARERS
Family carers are the backbone of care provision in this country.
Most of us will be carers -or cared for -at some point in our lives.
And it is the family carer who will continue to play a key role in supporting family members to live independent lives.
National Carers' Strategy: Fine Gael published the first ever National Carers' Strategy and is committed to implementing it in full.
Income Support for Carers: We will increase Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit by at least €20 per week by 2021 (a €4 increase every year).
Care Plans: We will ensure there is greater involvement of family carers in the preparation of care plans and provision of care, together with more accessible training and respite to facilitate full support.
9. Drugs and Alcohol
Tackling the problem of drug and alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities requires a comprehensive approach incorporating policing, treatment and demand reduction.
lt is only through a combination of these measures that we can address the underlying causes of this behaviour, reduce harm to the individual and better safeguard our communities.
Fine Gael will finalise an updated National Drugs Strategy, full implementation of which will be vital in achieving these goals and meeting the challenges of tackling the harm caused to individuals, families and communities.
In addition Fine Gael will:
Disrupt the Supply of Drugs: In the last 3 years An Garda Sfochana together with customs officials have made seizures of controlled drugs with an estimated street value in excess of €700m, including cocaine, heroin, herbal cannabis, cannabis resin and ecstasy.
Fine Gael will put in place further laws and resources to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs, supporting the Gardaf and the Revenue Commissioners in the effective detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs.
Safeguard Urban Centres and the Night-Time Economy: We will ensure effective resourcing of An Garda Sfochana in targeting the sale and supply of illicit drugs on our streets.
We will support the strategic deployment of highly visible uniformed Gardaf, and where appropriate undercover Gardaf, to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour and drug use, making our streets safer for all.
We will support Gardaf to work with local businesses, particularly those involved in the night-time economy, to enhance public order policing in our towns and city centres,
and will enact a comprehensive and consolidated Sale of Alcohol Bill to update our liquor licensing system.
As Garda numbers continue to increase we will ensure further resources are assigned to the new national Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and to strengthen the local drug units.
This response will be coupled with ongoing support for outreach programmes which work with vulnerable and at-risk individuals in addressing complicated addiction issues.
Community Justice Intervention: We will introduce a new Community Justice Intervention system to deal with low-level offenders to divert them from the court system.
This approach will more effectively tackle reoffending through the use of community sanctions and appropriate misuse services, treatments and interventions.
Review Addiction Services: We will commence a review of addiction treatment services for offenders within prisons to evaluate services for prisoners with drug and alcohol problems and implement any recommendations arising from the review.
PUBLIC HEALTH (ALCOHOL) BILL
Ireland has one of the highest consumption rates of alcohol, contributing to a wide range of health and social harms, and placing a considerable burden on frontline resources.
Fine Gael will prioritise enactment of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in seeking to reduce average alcohol consumption from 11 litres per annum to 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per annum by 2020.
This legislation is the most far-reaching proposed by any government.
lt will target affordability, availability and attractiveness and ensure alcohol is addressed as a public health measure.
Minimum Unit Pricing: Fine Gael will introduce minimum unit pricing, making it an offence to sell or advertise alcohol at a price below a set minimum; we will review the minimum price at set intervals.
Health Labelling: We will introduce labelling requirements for alcohol products and notices in licensed premises providing consumers with health information and advice.
Advertising of Alcohol: We will require advertisements for alcohol products to incorporate health warnings, including in pregnancy, as well as providing details on accessing public health advice.
Sponsorship: We will prohibit alcohol sponsorship at events which are organised for children, and which involve driving or racing cars.
Regulation of Alcohol Marketing to Children: Young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related harm and are becoming increasingly exposed to online alcohol advertising.
We will strengthen regulation of online alcohol advertising to children, limiting exposure at this impressionable age.
We will introduce a ban on advertising near schools, playgrounds and public transport and require a 9pm broadcasting watershed for alcohol adverts.
10. Economy, Public Finances and Taxation
Fine Gael was elected to government in 2011 to fix our public finances and get our country working again.
Since then we have added 135,000 jobs and cut the deficit from €18bn in 2010 to €4bn in 2015.
We are at a crucial point in the economic recovery, and to keep it going requires continued vigilance in the management of the economy and the public finances
-we have seen how populist parties in other countries have undone all the good work, destroying confidence and stability.
Long Term Economic Plan: Fine Gael's Long Term Economic Plan will keep the recovery going, end the cycle of boom and bust and deliver steady economic growth for the years ahead
. Our plan is based on three steps: (1) more and better jobs;
(2) making work pay;
and (3) investing in better services.
MORE AND BETTER JOBS THROUGH EFFECTIVE TAX POLICY
Fine Gael will continue to use tax policy to add a further 200,000 jobs to the economy and to bring the unemployment rate down below 6% by 2020.
Corporation Tax: Fine Gael defended our corporation tax regime throughout the financial crisis and we are committed to maintaining the 12.5% rate into the future.
We will continue to work with our international partners in tackling aggressive international tax planning through the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiative.
Knowledge Development Box: Fine Gael will closely monitor the introduction of the Knowledge Development Box (KDB), as set down in Finance Bill 2015, with a special 6.25% rate of tax on income from qualifying patents and other innovations, to encourage both Irish and multi-national companies to develop their knowledge-based capital in Ireland.
Employers' PRSI: To mitigate the impact on jobs and small employers of further, sensible rises in the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour, we will cut the lower 8.5% rate of Employers' PRSI to 6.5% and increase the lower rate threshold to €426 per week (from €376).
We will still be guided by the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on the phasing in of these minimum wage changes during a term of office.
Small Business Investment Trusts: The introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts has proven to be a successful vehicle for investment in the commercial and residential property market.
We will explore the role that Small Business Investment Trusts could play in Ireland.
Such a vehicle could be an alternative source of funding for Irish SMEs and provide small investors with the opportunity to invest in Irish SMEs.
Capital Gains Tax Relief for Start-Up Companies: We will introduce a new Capital Gains Tax Relief (Start-Up Relief) to support and encourage start-ups in Ireland.
Gains arising on chargeable business assets acquired from 2017 and held for 5 years will be charged at a rate of 10% on disposal, up to a maximum liability of €10m.
Family Businesses: Fine Gael will instruct the Department of Finance to review, in advance of Budget 2017, the tax barriers to the long-term growth of lrishowned family businesses,
with particular reference to the competitiveness of the Irish tax regime with that of the UK and other advanced economies.
Microbreweries: The expansion of microbreweries, along with Ireland's resurgent whiskey industry, is providing very positive spillovers to the agricultural sector and creating local jobs.
Fine Gael increased the annual excise relief production ceiling for microbreweries and we will continue to support this sector in the coming years.
Fuel Laundering and the Shadow Economy: Fine Gael will actively support the new Joint Agency Taskforce, established under the new Stormont Agreement, to bolster North-South inter-agency cooperation in tackling cross-border crime.
We will support the Revenue Commissioners' multi-faceted approach to combatting the shadow economy and initiate a public awareness campaign, encouraging people to comply and report, referencing Revenue's new Shadow Economy webpage, where one can report such activity.
Tax Collection and Enforcement: The Revenue Commissioners, in their Statement of Strategy 20152017, prioritise the identification and confrontation of non-compliance.
In 2015, audit and compliance interventions yielded €642.5m in tax, interest and penalties.
We will increase support and investment in the Revenue Commissioners to support them in this priority, with a view to improving tax enforcement by an additional €50m per year (0.1% of the tax yield).
This will be net of the cost of an additional 200 Revenue Commissioners enforcement staff.
The biggest losers from tax evasion are the legitimate businesses that have to compete with illegitimate business for new customers, new business and skilled employees.
Building upon the success of the Home Renovation Incentive we will continue to introduce measures that reward legitimate and tax-compliant businesses, such as:
Additional resources for the Revenue Commissioners to increase their tax enforcement efforts, particularly in the area of tobacco and fuel smuggling
More  investment in our systems to enable data sharing across government departments and agencies and between the Revenue Commissioners and Revenue authorities in other jurisdictions
MAKING WORK PAY THROUGH TAX REFORM
Rewarding Hard Work: Since the introduction of the Universal Social Charge (USC) by Fianna Fail, Ireland's personal tax system has discouraged work and effort and is a barrier to the economic recovery.
As the UK and other countries seek to match Ireland's corporation tax rate, Fine Gael's tax priority is to keep the recovery going by reducing marginal tax rates on income.
Abolishing the USC: Building on the progress made in our last two budgets, Fine Gael will complete the abolition of the use by 2021, as part of a wider income tax reform plan that broadens the tax base and limits the benefits for the highest earners.
We will reduce the main 5.5% rate of USC by 1% in Budget 2017, among other measures.
Attracting 70,000 Emigrants Home: As well as encouraging greater domestic labour market participation and entrepreneurship, we believe that usc abolition, as an integral part of our Long Term Economic Plan, will encourage at least 70,000 emigrants to return home, by increasing Ireland's attraction as a dynamic hub for young talent.
Levy on Higher Earners: We will keep Ireland's income tax system as among the most progressive in the EU.
As part of our broad reform of the tax system, which includes the abolition of the use, we will introduce a levy of 5% on individual incomes over €100,000.
The levy will apply to individual incomes above €100,000 (only on the excess over €100,000).
Keeping Ireland's Tax System Fair: In addition to the introduction of the 5% levy on Higher Earners, we will also remove the PAYE and new Earned Income Tax Credit from those earning over €100,000, tapered from €70,000.
Keeping the Tax System Broad and Making Work Pay through PRSI Reform: Our tax reforms are aimed at reducing tax rates for every worker, without removing anybody from the tax system.
As we phase out the USC, we will reduce the entry point of PRSI to €13,000 (the current entry point into the USC).
When combined with the weekly PRSI allowance introduced for lower-income employees this January, the net effect will be a boost to take-home pay for all workers, while ensuring that everybody earning above €13,000 continues to make some contribution.
In addition, the advantage of paying PRSI compared with the USC is that paying PRSI generates benefits for those working people who put in.
This broadening of the PRSI base will help fund new benefits for working families, such as:
€27 and  €12 per week increases in Job Seekers' Benefit for the first 3 and 6 months respectively
The restoration of the Dental Treatment Benefit
A €25  per week increase in the Contributory State Pension by 2021
The  introduction of 2 weeks' paternity leave from September 2016 and an additional 8 weeks' paid leave for parents of infants (less than 1 year) by 2020.
A Tax System to Support Entrepreneurs and the Self-Employed: We will increase the Earned Income Tax Credit to €1,650 for the self-employed, to match the PAYE credit, by 2018.
Together with the abolition of the use, this will end tax inequality for the selfemployed.
Incentive for Rewarding Key Employees in SMEs: We will explore the mechanisms through which SMEs can reward key employees with share options in a taxefficient manner.
Small Benefits Exemption: We will increase the Small Benefits Exemption from €500 to €650, which is equivalent to approximately one week's wages for those on the average industrial wage.
Home Carer's Credit: Fine Gael's tax reforms will support one-income families caring for a child or other dependent person.
We will increase the Home Carer's Credit to €1,650, while also increasing to €10,500 the income exemption for the home carer.
An Affordable Local Property Tax (LPT): We will retain the LPT as a superior alternative to taxes on incomes and jobs and as a driver of local government accountability for service delivery.
To reflect the strong recovery in house prices since the introduction of the LPT, and to better align the revaluations to the local government electoral cycle, we have deferred the next revaluation of house prices to 2019.
We will increase local authority freedom to set the local rates.
We will freeze equalisation contributions to the Local Government Fund at their current levels, allowing all councils to retain 100% of any additional LPT receipts following the revaluation.
In line with the recommendations of the Thornill Report we will increase the thresholds for the deferral of LPT for lowincome and mortgage-distressed homeowners.
Tax Transparency: To promote public awareness and transparency in the taxsystem we will send all taxpayers a breakdown of how their annual contribution has been proportionally spent by Government.
Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT): We will increase the Group A tax-free thresholds (including all gifts and inheritances from parents to their children) to €500,000, from €280,000 at present.
We will ensure that parents can continue to support-tax-free -their children through education.
SOUND PUBLIC FINANCES AND SENSIBLE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Steady Growth, Not Boom and Bust: Our Plan will target steady growth in 2016-21 -around 3.5% per year on average -not boom and bust.
Steady growth of this order will generate 200,000 additional jobs by 2020, replacing all the jobs lost during the recession with new jobs and ensuring that everybody who wants a job will be able to get one.
Eliminating the Deficit: Steady growth of this nature will also eliminate the remaining deficit and bring government debt down to below average European levels without any new taxes or charges.
To reduce debt levels and protect the economy from external and domestic risks, our Long Term Economic Plan targets the elimination of new government borrowing by 2018, and keeping the public finances in balance thereafter.
€4 Billion Future Jobs Investment Fund: To match the scale of ambition in our Long Term Economic Plan to create an additional 200,000 sustainable jobs by 2020, and taking full advantage of the favourable treatment of capital investment under the fiscal rules, Fine Gael will use €1bn of the fiscal space available by 2021 to fund an additional €4bn in total capital investment over the 5-year period 2017-21.
The funds will be ring-fenced for a new Future Jobs Investment Fund to future-proof the economy and our jobs plan against rising global risks and challenges.
Selling Bank Assets: We are committed to disposing of the State's investments in the banking sector when market conditions are right, and to recovering all the taxpayers' money invested by the current Government.
In order to help undo the damage to Ireland's public finances from the banking crisis and to provide a buffer against future risks, all proceeds from the disposal of bank assets will be used to pay down government debt.
Expenditure Rule: At the heart of our Long Term Economic Plan is the Expenditure Rule, which will cap annual government spending growth (net of discretionary tax changes) below the potential growth rate of the economy until the underlying government deficit is eliminated, and to, at most, the potential growth rate of the economy thereafter.
This will ensure that we never again repeat Fianna Fail's mistake of using temporary periods of strong growth to make reckless spending commitments that then have to be reversed, while ensuring there is adequate resources to deliver tax reform
and sensible improvements in key services, notably health, policing, education and childcare.
By honouring the Expenditure Rule, we will deliver on the obligation in domestic and EU law to eliminate the "structural deficit" in our public finances by 2018.
Contingency and Stability Reserve: We will also set up a "rainy day fund" to cope with unexpected events.
Our Long Term Economic Plan will leave €2.5bn of the available fiscal space unallocated as a Contingency and Stability Reserve.
This reserve will act as a buffer against unexpected shocks, both domestic and international, and will be allocated according to a set of conditions to be set out by Government in Budget 2017, with the advice of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.
The money will either be saved (used for additional debt reduction) or injected into the economy, in line with the needs of economic and fiscal stability.
Independence of the Central Bank: We will protect the independence of the Central Bank as a guardian of financial stability.
We support the introduction of the recently announced "Countercyclical Capital Buffers" as a way to ensure that never again is runaway credit growth allowed to destroy our financial stability and economic prosperity.
11. Education and Skills
Education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life and a key driver of our economic recovery.
Fine Gael's ambition is that no child is left behind in economic recovery and that we use the benefits of a strong economy to become a leader across all PISA rankings and in the provision of quality higher education and skills.
We have the capacity to achieve this by 2022.
We have a well-trained and committed teaching profession and high and rising rates of school completion and participation in higher education.
And yet, too many of our children still fall through the cracks, and are in danger of being left behind in a fastchanging world.
The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy along with the Project Maths course will play a role in improving outcomes, but we want to go further, and to chart a course for Ireland's education system to become "best in class".
Fine Gael has a 4-point plan to invest in a reformed and well-managed education system that makes sure that the economic recovery leaves no child behind.
1. WE WILL INVEST IN SCHOOLS, EDUCATION AND TEACHERS.
Early childhood interventions have the greatest impact on long-term educational outcomes.
By keeping the recovery going, we will create the resources needed to invest wisely in our teachers and education system.
Reduce the Pupil-Teacher Ratio for Junior and Senior Infants: Fine Gael will fund, by 2021, an additional 832 teaching posts and reduce the pupil-teacher ratio for junior and senior infants from 28:1 to 18:1, phased in from September 2017.
Smaller classes have the greatest beneficial impact on younger pupils.
Budget 2016 provided for 2,260 teachers, commencing this September.
In addition, we will fund an additional 2,392 teaching posts by 2021 to -at the very least maintain the pupil-teacher ratio in all other levels of the primary and secondary schools.
School Buildings: We are committed to delivering an extensive school capital investment programme.
We have already committed €2.8bn to deliver 310 major extensions/refurbishments, 62,000 additional school places and eliminate the use of prefabs by 2021.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Teachers: We will invest an additional €10m by 2021 (bringing the total spend to €35m per year) to fund additional CPD provision for teachers, including mandatory modules in Maths, Special Needs, Irish Language, and ICT. Initial teacher training in these areas will be strengthened.
More Support for Schools with General Operating Costs: Fine Gael will provide an additional €50m in funding for primary and secondary schools by 2021 for general operating (capitation) costs, conditional on schools making their facilities available for afterschool care where sufficient demand exists.
Introduce In-School Speech and Language Therapy Service: Fine Gael will invest €10m by 2021 to fund 217 additional therapists for a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy, involving collaboration between parents, schools and primary care services that has been proven to be effective internationally.
Expand the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS): We will invest an additional €3m to increase the number of NEPS psychologists from 167 to 209 so that the Service can provide enhanced early intervention strategies for staff and pupils, and offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents.
Special Educational Needs: For a young child, parent and teacher, it is crucial that early detection and intervention takes place so that each child can reach their full potential.
Over €1.4bn is spent annually on special education, yet families still face anxiety in accessing services.
We will examine the adequacy of current funding provision, with a view to ensuring children get the earliest and best support possible.
Fine Gael increased the number of Special Needs Assistants from 10,575 to 12,040.
We also increased the number of resource teachers from 5,175 to 7,452 in 2016.
We will continue to do so.
We will consult with stakeholders to see how best to progress sections of the EPSEN Act that were introduced on a nonstatutory basis.
Action Plan for Educational Inclusion: We will publish a new updated Action Plan for Educational Inclusion, within 12 months, aimed at narrowing the gap between DEIS and non DEIS schools, while also examining how students outside of DEIS can be supported.
We will reform the funding models to reward schools that succeed in improving outcomes.
Curriculum Modernisation: We will mandate the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to publicly consult on how schools could introduce new subject choices.
This includes:
Literacy and Numeracy: A key priority since 2011, we have ensured that Maths and literacy performance have improved.
We must drive this further and also look at new approaches to improve our PISA results, including exploring game-based learning and STEM opportunities.
Mental Health and Well-being: An increasing concern in schools, we need to promote awareness and prevention rather than simply reacting to incidents.
Consultation on how best to teach resilience and coping mechanisms for pupils must take place.
Entrepreneurial Education: We will open up opportunities for industry and local leaders to share their skills and experience at primary and post primary level.
Computer Science: We will roll out a pilot scheme of computer science in our secondary schools to build on existing skills not only for coding but also to lay the foundations for skills in computer architecture and the business application of IT.
Physical Education: We support the introduction of more PE in primary schools and its introduction as a Leaving Cert subject.
We will look at various ways in which organisations with experience in children's sports and fitness might provide schools with support.
ePortfolios: In partnership with industry, we will pilot a cloud-based ePortfolio system at primary level which will act as a storage and private reference system that allows pupils, along with their parents, to track their own academic achievements.
A similar initiative used by 85% of schools in Estonia allows for better communication and involvement between parents and teachers.
Extend Mandatory Schooling Age: We will increase mandatory schooling to age 17.
2. WE WILL STRENGTHEN LOCAL DECISION MAKING, LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
School principals, teachers and parents are in the best position to drive reforms that improve educational outcomes and to prioritise resources.
Central Government already micro manages too many decisions in our schools, from curriculum design and timetabling to minor capital works.
Our Plan will give more decision-making power, responsibility and flexibility to schools and their communities.
Local Decision Making: We will extend, until May 2016, the period of consultation with parents, schools and other stakeholders on the "Advancing School Autonomy in the Irish School System" research paper published by the Department of Education and Skills in December 2015.
On foot of this consultation, we will transform the School Admissions Bill agreed by the current Government, but not yet passed by the Oireachtas, into a new School Admissions and Excellence Bill.
This Bill, alongside a revised admissions framework, will give new freedoms to schools on staff deployment, performance management, curriculum design and other matters.
As part of this consultation, we will examine the structure of boards of management, with a view to ensuring accountability and transparency as well as support mechanisms for these voluntary boards and parents.
The role and power of an Ombudsman for Education, to whom a parent could complain and appeal on foot of a decision by a board of management, will be examined by the Oireachtas Committee to ensure its consistency with the need to ensure better local decision making and accountability to parents.
Local Education Clusters: Fine Gael will incentivise voluntary school participation in new "Local Education Clusters" that encourage schools to improve student outcomes by sharing best practice and school improvement experiences, foster collaborative in and out-of-hours initiatives, staff peer mentoring and leadership, and that allow for cost reductions through economies of scale.
Schools Excellence Fund: We wi 11 establish a new €50m Schools Excellence Fund, which rewards collaborative approaches driven by schools and by parents themselves, aimed at improving school outcomes through the teaching of subjects such as Maths, Science and Technology, key life skills programmes, and pupil retention initiatives.
Applications that seek to tackle educational disadvantage will be prioritised.
Outside bodies, such as business and higher education institutions, may collaborate with second level schools as part of this initiative.
School Leadership: School principals will have the support of Fine Gael to introduce reforms that drive up educational standards.
Budget 2016 increased the number of release days provided to teaching principals.
Teaching principals within Education Clusters will be resourced to spend one day per week focusing on improving school outcomes.
We will also establish a pool of experts (educators, employers, accountants, business leaders, IT specialists etc.) to assist school initiatives that drive better outcomes in schools.
Newly appointed school principals will take a preparation course in advance of taking up their role, and will be expected to take regular leadership courses under CPD.
Financial Certainty: We will set out capitation rates to schools on a rolling 3-year basis allowing for forward planning.
School management will have the decisionmaking power to allocate these resources as they deem appropriate, including to posts of responsibility.
More School Accountability for Performance: With more autonomy will come more school accountability, to both parents and taxpayers.
Parents have a right to information about their children's educational performance.
Fine Gael will, within 12 months, complete a review of options for standardised testing in our schools, with a view to implementing a single model by 2018, aimed at delivering clear performance information for teachers, parents and students.
In the interim, we will require schools to publish annual reports, taking into account test results, facilities, extra-curricular activities, ICT resources, and special education resources.
Schools, together with parents, will set targets against which they will be reviewed.
Self-evaluation will be strengthened and will be the basis on which schools are inspected.
Fine Gael will also make available-at the request of school parents and patrons -"School Support Teams" with special powers to turn around failing schools.
More Effective Complaints Procedures for Parents: Real accountability for performance also requires a credible complaints procedure for parents, within a stronger regulatory framework for teaching.
We will commence, the "Fitness to Teach" provisions of the Teaching Council Act and -a decade after its enactment-complete a review ofthe Teaching Council Act with a view to strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the Teaching Council.
3. WE WILL IMPROVE PARENTAL CHOICE AND SCHOOL DIVERSITY.
Uniformity is the enemy of innovation, change and ongoing improvement. Resources go further when users of public services choose and shape their delivery, and are well informed about quality.
Fine Gael supports real parental choice within a more diverse system of school patronage.
More Multi-Denominational and Non-Denominational Schools: Fine Gael will strengthen parental choice and diversity in our schools system, reflecting the need in modern Ireland for new forms of multidenominational and non-denominational education.
A road map has been agreed for a phased transfer of Catholic schools to new patrons, where the support of communities exists.
Fine Gael will work with all stakeholders to facilitate this process.
Since 2011, 49 new multi-denominational primary and post primary schools have been established.
Fine Gael will continue to increase the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 300 by 2030.
Protecting the Denominational Ethos of Schools: Consistent with expanding the choices available to parents, we will safeguard the right of parents to send their children to denominational schools that offer a distinct religious ethos.
Taxpayer Support for Fee-Charging Schools: There will be no further discrimination in taxpayer support for fee-charging schools.
The reduction in the pupilteacher ratio in September 2016 will benefit all schools.
Small Schools: We will not close any school against the wishes of parents.
Fine Gael will, however, provide positive incentives for small schools amalgamation, such as additional capital works.
Within 3 months, we will commence a review of the teacher appointment thresholds for 3 and 4-teacher schools.
4. WE WILL EXPAND THE RANGE, AFFORDABILITY AND QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION OPTIONS.
Fine Gael is determined to deliver a step change in our higher level education system's capacity to educate, develop, deploy and retain talent.
More Taxpayer Support for Higher Education: Fine Gael is committed to addressing the funding gap for the higher education sector.
Just to stand still, the sector requires €lOOm of additional funding to provide for the growing number of students going on to higher level education and Fine Gael is committed to providing this out of exchequer resources.
In addition, we are committed to providing €150m in additional capital resources for facilities, as outlined in the 2016-2021 Capital Plan, including the €40m that has been committed to the Grangegorman DIT project.
Following the publication of the Expert Group report, Fine Gael will outline a complete funding plan for the higher education sector.
A More Efficient Higher Education Sector: Fine Gael will ensure that additional funding for the higher level education sector will be conditional on continued reforms of the sector that cut out waste and unnecessary costs,
encourage more income generation by the sector in collaboration with the private sector and address identified national challenges and skills shortages.
Online Higher Education: Online learning can open up higher education opportunities to more students and reduce costs.
Fine Gael will commence an extensive consultation exercise to consider how this can be accomplished in a way which does not compromise standards.
"Earned Autonomy" for Universities: We will give universities new freedoms -within strict budgets and new accountability systems-to set their own staffing needs, hire the best lecturers, automate routine processes and adapt work practices to local staff and student needs.
The Government will, within 6 months, publish a substantially revised Universities Bill that will free from Central Government human resource controls those universities that demonstrate a sustained commitment to cost efficiency, performance accountability and pay transparency.
Flexible Learning: Some third level institutions do not offer part-time courses to learners as part of their fulltime day provision.
We want to address this anomaly and offer learners the opportunity to attend courses part time, evening, summer and weekends.
Preparing Students for the Workforce: We support the introduction of mid-degree "sandwich year" courses, whereby students spend their third year of university working for an Irish business.
Such courses have been shown to significantly increase a student's job prospects, post-graduation.
Student Accommodation: We will amend the planning guidelines to support the construction of on-campus or near-campus, high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation that can help contain the growth in rents.
Technological Universities: Fine Gael continues to support the creation of Technological Universities, which will be linked to industry and will have an enormous impact on our capacity to create and retain jobs in regions.
We will prioritise those institutions with clear ambitions and plans for the furthering of industry-relevant technological research and education.
Further Education and Training Centres: Fine Gael will work with further education institutions to utilise facilities and during summer months offer more flexible, frequent courses, including conversion courses.
We will also work with industry to ensure courses are designed with in-demand skills need in mind.
Enterprise Engagement: We will internationally benchmark entrepreneurial activity in Irish higher education and work with the HEA to ensure an ambitious and implementable plan to identify and address skills gaps and ICT and STEM needs.
Apprenticeships for the 21st Century: Fine Gael in partnership with the Apprenticeship Council and industry will double the number of apprenticeships to provide a total of 31,000 places by 2020 through an annual call for new proposals.
We are targeting over 100 different apprenticeship schemes spread across sectors of the economy.
Local Industry and Career Traineeships: Fine Gael replaced FAS and 33 VECs with 16 new Further Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to strengthen local training capacity and ability.
With student outcomes in mind, we will reform the ETB funding model to reward ETBs that partner with local enterprises to develop career traineeships that combine classroom education with on-the-job training.
We will benchmark progress.
As part of our National Skills Strategy, we will also provide 19,000 traineeship places by 2020.
Springboard: We will review the successful Springboard programme to determine if new 2-year courses are merited for sectors with complex skill requirements.
Momentum: We will continue to provide quality upskilling and training opportunities to long-term job seekers under the Momentum programme.
We will also keep the opportunities provided under review, to ensure that we target the needs of jobseekers and employers in a recovering economy.
Adult Literacy: Fine Gael recognises that low levels of proficiency in literacy, numeracy and problem solving can have a negative impact upon a person's social and health outcomes.
We will improve access routes to learning to ensure that those with low qualifications or skills are not left behind.
12. An Equal, Fair and Inclusive Society
100 years on from the signing of the 1916 Proclamation, we have an opportunity to reassess the progress we have made as a society and to redefine who we are, and who we wish to become, as a nation.
Action on equality is required by all groups in our society, but the State must play a role in mobilising the resources for change and enabling citizens to overcome the barriers they face.
Fine Gael's intense focus on early years and early intervention means we will be tackling these barriers at the earliest possible opportunity.
No child should have to live in poverty and no family should have to face homelessness.
Our Long Term Economic Plan will provide the resources to invest in services that protect the weakest and most vulnerable in our society from poverty and exclusion.
Fine Gael believes that a fair and inclusive society must be built on a strong economy.
The three pillars of this are:
More and Better Jobs: Unemployment is the greatest source of unfairness in society, with its economic, social and health effects.
Long Term Thinking for Better Services: Only a sustainable economy can deliver the resources needed to provide public services which enable and protect our citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
Equality of Opportunity: Specific policies are needed alongside a strong economy to ensure that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to participate in society, regardless of their circumstances.
MORE AND BETTER JOBS
Integrated Framework for Social Inclusion: In a new term, we will develop a new Integrated Framework for Social Inclusion, built on our three pillars, which will tackle inequality and poverty.
Our Integrated Framework will outline measures to help eliminate any persisting discrimination on grounds of gender, age, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, race, disability, religion or membership of the Traveller Community.
lt will draw on existing as well as new strategies, in particular the (i) New Pathways to Work Plan for Jobless Households, (ii) New National Women's Strategy, (iii) New National Disability Inclusion Strategy, (iv) Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, (v) National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, and (vi) New Action Plan for Educational Inclusion.
Pathways to Work Plan for Jobless Households (see Social Welfare, Making Work Pay and Pensions chapter for further detail): We will publish a specific Pathways to Work Plan for Jobless Households.
lt will have targets for individuals within jobless households and updates to the Plan will be published on a regular basis.
Supporting jobless households into the workforce is the most effective way to reduce child poverty.
In particular, our new Working Family Payment is specifically designed to promote work over welfare, targeting low-income families.
Fine Gael is determined to eradicate all remaining welfare traps.
Pay Equality and Transparency: Households headed by women are at a higher risk of poverty than those headed by men, and while advances have been made, gender pay inequalities persist.
We will increase wage transparency by requiring companies of 50 and more employees to participate in pay surveys, to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work.
Equality in State Pension Entitlements: We will require the Department of Social Protection to review, within 6 months, the calculation of the State pension, and the costs and benefits associated with giving parents (mostly women) credits for years spent "home making" outside the paid workforce.
A More Equal Workplace: The ongoing creation of sustainable employment is critical to keeping the recovery going, and equity at work is essential to attracting and retaining motivated employees and building a positive working environment.
Similar to public bodies, we will encourage employers to implement equality plans so as to ensure all workplaces are welcoming to all existing and potential employees.
Female Entrepreneurship: Fine Gael has sought to increase female entrepreneurship through a number of targeted initiatives, such as the ACORN programme, which supports early stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland.
We are determined to build on the latest Enterprise Ireland (El) figures, which show a significant increase in female participation in entrepreneurship.
As part of this, one of the key actions of Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2016 will be to fund locally delivered courses for women which will comprise a series of training opportunities on self-development and workrelated skills to assist a return to the labour market and promote entrepreneurship.
Women in the Defence Forces: Recognising the very strong contribution made by female personnel, we will prioritise the need to address the gap in female participation in the Defence Forces.
Fine Gael will increase the level of female participation, with the goal of doubling the rate of participation from the current 6% to 12% in the next 5 years.
We will ensure future UN peacekeeping missions incorporate a number of gender-focused measures and the work of the Peace and Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for the development of expertise in these areas.
Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities: Work has commenced already on the implementation of this strategy.
lt seeks to support people with disabilities into employment and provide bridges and supports into jobs as well as offering certainty of income support if a job does not work out.
lt is also important that the needs of young adults with disabilities are supported at school and that they are helped to make the transition to further training or the workforce.
LONG-TERM THINKING FOR BETTER SERVICES
Early Years Investment: One of the most consistent findings from modern social research is that by investing in a child's early years, society reaps large dividends.
Early years investment is associated with a host of positive outcomes, including higher secondary school completion and employment rates, higher lifetime earnings, and reduced crime rates.
lt is also one of the single most effective ways of tackling intergenerational cycles of joblessness and poverty.
Better Start in Life: We are targeting investment in children's early years and in early intervention and prevention, so that all children benefit from equality of opportunity.
Fine Gael has made childcare more affordable, and we will introduce 2 weeks' parental leave each year to further support parental care, which is particularly beneficial in a child's first year.
As part of our intense investment in early years, we are reducing the pupil-teacher ratio for junior and senior infants to 18:1.
We will also build on the key successes of the School Completion Programme and seek to increase school retention.
We have introduced a range of additional supports to enable children with disabilities to fully participate in, and reap the benefits of, pre-school care and education.
We will overhaul current funding provision to ensure early intervention and continue to seek ways to overcome obstacles for all children.
Disability Inclusion Strategy: We will mandate government departments and state bodies, including local authorities and the HSE, to work together to ensure people with disabilities are fully supported in their daily lives.
This Strategy will ensure that people with disabilities are treated as equal citizens, provided with independence to live how they choose and enabled to reach their full potential.
Social Innovation Fund: Fine Gael believes that social innovation has an important role to play in shaping the future of Ireland; to shape Ireland as a country that is not only economically prosperous but a more inclusive and fairer society in which to live.
Due to the winding down of major philanthropic organisations, such as Atlantic Philanthropies and One Foundation.
A potential gap has opened up in the funding of social projects.
To close this gap, Fine Gael propose to drive social innovation policy in the Department of the Taoiseach and establish Social Innovation Fund Ireland with a view to raising a minimum of €50 million to provide growth capital to Ireland's best social innovations.
This money will be raised through philanthropy, along with a previously announced commitment of €5 million matched by philanthropists, and will strengthen and foster social innovation.
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
Supporting the LGBT Community: While the Marriage Equality Referendum was a major step forward in recognising the LGBT community, we must continue to ensure that all aspects of our society are safe and supportive of LGBT people.
In particular, we will:
Build upon the  Department of Education and Skills Anti-Bullying Plan, and focus on ensuring our schools are safe and supportive places in which LGBT young people can discover their sexual orientation or gender identity
Ensure that, within all workplaces, LGBT people are not inhibited from achieving their fullest potential
Work with An Garda Sfochana to provide services and training to assist members of the LGBT community in seeking support should they experience homophobic or transphobic incidents
Continue to resource adult and child mental health services in the community, ensuring timely access to services for all vulnerable groups, including LGBT people
Fine Gael is committed to increasing female participation at local and national level and is committed to gender equality in politics.
lt was Fine Gael that introduced gender quota legislation and we have reached the 30% quota for the 2016 general election.
To make our parliament a more attractive working environment for all Oireachtas members with young families, Fine Gael will ask the Ceann Comhairle and the Oireachtas to consider the introduction of family friendly hours for the Dail following a review of how other parliaments address this issue and a consultation process with all members as to how it would work in our parliament.
National Women's Strategy: Fine Gael is committed to publishing an updated National Women's Strategy that promotes gender equality, women's participation in decision making and the empowerment of women.
This Strategy will be published following public consultation and will be monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure progress in its implementation.
National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy: We will publish a revised National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, aimed at improving the lives of members of the Traveller and Roma communities.
A Referendum to Reflect a Changing Society: While recognising that women still undertake a high proportion of unpaid tasks in the home, there is now a wider diversity in the caring situations of many Irish families, which should be reflected in our Constitution.
We will hold a referendum on Article 41.2.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann regarding a "woman's life within the home".
Offence of Blasphemy: We will hold a referendum on the question of amending Article 40.6.1(i) of the Constitution to remove the offence of blasphemy.
13. Families and Childcare
Throughout this manifesto, Fine Gael's focus is to keep the recovery going so that families across Ireland can plan for their future.
Ireland can never go back to where we were in 2011.
That is why Fine Gael has set out solid steps in our Long Term Economic Plan to provide families with confidence that the next 5 years will not be like the last 5.
In an uncertain world, our Plan will reinforce Ireland's position as a jobs and family-focused country of stability and opportunity.
MAKING WORK PAY FOR FAMILIES
Abolishing the USC: Building on the progress made in our last two budgets, Fine Gael will complete the abolition of the USC by end 2020.
We will reduce the main 5.5% rate of use by 1% in Budget 2017, among other measures.
Minimum Wage: We will increase the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour during a second term, while cutting the lower rate of Employers' PRSI to mitigate the cost of minimum wage increases.
The "Working Family Payment" (see the Social Welfare, Making Work Pay and Pensions chapter for further detail): We will roll out a new Working Family Payment that promotes work over welfare.
Targeted at low-income families, it will supplement, on a graduated basis, the income of a household, while at the same time incentivising more hours and full-time work.
lt will ensure that parents working more than 15 hours a week will receive at least €11.75 an hour.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHILDCARE
As we work to keep the recovery going, parents need affordable childcare that makes work pay for their family.
The provision of quality and affordable care and education for all children is a priority for Fine Gael.
We understand that at each stage of a child's development their needs change and we must provide choice and flexible options for families to avail of.
Paid Leave in the First Year: Research shows that children benefit most from parental care in their first year. Current maternity leave entitlement is for 24 weeks after birth (and 2 weeks prior).
Budget 2016 has introduced 2 weeks' paternity leave from this September (which can be taken concurrently or when maternity leave has ended).
Building on this, Fine Gael is committed to an additional 8 weeks' paid leave entitlement to be availed of by either parent within the first year of a child's birth.
Starting in 2018, this will be implemented on a phased basis of 2 additional weeks per year.
When fully implemented, paid leave entitlements will be up to 34 weeks after a baby is born, with additional unpaid maternity leave if a family choose to avail of it.
Free Pre-School: Fine Gael has extended the free preschool year for children age 3 until they start school.
Commencing in September, this will reduce preschool costs by €1,500 on average for a family.
Home Carer's Credit: We will support parents that choose to stay at home to care for their children.
As part of this, Fine Gael's tax reforms will support oneincome families caring for a child or other dependent person.
We will increase the Home Carer's Credit to €1,650, while also increasing from €7,200 to €10,500 the income exemption for the home carer.
Affordable Childcare from 9-36 Months: As part of our plan for more affordable and quality childcare, Fine Gael will reduce the parental bill by €2,000 per annum by providing a direct annual subsidy to centrebased providers caring full time for children aged 9 months to 36 months.
Parents working part-time or in training or education will be entitled to a pro-rata reduction.
Making Use of School Buildings for After-School Care: School buildings must be utilised to offer more choice and convenience to parents in after-school care for their 5-12 year olds.
Fine Gael will provide an additional €50m in funding for primary and secondary schools by 2021 for general operating (capitation) costs, conditional on schools making their facilities available for after-school care where sufficient demand exists.
Community groups and private providers will be invited to tender to use school facilities.
Some schools in Cork already provide this service to parents, and in return schools receive a financial contribution from the childcare provider.
Informal Childcare: Fine Gael recognises the value of informal childcare for families.
We also support the development of a phased programme of reforms for childminders which will make it easier to support and assist both families and childminders.
Targeted Childcare Support: We will continue to expand targeted supports that provide affordable childcare to low-income families.
Additional low-cost childcare places increased from 35,000 in 2015 to 48,000 in 2016.
Quality and Sustainable Childcare: Fine Gael will ensure regular quality audits to measure the impact of investment in higher quality childcare.
Budget 2016 provided funding for the Better Start Initiative, Sfolta Quality Assurance Programme (QAP) and a Learner Fund, which are key tools in ensuring improved quality.
We will work to ensure the sustainability of the sector.
Inspections: Fine Gael inherited a system of childcare regulation and inspection that was not fit for purpose.
In government we have worked to put in place the building blocks to rectify this, such as ensuring that all inspection reports are now available to parents online, along with significantly expanding Tusla's Childcare Inspectorate.
We are committed to continuing to strengthen regulations, and to ensuring that every service is inspected and compliant before it opens.
We will further develop the Better Start initiative, supporting childcare services to enhance quality.
We will continue to expand inspectorates, increasing the number of unannounced inspections.
HEALTHCARE (SEE HEALTH CHAPTER FOR FURTHER DETAIL)
Fine Gael's Long Term Economic Plan will allow us to proactively support families from the birth of a child to adulthood, and move to focus on prevention rather than intervention.
Free GP Care for Under 18s: Free GP Care for Under 18s: Building on the provision of free GP care to senior citizens and young children, we will extend GP care without fees to children under 18 years by 2019, subject to negotiations with GPs
. Just over 400,000 children whose parents currently have to pay for access to a GP will benefit from this change.
Budget 2016 has provided for the introduction of free GP care for under 12s.
Subject to negotiations with GPs, the following phase of our plan will be to provide free GP care to 12-17 year olds.
Free Dental Care for Under 6s: Building on the provision of GP care without fees for children under 6, Fine Gael will introduce a dental health package for this cohort.
Together with existing dental checks at 6, 9 and 12 years, every child under 12 will be entitled to a comprehensive preventive dental health programme.
Dental Treatment Benefit: We will extend the Dental Treatment Benefit under the Social Insurance Fund to reimburse the cost of some routine dental treatments.
Preventive Dental Health Package for Medical Card Holders: We will introduce a preventive dental health package providing examination, cancer screening, scaling and polishing, any necessary preventive treatment, radiographs and prescription.
Significantly Reducing the Maximum Annual Cost of Medicines: We will significantly reduce the level of eo-payment which families/individuals have to pay for medicines under the Drug Payment Scheme.
Currently a family/individual has to pay a maximum of €1,728 per year and this will be reduced to €950, helping families/individuals with significant ongoing medical bills.
Currently a family or individual with a medical card has to pay up to €25 a month in prescription charges, this cap will also be reduced to a maximum of €17.50 a month.
Enhanced Primary Care: We have committed funding for at least 80 additional primary care centres.
Subject to negotiations, we will fund GPs to expand to services like minor surgery and cardiac monitoring.
We will ensure GPs have access to X-ray, ultrasound and other investigations for their patients, keeping people in the community and out of hospital.
EDUCATION (SEE EDUCATION AND SKILLS CHAPTER FOR FURTHER DETAIL)
As we work to keep the recovery going, we know that it is only in an Education Nation, where talent and potential is nurtured, that our economic progress can be maintained and built on.
Fine Gael has set out, in detail, its vision for education as part of our Long Term Economic Plan.
Reduce the Pupil-Teacher Ratio for Junior and Senior Infants: Fine Gael will fund, by 2021, an additional 832 teaching posts and reduce the pupil-teacher ratio for junior and senior infants from 28:1 to 18:1, phased in from September 2017.
Smaller classes have the greatest beneficial impact on younger pupils.
Budget 2016 provided for 2,260 teachers, commencing this September.
In addition, we will fund an additional 2,392 teaching posts by 2021 to -at the very least maintain the pupil-teacher ratio in all other levels of the primary and secondary schools.
More Multi-Denominational and Non-Denominational Schools: Fine Gael will strengthen parental choice and diversity in our schools system, reflecting the need in modern Ireland for new forms of multidenominational and non-denominational education.
A road map has been agreed for a phased transfer of Catholic schools to new patrons, where the support of communities exists.
Fine Gael will work with all stakeholders to facilitate this process.
Since 2011, 49 new multi-denominational primary and post primary schools have been established.
Fine Gael will continue to increase the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 300 by 2030.
Extend Mandatory Schooling Age: We will increase the mandatory schooling age to 17.
Special Educational Needs: For a young child, parent and teacher, it is crucial that early detection and intervention takes place so that each child can reach their full potential.
Over €1.4bn is spent annually on special education, yet families still face anxiety in accessing services.
We will maintain and examine current funding provision, with a view to ensuring children get the earliest and best support possible.
Fine Gael increased the number of Special Needs Assistants from 10,575 to 12,040.
We also increased the number of resource teachers from 5,175 to 7,452 in 2016.
We will continue to do so.
We will consult with stakeholders to see how best to progress sections of the EPSEN Act that were introduced on a nonstatutory basis.
Introduce In-School Speech and Language Therapy Service: Fine Gael will invest €10m by 2021 to fund 217 additional therapists for a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy, involving collaboration between parents, schools and primary care services that has been proven to be effective internationally.
Expand the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS): We will invest an additional €3m to increase the number of NEPS psychologists from 167 to 209 so that the Service can provide enhanced early intervention strategies for staff and pupils, and offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents.
A More Efficient and Responsive Higher Education Sector: Fine Gael will ensure that additional funding for the higher education sector -whether from the taxpayer or students-will be conditional on continued reform,
to cut out waste and unnecessary costs and to encourage more income generation, in collaboration with the private sector.
THE FAMILY HOME
An affordable supply of quality housing is necessary for maintaining our economic competitiveness and keeping the recovery going.
We are committed to supporting a sustainable increase in the annual housing output,
while ensuring that we never repeat Fianna Fail's previous mistakes in this area.
Increasing Home Building: To meet housing demand Fine Gael will support an increase in the annual housing output to a sustainable level of 25,000 by 2021.
As part of this goal, we will support NAMA to deliver on their target of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020.
A Fair Social Housing System: Fine Gael will provide over 110,000 social housing units by 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
These measures will address the needs of households on the housing waiting list, while also providing some flexibility for increased demand.
Mortgage Switching: We will establish a code of conduct for switching mortgage provider, administered by the Central Bank, which should inform and encourage mortgage holders to switch to more competitive banks.
We will also introduce a standardised and dedicated switching form, which will be simple to use and quick to administer.
New Mortgage Rules: We support the Central Bank review of the new rules, including a public consultation, to assess their impact and to propose recommendations on foot of its findings.
We will also examine the role of mortgage insurance schemes, both state and private-sector funded.
Home Renovation Scheme: Fine Gael has extended the attractive and successful Home Renovation Scheme to the end of 2016.
Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT): We will increase the Group A tax-free thresholds (including all gifts and inheritances from parents to their children) to €500,000, from €280,000 at present.
We will ensure that parents can continue to support-tax-free-their children through education.
14. An Ghaeilge
Fine Gael recognises the crucial importance of the Irish language to our heritage and culture and is committed to its reinvigoration.
To this end, we are committed to systematically implementing the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish language.
This strategy will increase the number of people using Irish in their daily lives, while also ensuring that Irish becomes a more visible language in today's society, both as a spoken language and also in areas such as signage and literature.
As part of this reinvigoration, we will pay particular attention to the Gaeltacht and the education system.
Currently there are fewer than 1,000 native speakers in primary schools in the strongest Gaeltacht areas.
Less than 10% of15-18 year olds in Gaeltacht areas currently speak Irish on a daily basis.
This stark figure is a call to action to sustain and revive Irish as a spoken language in our local communities.
Ireland needs to work harder to promote the range of opportunities that exist to strengthen the position of our native language.
To achieve this, we also need to place an extra emphasis on Gaeltacht education, to ensure that we continue to have vibrant lrish-speaking communities in Gaeltacht areas, and a greater focus on language standards for initial teacher training.
Job Creation in the Gaeltacht: As part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs, we will continue to focus on job creation in the Gaeltacht, through Udaras na Gaeltachta.
The additional €1m that was made available to Udaras' capital budget in Budget 2016 is indicative of this commitment.
Through these strategies, the various agencies and companies will be encouraged to work together to build on the unique strengths of each Gaeltacht area.
Gaeltacht towns and villages will also benefit from the regional enterprise strategies, which we will continue to implement across all areas of the country.
Gaeltacht Act 2012: Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, we will implement the language planning process in the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks.
Language Planning Process: We will engage with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Udaras na Gaeltachta to clarify the role that education will play in complementing the language planning processes taking place in accordance with the Gaeltacht Act 2012.
Naionrai: The recent Gaeltacht review by the Department of Education and Skills indicates that attendance by children in lrish-medium pre-schools or nafonraf in Gaeltacht areas has a positive impact on children's language development in Irish and on parents' own use of the language in the home.
Fine Gael supports the strengthening of this provision and will explore the possibility of accommodating nafonraf on the site of primary schools.
Language Focus on Infant Cycle: We believe that primary schools recognised as Gaeltacht schools should be allowed to practise total early immersion through Irish for a period of up to 2 years (junior and senior infants).
Language Supports: Fine Gael supports the introduction of measures to support both the language development of native speakers and the learners of Irish in Gaeltacht schools.
Community Links: We will promote the use of Irish outside ofthe school setting by increasing engagement with cultural, sporting and social activities conducted in Irish.
Irish Language Assistants Scheme: We will review the effectiveness of the Irish Language Assistants Scheme (Sceim na gCunt6irf Teanga) and look to provide an enhanced service.
Initial Teacher Training: Fine Gael will examine initial teacher education, induction and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) provision for both teachers in Gaeltacht schools and at primary and post primary level.
Summer Colleges: We will introduce a scholarship scheme for students from disadvantaged areas to attend lrish-language summer colleges.
Gaelbhratach Scheme: We will expand the Gaelbhratach Scheme, where schools are recognised and rewarded for their efforts in supporting and promoting the Irish language.
Irish in the EU: Fine Gael recognises the importance of the status of Irish as a full working language of the EU institutions and we are committed to ending the derogation, as circumstances allow.
In the interim, we will take an incremental approach to the provision of additional services, while also making targeted reforms to ensure that there are a sufficient number of qualified graduates for the positions available.
Irish Language and the Diaspora: In order to support the Irish language among the Diaspora, we will continue to fund lrish-language programmes in universities overseas, which will also help to encourage cultural tourism to Ireland.
14. An Ghaeilge
Aithnfonn Fine Gael an tabhacht mh6r a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge 6 thaobh ar n-oidhreacht agus ar gcultur agus taimid tiomanta fa athbheochan.
Chun na crfche sin, taimid tiomanta ar Straiteis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge a chur i bhfeidhm go c6rasach.
Mead6idh an straiteis sin lfon na ndaoine a usaideann an Ghaeilge ina saollaethuil, agus cinnteoidh sf go mbeidh an Ghaeilge nfos feicealaf i sochaf na linne seo, mar theanga labhartha agus i reimsf mar chomharthafocht agus litrfocht araon.
Mar chuid den athbheochan sin, dfreoimid ar n-aird ar an nGaeltacht agus ar an gc6ras oideachas.
Ta nfos lu na 1,000 cainteoir duchais i mbunscoileanna sna limisteir Ghaeltachta is laidre i lathair na huaire.
Glaoch chun gnfmh e an figiur follasach sin nach m6r an Ghaeilge a chothu agus a athbheochan mar theanga labhartha inar bpobail aitiula.
Nf m6r d'Eirinn a bheith ag obair nfos deine chun an raon deiseanna ata ann a chur chun cinn d'fhonn seasamh ar dteanga duchais a neartu.
Chun e sin a bhaint amach, caithfear chomh maith nfos m6 beime a leagan ar oideachas sa Ghaeltacht, lena chinntiu go mbeidh pobail bhrfomhara Ghaeilge againn i limisteir Ghaeltachta, agus beim nfos m6 ar chaighdeain teanga maidir le hoiliuint tosaigh do muinteoirf.
An Straiteis 20 Bliain: Ta an Rialtas tiomanta leanuint ar aghaidh le cur i bhfeidhm na Straiteise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 chun todhchaf ar gcead teanga oifigiuil a chosaint.
Is leiriu an €1 milliun breise a cuireadh ar fail do bhuisead caipitil an Udarais i mBuisead 2016 ar an tiomantas sin.
Bainfidh bailte agus sraidbhailte na Gaeltachta leas as na straiteisf fiontrafochta reigiunacha, a leanfaimid orainn a gcur i bhfeidhm i ngach limistear sa tfr
Tabharfar spreagadh trf na straiteisf sin do ghnfomhaireachtaf agus gn61achtaf eagsula oibriu lena cheile chun t6gail ar laidreachtaf uathula gach limistear Gaeltachta.
Acht na Gaeltachta 2012: Faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, cuirfimid pr6iseas pleanala na teanga i bhfeidhm sna Limisteir Phleanala Teanga Ghaeltachta, Bailte Seirbhfse Gaeltachta agus Lfonraf Gaeilge.
An Pr6iseas Pleanala Teanga: Rachaimid i mbun idirbheartafochta leis an Roinn Ealafon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus le hUdaras na Gaeltachta le go mbeidh an r61 a bheidh ag an oideachas, maidir le cur leis na pr6isis phleanala teanga a bheidh i bhfeidhm, ag teacht le hAcht na Gaeltachta 2012.
Naionrai: Leirfonn an t-athbhreithniu ar an nGaeltacht a rinne an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna le deanaf go mbfonn tionchar dearfach ag freastal leanaf ar reamhscoileanna n6 nafonraf i limisteir Ghaeltachta ar fhorbairt teanga na leanaf maidir leis an nGaeilge agus ar usaid na teanga ag tuismitheoirf sa mbaile.
Tacafonn Fine Gael le neartu na fora la sin agus feachfar ar na feidearthachtaf a bhaineann le nafonraf a chur ar shufomh na mbunscoileanna.
F6cas Teanga ar an tSraith Naionan: Creidimid gur choir go mbeadh cead ag bunscoileanna a aithnftear mar scoileanna Gaeltachta luath-thumoideachas a chleachtadh trf Ghaeilge ar feadh treimhse suas le 2 bhliain (nafonain bheaga agus mh6ra).
Tacaiochtai Teanga: Tacafonn Fine Gael le tabhairt isteach bearta chun tacu le forbairt teanga na gcainteoirf duchais agus na bhfoghlaimeoirf Gaeilge sna scoileanna Gaeltachta.
Naisc Phobail: Tabharfaimid spreagadh d'usaid na Gaeilge taobh amuigh den scoil trf rannphairtfocht in imeachtaf cultuir, sp6irt agus s6isialta arna reachtail i nGaeilge a mheadu.
Sceim na gCunt6iriTeanga: Deanfaimid athbhreithniu ar Sceim na gCunt6irf Teanga agus feachfar le seirbhfs feabhsaithe a chur ar fail.
Oiliuint Tosaigh do Mhuinteoiri: Deanfaidh Fine Gael iniuchadh ar oideachas tosaigh do mhuinteoirf, ionduchtu agus solathar Forbartha Gairmiula Leanunaf (CPD) do mhuinteoirf i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus ag an leibheal bunscoile agus iarbhunscoile.
Colaisti Samhraidh: Tabharfaimid isteach sceim scolaireachta do dhaltaf 6 limisteir faoi mhfbhuntaiste le go mbeidh siad in ann freastal ar cholaistf samhraidh Gaeilge.
An sceim Gaelbhratach: Leathn6imid an sceim Gaelbhratach ina dtugtar aitheantas agus cuiteamh do scoileanna as a gcuid iarrachtaf i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus as an tacafocht a thugann siad di.
ldir an da I inn, glacfaimid cur chuige incriminteach maidir le solathar seirbhfsf breise, agus muid ag deanamh athch6irithe spiocdhfrithe lena chinntiu go bhfuil lfon d6thanach ceimithe oilte ann chun na postanna ata ann a lfonadh.
An Ghaeilge agus an Diasp6ra: D'fhonn tacu leis an nGaeilge i measc an Diasp6ra, leanfaimid ar aghaidh le claracha Gaeilge a mhaoiniu in ollscoileanna thar lear, rud a chabhr6idh linn turas6ireacht chulturtha chun na hEireann a spreagadh chomh maith.
<<<<above text is translation of preceding English text>>>>
15. Health
Fine Gael inherited a badly organised and underfunded health service.
While Fianna Fail cut health spending during its final years in government,
Fine Gael has used the economic recovery to start rebuilding our health services, with increases in funding for more doctors, nurses and other frontline staff, for additional services such as the extension of Breastcheck, for access to new treatments such as for cancer and Hepatitis C, and for free GP care for the under Gs and over 70s.
Our health services employ dedicated and highly skilled professionals, but need more investment and reform-more healthcare staff, more empowered local management, more investment in technology and a decisive shift towards care outside of hospitals and in the community.
Fine Gael is committed to delivering a strong and efficient publicly funded health service.
lt is only a strong economy that will provide our country with the foundation needed for better health services.
Our plan for Universal Healthcare -for access to quality preventative, primary, curative, rehabilitative and end-of-life healthcare that is timely and affordable for everyone-will not be possible unless we keep the economic recovery going, and will be based on four key pillars.
1. MORE RESOURCES AND STAFF AND BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HEALTH SERVICES
Sensible Increases in Exchequer Funding for Health Services: By keeping the recovery going, our Long Term Economic Plan will be able to significantly increase funding for our health services.
This will cover the projected costs of hiring extra frontline staff, other non-payroll service pressures from a growing and ageing population, pay increases, as well as service developments.
Medium-Term Budget Certainty: In Budget 2017, we will set out a detailed 5-year budget for the health service, allowing our health service managers to plan service developments with the benefit of much greater financial certainty, and to be more accountable for results.
Increased Frontline Staff: Irish publicly funded hospitals are under-staffed in comparison with OECD norms when it comes to certain specialities.
We will implement a workforce plan that adds 4,400 frontline service staff to our health services by 2021, including 600 hospital consultants, doctors and dentists, 2,800 nurses and an extra 1,000 health and social care professionals.
21st Century Health: We will mandate the HSE to engage strategic partners from the private sector to help with the planning, financing and rollout of a 21st century IT health infrastructure, including the individual health identifier, e-referral, the electronic health or patient record and an online booking system.
Improved Infrastructure: We will open the new Children's Hospital at St. James's and satellite centres in Blanchardstown and Tallaght, the new National Forensic Medicine Campus in Portrane and the new National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.
We will complete the development of a new National Maternity Hospital, a new home for Holies Street, and progress as fast as possible the move of the Coombe, St Munchin's and the Rotunda to the campuses of adult hospitals.
We will continue to invest in new hospital buildings, including a 75-bed ward block at Galway University Hospital and a new Emergency Department in Limerick University Hospital.
We will review the Capital Plan in 2018.
Hospital Bed Capacity: Fianna Fail reduced our acute hospital bed capacity by 1,245 (10.3%).
In the last year, we have started to reverse this policy, providing over 300 additional beds.
A hospital bed capacity review will be carried out and completed by 2017 to provide a strong evidence base on which to plan for increasing bed capacity further, particularly in the context of the capital review in 2018.
Emergency Department (ED) Overcrowding: In 2015, €117m additional funding was provided for more staff and more beds in hospital and community settings to help alleviate ED overcrowding.
This has resulted in improvement, though more is required.
Fine Gael will make a decisive shift towards care in the community (minor surgeries, X-rays, chronic illness care), along with additional frontline staff to alleviate pressure on EDs.
As per international best practice, we will measure, monitor and reduce Patient Experience Times (PET), which measure the length of time from a patient presenting at an ED to their discharge home or admission to a ward.
Currently 68% of patients spend less than 6 hours in the ED.
We will increase the number of patients dealt with within this time frame by 5% per annum until it reaches 93%.
These figures will be published for each hospital on a monthly basis.
Waiting Lists: Waiting lists have been reduced due to a €50m target investment in 2015.
We must sustain this progress and are committing to set aside €50m each year to reduce waiting lists further.
This funding will target in particular those who have been long waiting and will utilise both spare public capacity and private capacity as necessary.
Health Insurance: We will maintain a tax and regulatory environment that supports increased coverage by a competitive and cost-effective health insurance market.
Funding Universal Healthcare: Crucial to the longterm sustainability of Universal Healthcare is the development of a new funding model for the health services.
Considerable work has been conducted by this Government on the costs and implications of the introduction of universal health insurance.
Further work needs to be conducted on the costs of various models, how to meet those costs and on how best to deal with unmet need for health services prior to the move to a new system.
The delivery of the reform programme outlined below must be completed first so that the foundations are in place to change the funding model.
This will allow the next government to make a final decision on the best way forward to finance Universal Healthcare.
2. HEALTH REFORM PROGRAMME
Dismantling the HSE: The Health Service Executive (HSE) is too large and remote from the front line
. Its centralised "command and control" model is not conducive to effective management of hospitals or community services.
Its dual responsibility for both the purchasing and provision of healthcare services undermines lines of accountability for delivery.
Fine Gael will continue its health reform programme, centred around dismantling the HSE, and embedding Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations (CHOs) with devolved decision making coupled with greater accountability.
Hospital Trusts and Community Healthcare Organisations:
We will evolve Hospital Groups into standalone statutory Trusts (outside of the HSE) and put CHOs on a statutory footing, with their own boards and management teams.
These boards will have local representation from the counties they cover.
The Hospital Trust boards will be assisted by representation from their academic partners.
We will commit €25m per year by 2021 for the establishment of Hospital Trusts and the implementation of Activity Based Funding, starting at €5m in 2017, and increasing by €5m per year until 2021.
Health Commission: The HSE will evolve into a Health Commission, focused on purchasing services and care for patients from Hospital Trusts and CHOs.
The National Ambulance Service, Health and Wellbeing, shared services like HSE Estates and Business Services and the National Clinical Programmes will remain under its remit for the duration of the next government's term of office.
Autonomy and Accountability: Hospital Trusts will own their assets, manage their own recruitment, agree individual contracts with key staff and make collective agreements with their employees.
Each CEO of the Hospital Trusts and CH Os will be accountable for their budget.
Service Re-Organisation: Hospital Groups I Trusts will be required to develop strategic plans to re-organise services within their group of hospitals.
This is key to minimising risks to patient safety and maximising favourable outcomes for patients.
Re-organisation of national services will be led by the Department and the HSE I Health Commission.
Activity Based Funding (ABF): Linking budgets with activity has the greatest capacity to deliver more efficient hospital services and gain timely quality care for patients.
We will replace block budgets, funding hospitals and other healthcare providers for the work they do rather than on the basis of historical budgets.
The individual health identifier and Health Pricing Office will become key enablers of this reform.
Achieving Better Performance: The HSE, and its successor the Health Commission, will agree annual performance targets with each Hospital Group j Trust and CHO on waiting times for inpatients, outpatients and ED attendees.
These targets will be built into all ABF budgets as they are rolled out.
Performance Management Unit: A new Performance Management Unit, with its own ring-fenced budget of €10m per annum, will be established within the Health Commission, with a reporting line directly to the Director General.
lt will supply hospitals and other service providers with expert assistance and targeted financial investment to assist them in reaching their targets.
Service providers who fail to meet their targets, and who do not fully engage with the Performance Management Unit, will be obliged to use their own budgets to ensure that targets are met with the assistance of private sector providers.
Investing in Management: We will upgrade the standard of hospital management by ensuring that all hospital managers and CEOs are educated to Master's in Business Administration (MBA) level or equivalent and are funded to do so.
New Management for Underperforming Hospitals: Where hospitals consistently under perform in terms of clinical outcomes, patient experience and/or financial management, it will be open to the board of the Hospital Group I Trust to temporarily transfer management of the hospital to another provider by means of a concession or management contract, without changing in any way the ownership of the hospitals.
Voluntary Hospitals: Fine Gael respects the contribution made by voluntary hospitals to the development of our health services.
We value their ethos and history and where their financial affairs are in order, it is our intention to retain their boards and governance structures.
Where contracts or service level agreements are fulfilled within their Hospital Group I Trust, their autonomy will be expanded.
New Consultants' Contract: We will negotiate a new consultants' contract, to include performance-related pay similar to the model adopted by the UK's National Health Service.
Reviewing Roles and Responsibilities: We will review the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals working in our hospitals.
This will include the introduction of the transfer of tasks between doctors and nurses, a greater role and extended scope of practice, including the authority to order and report on scans, for radiographers and radiation therapists.
Making Medicines Available at Affordable Prices: Building on a 30% reduction in the cost of medicines and €210m of savings invested in the provision of new and innovative drugs, we will continue to drive down costs to provide new treatments.
We will work with our EU counterparts in procuring medicines on a European-wide basis, improving purchasing power and further reducing the cost of medicines to the health service.
Significantly Reducing the Maximum Annual Cost of Medicines: We will significantly reduce the level of eo-payment which families/individuals have to pay for medicines under the Drug Payment Scheme.
Currently a family/individual has to pay a maximum of €1,728 per year and this will be reduced to €950, helping families/individuals with significant ongoing medical bills.
Currently a family or individual with a medical card has to pay up to €25 a month in prescription charges, this cap will also be reduced to a maximum of €17.50 a month.
Ambulance Services: We have enhanced the ambulance services, provided better coordination of services, and prioritised accessibility; we will continue to deliver safer pre-hospital care.
First Responders: We will expand the National First Responders Network, training local people in basic life-saving skills and the use of defibrillators, creating further additional avenues for early medical intervention.
Emergency Aeromedical Support Service (EAS): We are committed to the continued operation of the EAS, recognising the vital support this dedicated service provides, particularly in rural areas.
We will explore the possible extension of this service to other parts of the country.
Organ Donation: We will legislate for family consent and an opt-out register in organ donation.
Tackling the Rising Costs of Claims: We will establish an Expert Group to report within 6 months on options for reforming the law of torts and the current claims process, particularly when it comes to birth injuries and catastrophic injuries.
Strengthening Patient Safety and Oversight: Fine Gael is committed to the establishment of an independent patient advocacy service.
In addition, we will strengthen the Department of Health's patient safety functions under the Chief Medical Officer's leadership.
Open Disclosure: Fine Gael considers Open Disclosure as an essential component of patient safety and, in line with the recommendations of the Madden Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (2008), will progress a number of measures to support it.
These will include legislation to ensure that all open disclosures will be protected when made, in line with national standards to be set by HIQA and the Mental Health Commission, and that offering an apology or giving full information up front cannot be seen as an admission of liability.
lt will be made mandatory to report specified patient safety incidents or serious reportable events to the authorities and to the patient harmed, and it will be an offence not to do so.
Improving Patient Experience: We will expand the annual publication, by the Department, of statistics relating to patient experience, outcomes and safety, on a hospital and CHO level.
Increased Inspections: We will expand the inspection functions of HIQA to include home care and private hospitals.
We will introduce a licensing regime for hospitals allowing HIQA to endorse or revoke a license for a particular service.
New Technologies for Community and Homecare: Fine Gael will build on the success of the Health Innovation Hub by developing new technologies and solutions that help people remain independent in their home.
3. A DECISIVE SHIFT TOWARDS PRIMARY AND COMMUNITY CARE
As part of our Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going we are committed to significantly increasing investment in primary and community care, which will include additional doctors, nurses, and therapists, keeping care in the community.
Expanding Primary Care: We will provide at least 80 additional primary care centres, as part of the Capital Plan.
Keeping GPs Independent: We will protect the status of GPs as independent, autonomous professionals outside of the public service.
We will examine the use of tax instruments and other incentives to encourage more investment by GPs in primary care centres, technology and service developments.
GP Training: To achieve our goal of more care in the community, we must invest in training for GPs.
We will increase the number of GP training places by 100 over the next 5 years to 259 places annually.
Rural General Practice: Fine Gael recognises the importance of maintaining and sustaining a GP in rural communities.
Therefore we support proposals aimed at incentivising rural general practice, with the first measures commencing in 2016.
We also recognise that there is a need to provide additional support for GP practices in disadvantaged urban areas and will bring forward proposals in this regard following discussions with doctors' representatives.
Expanding GP Services: Subject to negotiations, we will fund GPs in expanding services like minor surgery, venesection and first-line investigations such as blood pressure and cardiac monitoring.
We will ensure that GPs have access to X-ray, ultrasound and other investigations for their patients.
Chronic Disease Management: We will expand chronic disease management in general practice, taking into account advice from the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
Over 63,000 patients have signed up for the diabetes cycle of care in general practice, which was initiated in 2015.
In addition to diabetes, which is already covered, we will seek to cover chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure and atrial fibrillation, so that patients can keep their care in their community, close to home.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams: To underpin the expansion of services we will increase the number of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, mental health professionals, public health and community nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, nurse/midwife specialists and social workers in our primary care centres.
Free GP Care for Under 18s: Building on the provision of free GP care to senior citizens and young children, we will extend GP care without fees to children under 18 years by 2019, subject to negotiations with GPs.
Just over 400,000 children whose parents currently have to pay for access to a GP will benefit from this change.
Budget 2016 has provided for the introduction of free GP care for under 12s.
Subject to negotiations with GPs, the following phase of our plan will be to provide free GP care to 12-17 year olds.
Medical Cards for Domiciliary Care Recipients: In recognition of the additional medical costs and needs that are often associated with a severe disability,
Fine Gael will legislate in our first year in government to extend the entitlement to a medical card to all children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
Approximately 10,000 children will benefit from this initiative.
Community Pharmacists: We will expand the role of community pharmacists, beyond dispensing prescriptions, to managing the health of their patients, within 2 years.
This may include a minor ailments scheme, a new medicines and medication review service, vaccines, warfarin clinics, smoking cessation and chronic disease management.
We will extend a limited authority to pharmacists to prescribe medicines.
Services for Older People in the Community: We are committed to significantly enhancing older peoples' services over the next 5 years.
This will include 2.2 million additional hours for home help, bringing it to 12.6 million hours annually, and additional home care packages, keeping older people in their homes.
Uniformity of Home Care Services: We know that home help and homecare provision across the country ranges from excellent to irregular.
Fine Gael will put a new structure in place that will provide a consistent, high-quality level of home care, to those who need it.
Fair Deal: We will fund additional beds for the Nursing Home Support Scheme to keep the waiting time for the Fair Deal scheme at approximately 4 weeks and ensure support for those unable to remain at home.
Children's Dental Health: We will introduce a dental health package for the under 6s including dental health advice for those under 18 months, dental wellness checks and appropriate treatment between 3 and 6 years.
Dental Treatment Benefit: We will extend the Dental Treatment Benefit under the Social Insurance Fund to reimburse the cost of some routine dental treatments.
Preventive Dental Health Package for Medical Card Holders: We will introduce a preventive dental health package providing examination, cancer screening, scaling and polishing, any necessary preventive treatment, radiographs and prescription.
Mental Health: Despite the economic crisis we inherited, Fine Gael increased the budget for mental health by €160m between 2012-2016, a total increase of 20%.
We will continue to provide further resources to ensure services reach people directly.
We will publish a plan for the achievement of faster access to comprehensive and appropriate mental health services, building upon A Vision for Change, with an emphasis on:
Preventive  medicine and early detection, based around primary care services in the community, making full use of multi-disciplinary primary care teams
Extending  youth mental health services, such as Jigsaw, which is free to access and does not require GP referral
Extending the Counselling in Primary Care service to more people
Greater  access to counselling and psychological services, including to charities who offer free counselling for families
Greater access to interventions, which use evidencebased practice to help combat depression and anxiety
Integration of psychotherapy, counselling and social care services with primary care teams
Supporting mental health recovery by offering follow-up training and booster self-help courses
Investment in innovative models of care and service modernisation, such as projects advanced by Genio
Appropriate amendments to the Mental Health Act 2001 to address concerns regarding involuntary committals and procedures
Building  on reduced waiting times for child and adolescent services
Reduced admission rates to acute units
Progressing  the transfer of the Central Mental Hospital to a new site
New capital developments for mental health, using funds from the sale of older assets v
Improved interagency cooperation
Supporting mental health recovery through accessing appropriate social housing with tenancy sustainment services.
4. IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE NATION
Healthy Ireland: We will pursue the Healthy Ireland and HSE Health and Well-being programmes, supported by increased annual budgets.
Alcohol Misuse: We will enact the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, with a full review 3 years post implementation to consider additional measures to further tackle excess alcohol consumption and misuse.
Reducing the Prevalence of Smoking: Fine Gael remains committed to making Ireland Tobacco Free by 2025.
We will vigorously defend plain packaging of tobacco products against litigation by the tobacco industry.
We will invest in public awareness campaigns to encourage more people to give up smoking.
We will prohibit smoking within the campuses of primary and secondary schools and child care facilities.
We will increase the excise duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes by 45 cent per year, with a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products.
Health Levy on Sugar-Sweetened Drinks: Fine Gael in government established a Special Action Group on Obesity.
As part of our comprehensive plan to address levels of obesity and encourage healthy diets and lifestyles, we will publish an Obesity Action Plan for Ireland.
As part of this, we will include the introduction of a €24.64 Tax per Hectolitre of Sugar Sweetened Drinks (CN Code 2202), which will raise the average price of a can of soda by 10c.
We will introduce the new levy from 2018, following extensive consultation with industry, the Revenue Commissioners and other stakeholders.
Healthy Nation: We will implement the National Physical Activity Plan, the National Obesity Action Plan and the Sexual Health Strategy.
Improved Vaccination Programme: We will expand the childhood vaccination programme to include meningitis B and rotavirus vaccines from the latter part of 2016.
Screening: We will complete the extension of Breastcheck to all women aged 65 to 69 in 2016, and pursue the introduction of new screening programmes which are evidence-based and cost-effective.
Maternity Care Strategy: We will implement the recently published National Maternity Strategy, which sets out a clear direction for maternity services, with choice for expectant mothers all over the country at its centre.
We will fund an additional 114 midwives annually from 2017 for 4 years as recommended in the Strategy.
Surrogacy and Assisted Human Reproduction: We will bring forward legislation to regulate surrogacy and assisted human reproduction services.
In conjunction with the legislation we intend to provide public funding for assisted reproductive treatments.
Cancer Care: Fine Gael wants to bring Ireland to the top tier of countries when it comes to cancer care and ensure the structures are in place to tackle cancer across all regions of the country.
Through the implementation of the new National Cancer Strategy 2016-2025, we will ensure that we have the appropriate care pathways to meet this objective.
We will continue the implementation of the National Radiation Oncology Project.
The 8th Amendment: This is a complex and sensitive issue, about which many people have deeply held views.
In the past, the various debates on this issue have been very bitter and divisive.
The outgoing Governmentwasthefirsttofaceup to its responsibilities to legislate for the constitutional position, as defined by the Supreme Court.
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act provides balanced legal clarity, with appropriate protections and safeguards.
Some parents find themselves in very tragic situations that are not referred to in the existing legislation.
If re-elected to Government, Fine Gael will, within six months, establish a new Citizens' Assembly.
This Assembly will provide an open an inclusive process to examine these issues in detail, and to establish if a broad consensus can be reached on future change.
Any proposals emerging from the Citizens' Assembly would then be examined in detail by the Oireachtas, through an all-party committee with access to the appropriate medical and legal expertise.
This responsible approach will facilitate a respectful and rational debate on these highly sensitive, and often, very emotive issues.
Speech and Language Therapy: We will examine and, if necessary, reform these services, with a view to ensuring earlier intervention and access for families to the HSE.
In addition to this, Fine Gael will invest €10m by 2021 to fund 217 additional therapists for a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy, involving collaboration between parents, schools and primary care services that has been proven to be effective internationally.
Rare Diseases: We will advance the quality of care for all patients with rare diseases through improved programmes of care and new pathways to European Centres.
End of Life Care: We will work with non-governmental organisations to improve information and awareness of end of life services, particularly those which provide people with palliative care in the location they choose.
We will bring into operation further hospices, construction of which local communities have funded, including in Wicklow, Waterford, Mayo and Kerry.
We will encourage the development of a hospice in the Midlands and North-East.
Fit for Work Programme: Working together, the Departments of Health and Social Protection will pursue a "Fit for Work Programme" to support more people to get back to work if they have an illness or disability.
Dementia Care: Fine Gael published the first ever National Dementia Strategy to plan for the future care needs of people, provide access to timely diagnosis, and increase awareness and care supports at local and national level for families.
Fine Gael will fully implement this strategy.
Rehabilitation: We will publish an implementation plan for the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy and move towards the provision of increased rehabilitation and support services in the community.
VAT on Defibrillators: As was introduced in the UK in 2015, we will set aside a special fund to help buy defibrillators for public places, including schools.
EU rules tie our hands in relation to VAT treatment of defibrillators but this fund will help to cover those costs.
16. Housing
Fine Gael understands that an increased supply of quality housing is essential for a growing population and for maintaining our economic competitiveness.
During a second term of government we will support a sustainable increase in the annual housing output,
while ensuring that we never repeat Fianna Fail's previous mistakes in this area.
HOME OWNERSHIP
Supporting Home Ownership: Fine Gael supports the dreams and aspirations of families to own their own home.
Home ownership promotes strong connections to the community and supports local jobs through upkeep and renovation work.
Supporting the Transition to Home Ownership: Since the start of 2016 we have been rolling out a tenant purchase scheme to social housing tenants.
We will promote this scheme to all eligible tenants as we believe that home ownership supports stable communities and local job creation.
Standard Variable Rates: We believe increased competition from outside and within the banking sector is the best way to drive down standard variable rates.
We will:
Establish a code of conduct for switching mortgage provider, administered by the Central Bank, which should inform and encourage mortgage holders to switch to more competitive banks
Propose  a standardised and dedicated switching form, which will be simple to use and quick to administer
Framework to Support Mortgage Holders in Arrears:
Fine Gael established the Insolvency Service of Ireland, a strict set of mortgage arrears resolution targets for the banks and a mortgage-to-rent scheme.
Fine Gael wants to keep people in their homes and, building on the progress which has seen the number in mortgage arrears decline for 9 consecutive quarters, we will continue to adapt and strengthen the existing mortgage arrears framework as necessary.
In addition, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has been established as a "one-stop shop" point of information and guidance for homeowners in mortgage arrears, with a dedicated mortgage arrears service in key locations and with nationwide coverage.
We will also introduce a new scheme to help people who are insolvent, and in mortgage arrears on their home, to access independent expert financial and legal advice.
This scheme will offer very important support and hope to people in genuine financial distress and anxiety, who can't afford the help they need.
MABS will be the gateway to this scheme and will arrange for advice and representation from a personal insolvency practitioner, a specialised MABS adviser, or a solicitor, as needed.
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Never Repeating Fianna Fail's Mistakes: The lessons of the boom and bust have been painfully learnt.
There will be no return to Fianna Fail's light-touch regulation which has trapped thousands of families in negative equity in substandard homes.
Fine Gael will support a balanced recovery in the construction of new homes which maintains new high standards while encouraging new development.
Increasing Home Building: To meet housing demand Fine Gael will support an increase in the annual housing output to a sustainable level of 25,000 by 2021.
As part of this goal, we will support NAMA to deliver on their target of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020.
Investing Strategically: Fine Gael will improve the availability of finance for new home construction, with a €500m joint venture to finance the building of11,000 new homes through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
We will support the ISIF to encourage the delivery of housing-related enabling infrastructure in large-scale priority development areas.
We will also examine the possibility of introducing new competitive funding, where local authorities can bid to deliver advanced local infrastructural projects.
Improving Planning and Development: Fine Gael will encourage immediate development through a targeted development contribution rebate scheme in Dublin and Cork.
At the same time, we will tackle the hoarding of land by developers by introducing a vacant site levy on serviced land in urban areas.
We will also streamline the local planning process with "use it or lose it" planning permissions, and the introduction of greater flexibility in the Strategic Development Zones.
Student Accommodation: We will amend the planning guidelines to support the construction of on-campus or near-campus, high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation that can help contain the growth in rents.
New Jobs in Construction: In May 2014, Fine Gael set a target of creating 60,000 new construction jobs.
To date approximately 20,000 new construction jobs have been created and we are confident that the target of 40,000 will be delivered in the next government term.
Ghost Estates: One of the worst legacies of Fianna Fail's time in government was the huge number of unfinished or "ghost" estates left dotted around the country as a result of the property bubble that their policies fuelled.
Since coming to power, we have reduced the number of such estates from nearly 3,000 in 2010 to 668 by the end of 2015.
During a second term, Fine Gael will continue to deal with the remaining unfinished housing developments.
SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
A Fair Social Housing System: Fine Gael will provide over 110,000 social housing units by 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
These measures will address the needs of households on the housing waiting list, while also providing some flexibility for increased demand.
We will also review, in 2016, the disparate system of differentiated rents nationally to ensure that housing supports, including the HAP, are fair and sustainable, and prioritise those on the lowest incomes.
Affordable Housing: Fine Gael will work with housing associations to develop a cost rental option for lowincome families.
Cost rental will help to keep rental costs manageable for tenants and avoid future rental increase shocks.
The cost rental model will also allow the State to avoid the level of exposure to increasing market rents that has driven up the cost of rent supplement and other similar supports for low-income tenants in private rented accommodation.
Tax Relief for Landlords: Fine Gael has reintroduced enhanced tax relief for landlords who accept rent supplement and HAP tenants and will maintain this in a second term of government, in order to incentivise landlords to take rent supplement and HAP tenants.
PROTECTING RENTERS
Expanding the Range of Protections for Renters: Fine Gael will promote a better balance of rights and protections for tenants and landlords, in recognition that the rules governing the sector have not kept pace with developments in housing.
We will achieve this by fully implementing a number of reforms in the private rented sector. These include:
Introducing a Deposit Retention Scheme, which will become operational by 2017
An increase in the relevant notice period to compliant tenants in the event of a rent increase or a lease termination
The  introduction of a time-limited measure that changes the provisions around rent reviews so that instead of taking place every 12 months, they occur every 24 months, until the 4th anniversary of the measure's introduction
Streamlining the powers  of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to aid faster decision making in the dispute resolution process to aid both compliant tenants and landlords
SUPPORTING HIGH-QUALITY AND APPROPRIATE HOUSING
Housing Adaptation Scheme: Keeping people in their own home as they grow older or if they have a disability is a goal we aspire to.
The Housing Adaptation grants provided to local authorities are essential to this aim.
Budget 2016 increased this scheme by 10% to €56m, which will see over 8,500 households benefit from the scheme.
We will increase this scheme by a further 20% to €66m by 2021.
Pyrite Remediation Scheme: Fine Gael is cleaning up the mess of Fianna Fail's building regulatory failures that destroyed the dreams of many young families.
Fine Gael is supporting those affected by pyrite.
We are implementing improved communication and reporting systems for residents in affected estates.
We have substantially enhanced funding to expedite remediation progress and we will continue to work with those in pyrite-affected homes until the issue is resolved.
In a second term we are committed to funding and supporting the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.
Home Renovation Scheme: Fine Gael has extended the attractive and successful Home Renovation Scheme to the end of 2016.
Enhancing Local Authority Building Inspections: We will review existing building regulations and local authority inspection powers in order to enhance compliance with planning permissions.
HOMELESSNESS
Ending Homelessness: Fine Gael will end the need for rough sleeping.
In addition we will implement a housing-focused strategy to end involuntary longterm homelessness.
The current housing situation is challenging, but progress is being made with people exiting emergency accommodation into sustained tenancy arrangements.
Tackling Homelessness: One human cost of the legacy of boom and bust housing development is the number of people without a home.
lt is not acceptable that in 2016 we have families living in emergency accommodation.
A key priority for Fine Gael is to boost affordable housing supply that will stem the tide of homelessness for low-income families.
To achieve this we will:
Ensure that there is no need for rough sleeping by providing emergency beds and accommodation options and by supporting the Merchants Quay Night Cafe, which provides spaces on a night-tonight basis for persons that do not enter existing supported accommodation programmes
Deliver 35,000 new social houses
Provide  500 modular housing units, as emergency accommodation, for homeless families
Return  unnecessarily vacant social housing units to use (almost 5,000 void units were returned to productive use in the past 2 years)
Maintain  a high level of support for homeless services, which is up 56% since 2014
Maintain  and promote the Tenancy Sustainment Protocol, operating in conjunction with Threshold in the Dublin and Cork City areas, which continues to provide support to persons in urban areas where supply pressures are most acute.
This flexible approach has already assisted almost 6,000 rent supplement households throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation
Maintain the  rent limits available under the HAP Homeless Pilot to 50% above the rent supplement levels
17. Jobs, Enterprise and Regional Growth
Jobs will remain Fine Gael's top priority.
Our Long Term Economic Plan sets out our overriding target of sustainable full employment, with the aim of adding 200,000 extra jobs between 2016 and 2020.
lt also sets crucial targets across the enterprise sector for improved performance across all key dimensions.
The last 4 years have proven that with the right policy mix behind it, Irish enterprise can deliver performance to match these ambitions.
The key now is to take those policies to the next level and keep this recovery going.
Fine Gael is determined to do so, by implementing a range of strategies across three broad fronts. We will:
Support a leap forward in the capacity and performance of our enterprise sector
Build  a competitive edge, both nationally and regionally, that will drive our export-led restructuring of the economy
Excel  in getting the basics right, and deliver a jobfit business environment which ranks in the top tier globally
A LEAP FORWARD FOR ENTERPRISE
Enterprise will be at the heart of our economic strategy.
Global leading export-oriented sectors will be a prerequisite, but vibrant and innovative domestic sectors will be essential to sustain our ambitions.
Fine Gael will drive forward the delivery of the strategies of the IDA, El, SFI and LEOs to grow Ireland's export market share in diverse markets, sectors and technologies.
At the same time we will develop and implement a strategy to build sectoral clusters nationally and regionally which embed a sustainable competitive advantage.
€4 Billion Future Jobs Investment Fund: To match the scale of ambition in our Long Term Economic Plan to create an additional 200,000 sustainable jobs by 2020, and taking full advantage of the favourable treatment of capital investment under the fiscal rules,
Fine Gael will use €1bn of the fiscal space available by 2021 to fund an additional €4bn in total capital investment over the 5-year period 2017-21.
The funds will be ring-fenced for a new Future Jobs Investment Fund to future-proof the economy and our jobs plan against rising global risks and challenges.
As part of the annual Action Plan for Jobs (APJ), the additional capital funding will be allocated by Government on a competitive basis to public bodies and public I private collaborations with credible initiatives that best address these national challenges.
That means that the Fund will be used each year in support of the APJ to help deliver on specific, highimpact measures in each Plan so that the target of sustainable full employment by 2020 can be achieved.
Action Plan for Jobs: Fine Gael will continue to implement the APJ, which has been strongly welcomed by industry and international organisations and has been described by the OECD as "an important innovation in Irish governance."
We will broaden and further embed it, in a second term, by:
Focusing  the APJ process on the delivery of the ambitions of our Long Term Economic Plan
Ensuring  that the implementation of regional strategies is backed up by integration into wider national decision-making processes and i nfrastructu ral priorities
Bringing leaders of enterprise into the key national implementation group to act as catalysts for continuing innovation
Inviting  the National Competitiveness Council to evaluate the impact of key national strategies on talent, on innovation, on entrepreneurship, on Pathways to Work and on regional implementation
Establishing a Long Term Economic Plan Delivery Unit within the Department of An Taoiseach that will coordinate the APJ across Government
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs): Enterprise Ireland (El) will support the LEO network to develop their own capacity and their range of policy tools, to grow their base of start-ups and small businesses.
lt will encourage greater scope for local innovation and the build-out of a supporting enterprise network in every county.
We want to see Ireland become a European leader in the number of start-ups and in their survival and growth -facilitated by better mentoring, funding models, accelerators and business space.
To this end we will ensure that the standard of service delivered is consistent across the country and that any SME or prospective SME that visits its LEO will receive high-quality mentoring, support and seamless access to the wider range of El supports for high-potential enterprises.
Equalising Tax: We will continue to improve the tax offer to small business and reduce and ultimately eliminate the historical income tax discrepancy that exists between PAYE workers and the self-employed by 2018.
Training and Development: We will ensure that existing enterprises get the opportunity to improve their capability and to step up to a new level facilitated by training in the areas of management, new lean processes, innovation, and accessing new markets.
We will also commit extra resources to mentoring, in order to help SMEs to maximise their potential.
As part of this commitment, we will ensure that small businesses can access the National Training Fund for management training.
Productivity and Performance: We will initiate a strategy to systematically improve productivity and performance in critical sectors of the non-trading sectors of the economy, including construction, logistics, security and digital markets.
Our actions would address barriers to entry, weaknesses in capacity skills or management, and examine the adoption of new technologies and processes
Succession: As part of our commitment to supporting development and mentoring in the SME sector, we will increase awareness of the implications of succession and of the benefits of succession planning for their business.
A Multi-Sectoral Jobs Plan: Our Long Term Economic Plan will focus on job creation across the economy.
As part of this plan, we have identified specific jobs targets across a range of sectors.
These include agrifood, international financial services, construction, tourism, and the various maritime sectors.
Further detail is provided in each of the relevant manifesto chapters.
BUILDING A COMPETITIVE EDGE
We want to see Ireland consistently feature in the top 3 small countries in the world in the relevant competitiveness rankings and to do so by delivering measurable improvements against international benchmarks in respect of:
Efficient resource use (e.g. power, airports, fuel, and broad band)
Market access (e.g. ports and airports)
Finance (e.g. seed and venture capital, equity, and new forms of non-bank credit)
Taxation  (e.g. on work, entrepreneurship and innovation)
Ease of doing business (e.g. permits and waiting times)
Export-Led Growth: The previous Fianna Fail led government destroyed Ireland's international competitiveness, and instead built up an economy around an unsustainable property bubble to try and paper over the cracks.
This is why our jobs crash was so swift and so violent.
In contrast, Fine Gael's plan to achieve full employment by 2020, and to sustain it, is based on growing employment broadly, across all sectors of our economy.
Of the additional jobs our Plan will deliver by 2020, approximately 50% will be in export sectors.
As part of this, government-supported, lrish-owned companies will grow exports by 40%, or €10bn, by 2020, by driving client companies to target new markets, and by increasing the value of sales in existing markets.
This will help grow employment in El companies by 32,000 by 2020.
Over the same period, the IDA will generate over 1,000 new investments that will help grow employment in IDA companies by 42,000.
This is the only way to ensure a sustainable jobs-led recovery where growth is based on making and selling high-quality services and products overseas rather than building and selling property among ourselves.
A New Independent Competitiveness and Productivity Commission of Ireland: Building on our reform of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), and responding to the 2015 OECD recommendations regarding developing a stronger whole-of-government productivity agenda, together with expanding the remit of the NCC into a more productivity-focused body, Fine Gael will transform the NCC into the Competitiveness and Productivity Commission of Ireland (CPCI).
The Commission's remit will be to:
Advise the Taoiseach and Government on  how to maintain competitiveness and develop productivityenhancing programmes
Independently  assess, and comment publicly on, whether policy actions and initiatives are consistent with maintaining Ireland's competitiveness
Produce reliable independent evidence on the costs of doing business in Ireland and benchmark Ireland's competitiveness performance
Provide a set of recommendations to Government, including a submission to the APJ, which will be considered by Government within 6 weeks of submission
Corporation Tax: Fine Gael defended our corporation tax regime throughout the financial crisis and we are committed to maintaining the 12.5% rate into the future.
We will continue to work with our international partners in tackling aggressive international tax planning through the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiative.
Developing and Retaining Talent: Fine Gael is determined to deliver a step change in our capacity to educate, develop, deploy and retain talent.
National and regional targets for critical skill provision will be set and competitive funding models will encourage their delivery in partnership with enterprise.
This will be essential to keep up with the disruptive impact of new technology.
In order to achieve this we will:
Create financial incentives for the third level system to respond to skills gaps
Invite industry to partner in the delivery elements of the curricula at third and fourth levels
Create a strong system for the delivery and renewal of skills in newly emerging technical areas (including apprenticeships, traineeships, and in service progression)
Innovating to Drive Growth: Fine Gael will implement Innovation 2020, Ireland's 5-year strategy for research and development, science and technology.
As part of this strategy, and to continue to drive growth we will need to develop clusters which will allow us to get early mover advantage from innovation and emerging technologies.
This will require us to better align public and private sources of investment in research.
This will be crucial in reaching our overall goal of increasing public and private investment in research and development (R & D) to 2.5% of GNP by 2020.
This will amount to an almost doubling of current levels of investment.
As part of this, €1.25bn in funding will be drawn down from the EU Horizon 2020 programme.
We will also develop our systems of data protection, copyright and patent protection in such a way that allows enterprise and innovation to thrive within an environment that gives robust protection to citizens
As part of the same alignment between public and private, we will open up the scope for enterprise to deliver innovation to the public sector, both in routine work and through grand challenges.
We will also ensure that the Knowledge Development Box element of our corporation tax system supports the research and development objectives of indigenous Irish companies.
We will set ourselves a number of innovation-specific goals, including:
Delivering  a 60% placement rate from research centres to enterprise
Creating new models of collaborative research
Establishing a new advanced manufacturing research and training facility
Introducing a new tiered Innovation Voucher scheme for SMEs that would help to both generate ideas and commercialise them, through collaboration between the business and the academic community
Doubling investment in publicly performed research
Increasing  the number of research personnel in enterprise from 25,000 to 40,000
Selecting a number of "grand challenges" which we face as a society with respect to which a competitive call from mixed public I private consortia would be sought
Building Competitive Regions: Fine Gael is implementing the eight regional Action Plans for Jobs, and has allocated €250m to a fund to help spread growth to all areas.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will oversee the delivery and implementation of each regional Action Plan.
Competitive funding calls will continue to ensure the ideas with the greatest impact on jobs and enterprise will get funding.
The Action Plans will be part of an overall strategy, aimed at ensuring that the unemployment rate in every region is within 1% of the national average.
Each plan seeks to increase employment by approximately 15% by 2020 and includes targets to increase startups by 25% and IDA investments by 30-40%.
The €250m in funding available for the Plan will allow the IDA invest in ten additional advanced manufacturing and office facilities in regional centres and for El to invite regions to compete for €50-60m in funding for locally developed enterprise projects.
We will also reinforce the role of the Western Development Commission (WDC), so that it supports the implementation of the Regional Enterprise strategies in the West and North-West.
As part of this, the WDC will be given a specific mandate to stimulate the development of enterprise networks in these two regions and to stimulate innovative approaches to development.
This will build on the recent allocation of €2m in additional funding to support regional economic development in the West of Ireland, which the WDC will administer across a number of economic development projects.
Red-Tape Reduction: Administrative burdens act as a drag on the economic recovery and Fine Gael will target a €1bn reduction in the cost of the red tape during the course of the next government.
To this end, we will establish a High Level Group on Business Regulation, with an independent chairperson.
Smart Regulation: We will also step up the use of impact assessments of legislative proposals across Government.
We will publish new guidelines, taking account of the latest EU and OECD smart regulation practices.
A screening impact assessment, at a minimum, will have to accompany all primary legislation and significant secondary legislation.
Sheltered Sectors of the Economy: Fine Gael stands alone as the only party prepared to shine a light on the sheltered sectors of the economy.
We believe in the benefits of competition.
The new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is a beefed-up watchdog, which will help protect consumers.
We will monitor the new Commission's progress and add to its powers if necessary.
Expert Group on Commercial Rates: We will establish an Expert Group on Commercial Rates to report, by the end of 2016, on the feasibility of replacing the current system of local authority commercial rates with a Site Valuation tax, as recommended by the National Competitiveness Council, with the objective of ensuring fair and affordable rates on businesses and encouraging the development of unused or underdeveloped premises and land.
In parallel, we will press ahead with the implementation ofthe recently passed Valuation Act, which is designed to speed up the cumbersome revaluation process.
Fine Gael will closely monitor its effectiveness and will introduce further measures if we do not see sufficient improvement.
We will also instruct all county councils to publish the breakdown of how all commercial rates collected are spent, facilitating comparisons across different local authorities.
This provision will encourage efficient local authorities to adopt commercial rates policies that help sustain existing businesses and encourage new start-ups.
REVITALISING THE MAIN STREET
At a time of falling but still high unemployment, it is critically important that the economic potential of each region is maximised and that each region builds on its particular strengths and assets to provide a competitive environment that stimulates entrepreneurship and attracts investment, both indigenous and foreign.
Regional strategies that encourage and facilitate job creation will also support the economic and social fabric of rural areas.
Planning: We will look to introduce initiatives that will encourage people to live in towns, which will have the added benefit of guaranteeing footfall for local businesses.
This may necessitate a re-examination of the current planning framework so that planning policy is aligned more closely with business realities in these areas.
Employers' PRSI: To mitigate the impact on jobs and small employers of further, sensible rises in the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour, we will cut the lower 8.5% rate of Employers' PRSI to 6.5% and increase the lower rate threshold to €426 per week (from €376).
We will still be guided by the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on the phasing in of these minimum wage changes during a term of office.
Online Retailing: As well as encouraging more footfall in rural towns and villages we also understand that a significant amount of business these days is done online.
In this context, we will expand the Online Trading Voucher Scheme.
We will also continue to review the value of the vouchers, to ensure that small businesses are able to use the vouchers to obtain the expertise they need.
PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Fine Gael is a pro-enterprise party and we firmly believe that entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy.
In a second term, we want to see Ireland become a European leader in the number of startups and in their survival and growth.
Similarly, we want to see continued growth in the important social enterprise sector.
We will achieve these goals through a number of new and innovative approaches.
Access to Finance: Access to finance will be absolutely critical to realising our ambition that Ireland will become a leading country for start-ups and that our enterprises will more easily progress in capacity and scale.
To achieve this, we need to deliver €1bn per year from new commercial sources of finance to supplement normal bank offerings to SMEs.
Such an ambitious goal will require a mixture of sources and include:
New forms of equity
Mid-size investment rounds
Development  finance for manufacturing and international services
New forms of export and trade finance
Peer-to-peer lending
We will also ensure that there is careful monitoring of the performance of the institutions in this area (such as Microfinance Ireland and the SBCI) so that we continually update our knowledge on the needs of enterprise, as they emerge, as we move to deliver this ambitious target.
Small Business Investment Trusts: The introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts has proven to be a successful vehicle for investment in the commercial and residential property market.
We will explore the role that Small Business Investment Trusts could play in Ireland.
Such a vehicle could be an alternative source of funding for Irish SMEs and provide small investors with the opportunity to invest in Irish SMEs.
Capital Gains Tax Relief for Start-Up Companies: We will introduce a new Capital Gains Tax Relief [Start-Up Relief] to support and encourage start-ups in Ireland.
Gains arising on chargeable business assets acquired from later this year and held for 5 years will be charged at a rate of 10% on disposal, up to a maximum liability of €10m.
Gain arising on investment in all Employment Investment Incentive (Ell) qualifying companies will be eligible for the lower capital gains tax rate of 20%, introduced in Budget 2016.
Family Businesses: Fine Gael will instruct the Department of Finance to review, in advance of Budget 2017, the tax barriers to the long-term growth of lrishowned family businesses, with particular reference to the competitiveness of the Irish tax regime with that of the UK and other advanced economies.
Equalising Tax: We will continue to improve the tax offer to small business and reduce and ultimately eliminate the historical income tax discrepancy that exists between PAYE workers and the self-employed by 2018.
Educational Initiatives: We will introduce educational initiatives aimed at encouraging entrepreneurial thinking in schools, throughout second level.
At third level, we will build on the emerging engagement between Enterprise and higher education and encourage universities to promote entrepreneurship on theirown campuses and to develop course offerings with a strong entrepreneurial content.
We would also provide support to universities who introduce mid-degree "sandwich year" courses, whereby students spend their third year of university working for an Irish business.
Such an initiative would be mutually beneficial for both students and businesses.
This commitment to entrepreneurial education will also be seen in our support for mentoring and other forms of training and development for start-ups and existing SMEs.
Female Entrepreneurship: Fine Gael has sought to increase female entrepreneurship through a number of targeted initiatives, such as the ACORN programme, which supports early stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland.
We are determined to build on the latest El figures, which show a significant increase in female participation in entrepreneurship.
As part ofthis, one of the key actions of Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2016 will be to fund locally delivered courses for women which will comprise a series of training opportunities on selfdevelopment and work-related skills to assist a return to the labour market and promote entrepreneurship.
Increasing Awareness of Supports Available: Government surveys have consistently shown that the majority of SMEs are unaware of the supports that are available.
lt is for this reason that the Government launched the SME Online Tool, to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the over 80 government business supports that they could be eligible for.
In the next term of government we will both increase awareness levels of the supports available and continually improve the usability of the Online Tool, so that it works with the efficiency and efficacy SMEs expect from their own businesses.
WORKPLACE RELATIONS
Fine Gael will continue to promote quality workplaces as the key to innovation and improving living standards through delivery of quick and effective resolution of workplace disputes.
We will also introduce balanced improvements in working conditions consistent with our full employment ambition.
Fine Gael has worked to improve employment rights for all workers in a fair and balanced way.
We have introduced numerous changes which have improved employment rights, in particular:
Re-establishing the  Joint Labour Committees on a sound constitutional basis
Putting  temporary agency workers on an equal footing with permanent workers
Enacting laws on collective bargaining
Introducing a scheme to protect migrant workers in the fishing industry
Employment Rights Act: Following the merger of the Employment Rights and Industrial Relations bodies into the Workplace Relations Commission, the next step is to enact an Employment Rights Act which will consolidate all primary and secondary legislation dealing with employment rights into a single act.
This will improve compliance and make it easier for both employees and employers to understand their respective rights and obligations and also reduce the need for expensive legal advice.
Public Service Disputes: Fine Gael will remove all individual public sector industrial relations disputes from the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration scheme.
Such disputes will in future be heard by an Adjudication Officer of the Workplace Relations Commission and on appeal to the Labour Court.
This will bring an increased level of transparency to industrial relations disputes within the civil service, with all Labour Court decisions being published.
University of Limerick (UL) Report on Zero Hour Contracts: Fine Gael will consider the UL Report on Zero Hour Contracts.
We will respond to the proposals put forward in a balanced way, taking into account the views that were expressed in the public consultation which has been undertaken.
CONSUMER RIGHTS
Fine Gael will enact a Consumer Rights Bill which will be the most far-reaching reform of Consumer Protection for decades.
This Bill will include a ban on expiry dates for gift cards and a right, for the first time, to have a substandard service remedied or refunded.
18. Justice, Crime and Law Reform
Fine Gael's priority is protecting our citizens by reducing crime through significant investment in An Garda Sfochana, the creation of a more efficient legal system and a tough sentencing approach to offenders.
Fine Gael will continue to strengthen and update Ireland's laws to tackle new and emerging crime trends.
We will also continue to work with Garda management and the Policing Authority to implement reforms that will provide greater confidence, protection, transparency and efficiency to crime reduction, detection and prosecution, across our country.
AN GARDA SiOCHANA
Fine Gael is committed to the delivery of an effective, visible and responsive policing service, to prevent and pursue crime and to protect our communities, both rural and urban.
We ended the moratorium on Garda recruitment, reopened the Garda College in Templemore to new recruits and have invested over €34m in 1,300 new Garda vehicles since 2012.
Recruiting More Gardai: Fine Gael is committed to the recruitment of 600 new Garda recruits per annum.
This will bring Garda numbers to approximately 14,000 by 2021, an increase of approximately 1,500 after retirements are taken into account.
This additional recruitment will allow for more Gardaf to be appointed to detective roles to help increase crime detection, to tackle serious crime, including burglaries and gangland crime; and to protect our State.
Civilianisation: Following recommendations from the Garda Inspectorate, Fine Gael will fund the recruitment of at least 300 more civilian staff to non-frontline administrative and analyst positions.
These reforms will free up 300 sworn Gardaf for frontline policing in the community.
Garda Vehicles: Fine Gael will invest €46m, as part of the recently announced Capital Plan, in approximately 1,700 new vehicles, including patrol cars and highpowered vehicles, to ensure Gardaf are visible and responsive and to ensure enforcement of the Road Traffic laws.
We will also invest in more mountain bikes so Gardaf can be visible and mobile in urban areas.
Doubling the Garda Reserve: We will double the number of Reserves to 2,200 and we will review the deployment and tasks assigned to Reserves to better support the provision of visible frontline policing.
Tackling Gangland Crime: Fine Gael will not tolerate gangland crime.
A dedicated new Armed Support Unit for Dublin will be established, comprising 55 Gardaf.
This new unit will operate in addition to the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
The new unit will build on interim armed response measures currently being rolled-out by the ERU and other units.
We will ensure sufficient resources (including staffing, overtime and high-powered vehicles) are provided to support the work of the both the Garda Armed Response Units and the new Garda Drugs and Organised Bureau, which was established in 2015.
Technology for 21st Century Policing: We have, in the Capital Plan, committed to the most comprehensive upgrade ever of Garda technology and ICT systems.
This will ensure improved response times, enhanced management of criminal investigations, and less paperwork so Gardaf can spend more time on frontline community policing.
This will facilitate the integration of Garda, Court and Driver Licensing IT systems on road traffic offences and support investment in CCTV along the road network and in urban centres.
Modernising Garda Stations: We are committed to ensuring Gardaf have fit-for-purpose facilities nationwide.
As part of this, we have committed funding to refurbish or develop 32 locations nationwide.
Garda Oversight and Reform: Fine Gael fully supports the new Policing Authority as the new public oversight body for policing in Ireland.
The Garda Inspectorate's in-depth report is far reaching, and will involve a restructuring of An Garda Sfochana, as it faces changing criminal activities and trends into the future.
Building on the report's recommendations, we will work with Garda management, the Policing Authority, and staff representative bodies to implement agreed reforms in the areas of civilianisation and in rostering and structure.
Protecting Gardai, Prison Staff and Frontline Emergency Workers: We will strengthen the law and implement ongoing measures to protect Gardaf, prison staff and frontline emergency workers from injury, including from the ramming of vehicles.
Working with Communities, Businesses and Farmers: We will support the establishment of Garda Business Fora in urban centres to allow Gardaf and businesses to work together to improve public safety, ensure a safe night-time economy and respond to crimes against businesses, such as shoplifting
We will ensure the laws and resources are in place to support Gardaf to protect agricultural communities and to tackle rural crime, such as the theft of farm machinery and livestock.
TACKLING RURAL CRIME
Patrolling Rural Communities: Fine Gael has committed €46m for approximately 1,700 new Garda vehicles in the Capital Plan and we will ensure these new vehicles are allocated to provide effective, mobile and visible policing of rural communities.
Having ended the moratorium on Garda recruitment, made our commitment to 600 Garda recruits per year and plans for Garda reform we will ensure that dedicated Community Teams are operating in all areas of the State, including rural communities.
Tackling Criminal Gangs: We will provide Gardaf with the resources necessary to tackle mobile criminal gangs operating in rural communities.
We will continue to ensure adequate overtime is available for special operations to tackle criminal gangs.
We will also complete a review of effectiveness of Garda CCTV with a view to investing in effective systems that are proven to help in tackling crime including, where appropriate, at motorway junctions.
Extending Text Alert and Neighbourhood Watch: We have doubled funding for community crime prevention.
We will continue to work with community groups to extend Text Alert and Neighbourhood Watch schemes in rural communities.
SECURING THE STATE
The preservation of security and peace on this island is a core priority.
We will continue to support An Garda Sfochana and the Defence Forces and to cooperate internationally to respond to all threats of extremism and we will support all efforts to crack down on paramilitary and dissident activity.
We will increase the capacity of the Army Ranger Wing and of special operation forces, to assist in meeting emerging challenges in all environments.
Security Review: While Ireland's current capacity to respond to security challenges is robust, the international security environment is rapidly changing.
Fine Gael is committed to completing within 12 months a core structural review of decision-making arrangements across the common areas of security and defence.
This will be led by the Department of An Taoiseach with input from the Department of Justice, who have lead responsibility in this area, together with the Department of Defence and other relevant departments.
Disrupting Cross-Border Crime: We will support both An Garda Sfochana and the planned new Joint Agency Task Force to implement eo-coordinated frontline interagency operations aimed at disrupting cross-border organised crime and fuel and tobacco smuggling.
We will also seek to disrupt environmental crime and mobile organised crime gangs and improve cross-border assets recovery.
Fine Gael will continue to support all efforts to crack down on paramilitary and dissident activity.
Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB): We will ensure that adequate resources are provided to support the work of CAB in tackling money laundering and to target the proceeds of crime.
Information Sharing: We will implement the Schengen 11 information-sharing IT system, in order to enhance the policing of entry points to the State, and to support Gardaf in detecting and preventing suspected, dangerous and wanted criminals or prospective terrorists from entering the country.
AN ACCESSIBLE AND EFFICIENT LEGAL SYSTEM
Fine Gael has implemented comprehensive reforms to the Courts system and regulation of the legal professions, including a new Court of Appeal and reformed legal services to reduce delays in court proceedings.
These reforms will support equality of access to justice for all.
We will continue our reforming agenda in this regard as we place victims and our wider society at the heart of the justice system.
Prioritising Victims: We will strengthen the rights of victims of crime and their families, through implementation of the EU Victims Directive and provide for a right of access for victims to information and protection.
We will continue to develop victim support services, including the Garda Victim Support Offices, and enhance support services in the Courts system.
An Effective Courts System: Fine Gael will reduce excessive delays to trials and court proceedings by introducing new measures, including pre-trial hearings.
The Department of Justice will commission an annual study on court efficiency and court sitting times, with international benchmarks.
We will publish its first report by March 2017.
We will also instigate a full review of the rules for disclosure and evidence.
We will also introduce court reforms to more sensitively facilitate children giving evidence.
A Competitive Legal Services Industry: We will ensure that the public and business see the benefits of recent reform.
In order to achieve this, a number of steps will be taken.
For instance, the new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator will make their determinations public and Fine Gael will continue to drive measures to reduce legal fees.
We will also:
Resource the Legal Services Regulatory  Authority and the new single Disciplinary Tribunal for solicitors and barristers to provide independent and effective oversight of the legal profession
Deliver an effective independent public complaints procedure that will be backed up by a legal practitioners' disciplinary tribunal to deal with solicitors and barristers
Promote the rollout of new business models for legal practitioners and support the future establishment of new multi-disciplinary practices
Supportthedevelopmentofaspecialistconveyancing profession, with appropriate regulations and standards
These reforms will allow us pursue opportunities to maximise the international economic potential of Ireland's legal services and arbitration services.
Tackling Insurance Costs: We will task the Departments of Justice and of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with reviewing the framework for injury claims, and the effectiveness of the Injuries Board, with the ambition of discouraging fraudulent claims and lowering premiums for law-abiding motorists.
Establishing a New Family Court: We will establish a dedicated Family Courts system within the District, Circuit and High Courts, and develop a new state-ofthe-art Family and Children's Court complex in Dublin.
Promoting Mediation: We will enact a new Mediation Bill and introduce new models of non-adversarial mediation.
Safeguarding Intellectual Property (lP) and Patents Rights: We will provide improved and cost-efficient access for SMEs and individuals to the Courts in cases of lP disputes, including holding a referendum on Ireland's participation in the Universal Patent Court.
Reforming the Coroner System: We will enact legislation to update the operation of Ireland's coroner system.
Standards in Justice: We will establish the planned Judicial Council.
We will review Inspectorate and Ombudsman arrangements across the justice and detention systems, to ensure effectiveness in the handling of complaints and compliance with national and international standards.
SENTENCING AND REPEAT OFFENDING
Communities and v1ct1ms must be confident that crimes against them will be prosecuted and appropriate sentences handed out.
Fine Gael has been tough on repeat offenders and will continue to focus on tough penalties for reoffending, as well as on initiatives to reduce reoffending.
In particular, we are committed to engaging with young offenders with alternative life choices than progression to career criminality.
By adopting a differentiated approach to sentencing we can reduce repeat offending and reduce crime overall.
Tougher Sentences for Serious and Repeat Offenders: We introduced tougher sentences to keep repeat burglars off the streets.
Our next step to crack down on crime is to introduce legislation to widen the range of serious crime categories for repeat offenders who can receive these tougher sentences.
We will also resource the Courts, particularly the Circuit Court, to deal with increased non-summary prosecutions of serious crimes.
Targeting Young Repeat Offenders: Fine Gael will introduce a targeted new initiative, involving Gardaf, Tusla and other agencies, to more effectively deal with those prolific youth offenders who are responsible for a large proportion of youth crime and for whom traditional Youth Diversion has not worked.
Strengthening Bail Laws: Fine Gael will enact new legislation to provide stricter bail terms for repeat serious offenders, to strengthen Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail, and to increase the use of curfews.
Electronic Tagging: Fine Gael will introduce electronic tagging of those on bail, where requested by Gardaf, to reduce the risk of reoffending.
Ending Automatic Remission: We will introduce new systems of earned remission and make increased use of community return, including a requirement for participation in supervised community service and provision for immediate re-committal to prison for reoffending.
We will place the Parole Board on a statutory, independent footing.
Community Sanctions for Minor Offences: We will increase the use of supervised community sanctions for non-violent and minor offences, including the use of part-suspended or deferred sentences which ensure there is a forfeit penalty of imprisonment for reoffending.
Supervising Prolific Offenders Post-Release: Fine Gael is committed to strengthening the supervision of prolific repeat offenders after they have served their prison sentence, to reduce the risk of reoffending.
Restorative Justice and Community Intervention: Fine Gael will introduce a new Community Justice Intervention scheme to deal with persistent, low-level adult offenders, to divert them from the Courts system, and to more effectively address their underlying offending behaviours, such as addiction issues.
This initiative will be piloted in Dublin City Centre, with a view to tackling persistent, low-level public order offending.
LEGISLATIVE REFORM
Since 2011, we have published and enacted 130 pieces of reforming legislation.
We will continue to ensure that legislation is updated and amended to reflect our changing society.
Domestic and Sexual Violence: Fine Gael has taken decisive action to tackle domestic and sexual violence.
We will fully implement the Istanbul Convention on tackling Domestic Violence and the commitments contained in the recently published Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
We will streamline the governance, funding and implementation of all polices and services on domestic violence to ensure a single, coordinated approach.
We will enact the new Sexual Offences Bill, including improving protections from online grooming and exploitation.
We will also enact legislation to strengthen the post-release supervision of sex offenders and to provide for disclosure by Gardaf of details on sex offenders where they believe public safety concerns exist.
Updating our Laws: We will update Ireland's laws to tackle new and emerging trends, in areas such as gambling, gaming, corruption, white-collar crime and with regard to the proceeds of crime.
We will enact legislation to provide an independent and effective licensing system for handguns.
Charities: Fine Gael recognises the need for a thriving and well-regulated charity sector.
We will ensure that the recently established Charities Regulator is fully resourced, including to carry out all of its statutory compliance and investigation functions.
Assisted Decision Making: We will fully implement arrangements, introduced by Fine Gael, in the Assisted Decision-Making Act, including advanced healthcare directives and the establishment of a Decision Support Service to replace the Wards of Court Office and manage capacity matters.
A BALANCED MIGRATION POLICY
Fine Gael will continue to pursue a balanced migration policy that supports our economy and meets our international and humanitarian obligations
, whilst also taking a tough approach to tackling illegal migration.
Immigration Bill: We will introduce a comprehensive Immigration and Residency Reform Bill, aimed at modernising Ireland's visa and residency systems.
Refugee Protection: We will continue to offer safe haven for refugees under EU and UN resettlement and relocation programmes,
while promoting the integration of refugees in our communities.
Direct Provision: We will reform the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children.
Abuse of Immigration System: We will get tougher on abuses of our migration system by ensuring implementation of the new enforcement and deportation provisions in the recently enacted International Protection Act.
In implementing EU regulations, we will ensure a stringent and effective approach to speedily refusing bogus applications and facilitating removal from the State.
We will also increase cooperation with the UK to crack down on the increasing numbers of bogus asylum seekers who are applying for unmerited asylum status in Ireland solely because their UK visa has expired.
19. Local Government and Communities
During a first term of government, Fine Gael implemented a number of radical reforms across local government, which will have significant long-term benefits.
During a second term, we will ensure that local government is more accountable than ever before.
Reform of County Councils: We implemented the most significant reform of local government in over 100 years, replacing ineffective structures with more autonomous county councils and boosting councillors' responsibilities.
In a second term, we will build on these structural reforms.
One of the most important elements of these reforms was the enhanced economic mandate of county councils and their councillors.
Fine Gael will encourage county councils to play a significant role in the Regional Action Plan for Jobs and ensure that economic recovery is felt inside every door of their county.
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs): Enterprise Ireland (El) will support the LEO network to develop their own capacity and their range of policy tools, to grow their base of start-ups and small businesses.
lt will encourage greater scope for local innovation and the build-out of a supporting enterprise network in every county.
We want to see Ireland become a European leader in the number of start-ups and in their survival and growth -facilitated by better mentoring, funding models, accelerators and business space.
To this end we will ensure that the standard of service delivered is consistent across the country and that any SME or prospective SME that visits its LEO will receive high-quality mentoring, support and seamless access to the wider range of Enterprise Ireland supports for high-potential enterprises.
Empowering Councillors: We will focus on empowering local councillors and increasing transparency to facilitate better engagement with the citizen, and greater accountability.
This includes, for example, local councillors being given, since January 1st 2015, the power to vary the basic Local Property Tax (LPT) rate on residential properties in their administrative area by up to 15%.
Benchmarking Performance: To ensure Councils are performing for their citizens, they will be bench marked against key performance indicators by the recently established National Oversight and Audit Commission.
This Commission will produce performance reports to rate the level of service provision by Councils, their appropriateness, and whether targets have been met.
Councils will also have their performance assessed relative to other Councils.
Particular focus will be placed on social housing turnover.
Ethics and Transparency: Fine Gael is determined to ensure that the bad practices of the past will never be repeated.
lt is crucial that decision making at local and national level is transparent and professional.
To this end, we will introduce a new code of ethics for local government to build on the legislative frameworks that have been developed across the public service.
Local Government Leadership and Accountability: Recent reforms of local government have boosted local autonomy and given local councillors and Councils more influence and responsibility over the economic development of their locality.
As part of the next wave of local government reform the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, having consulted widely with all relevant stakeholders, will prepare a report for Government by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability.
An Affordable Local Property Tax: We will retain the LPT as a superior alternative to taxes on incomes and jobs and as a driver of local government accountability for service delivery.
We will provide each citizen with a breakdown of how LPT revenues are spent, in order to increase transparency and allow people to scrutinise how exactly their money is spent.
To reflect the strong recovery in house prices since the introduction of the LPT, and to better align the revaluations to the local government electoral cycle, we have deferred the next revaluation of house prices to 2019.
We will increase local authority freedom to set the local rates.
We will freeze equalisation contributions to the Local Government Fund at their current levels, allowing all Councils to retain 100% of any additional LPT receipts following the revaluation.
We will increase the thresholds for the deferral of LPT for low-income and mortgage-distressed home owners.
Libraries: We will place libraries at the centre of reformed and strengthened local government in the community.
Libraries have a crucial role in the economic, social and cultural development of their communities and they will be supported in their efforts to provide services in the most efficient, effective, and creative ways possible.
LEADER: We will work with local authorities and local action groups to ensure that LEADER funding delivers the maximum possible benefit for communities throughout the country.
In rolling out our Future Jobs Investment Fund we will seek to allow LEADER groups to bid for additional resources for projects that support rural economic development.
Stronger Local Communities: We also firmly believe that one of the most effective ways of ensuring rural renewal will be to empower communities to help themselves in regenerating the areas in which they live.
To further this goal, we will support local community groups who wish to roll out programmes that would be of benefit to their local area.
We will establish a number of pilot projects to examine the feasibility of giving local communities more decision-making power through the introduction of Participatory Budgets.
This innovation will allow local citizens, along with their elected county councillors, to have a greater say in how state money is spent in their community.
We will also pilot a Community Right to Challenge which will give Civil Society Organisations the right to express an interest in taking over the running of a local authority service.
Expert Group on Commercial Rates: We will establish an Expert Group on Commercial Rates to report, by the end of 2016, on the feasibility of replacing the current system of local authority commercial rates with a Site Valuation tax, as recommended by the National Competitiveness Council, with the objective of ensuring fair and affordable rates on businesses and encouraging the development of unused or underdeveloped premises and land.
In parallel, we will press ahead with the implementation of the recently passed Valuation Act, which is designed to speed up the cumbersome revaluation process. Fine Gael will closely monitor its effectiveness and will introduce further measures if we do not see sufficient improvement.
We will also instruct all county councils to publish the breakdown of how all commercial rates collected are spent, facilitating comparisons across different local authorities.
This provision will encourage efficient local authorities to adopt commercial rates policies that help sustain existing businesses and encourage new start-ups.
Local Government Funding Review: As the economy continues to recover, we want to provide longterm stability and certainty for the funding of local government services.
With this aim in mind, we will complete a review of local government funding, by March 2017, with aview to reinforcing local government autonomy, accountability and efficiency.
Social Innovation Fund: Fine Gael believes that social innovation has an important role to play in shaping the future of Ireland; to shape Ireland as a country that is not only economically prosperous but a more inclusive and fairer society in which to live.
Due to the winding down of major philanthropic organisations, such as Atlantic Philanthropies and One Foundation.
A potential gap has opened up in the funding of social projects.
To close this gap, Fine Gael propose to drive social innovation policy in the Department of the Taoiseach and establish Social Innovation Fund Ireland with a view to raising a minimum of €50 million to provide growth capital to Ireland's best social innovations.
This money will be raised through philanthropy, along with a previously announced commitment of €5 million matched by philanthropists, and will strengthen and foster social innovation.
Philanthropy: Fine Gael will support the crucial role of philanthropy in the social and voluntary sector and will develop a supporting infrastructure to facilitate its growth, including new initiatives.
No Fry Zone: The 2013 guidelines for the development of local area plans state that a local area plan can seek to reduce exposure of children to the promotion of foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar through the careful consideration of the appropriateness and/ or location of fast food outlets in the vicinity of schools and parks.
So far there has been little adherence to these guidelines.
In a second term Fine Gael will examine proposals and international evidence in how to better encourage use of this health promotion measure.
20. Northern Ireland, European and Foreign Affairs
THE PEACE PROCESS
From the Sunningdale Agreement to the Anglo-lrish Agreement to the Stormont House Agreement to the Fresh Start Agreement, Fine Gael has a strong record of working to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of this island, north and south.
Agreement Implementation: Fine Gael will actively fulfil the Irish Government's mandate as a eoguarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and, building on the substantial progress already made, will honour commitments under subsequent agreements including the 2014 Stormont House and the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement, which together provide a new political, social and economic framework for Northern Ireland.
We will continue to work with the British Government and the US Administration to support the Executive Parties in Northern Ireland in the implementation of their commitments under these Agreements.
Addressing the Needs of Victims and Survivors: Maintaining the needs of the victims and their survivors at the core of our approach, we will build on the progress made in recent talks to establish the new institutional framework on the past, as agreed under the Stormont House Agreement.
We will actively pursue the implementation of the AllParty Dail motions of 2008 and 2011 relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombing atrocities.
We will continue to support victims' groups and to promote reconciliation among communities on both sides of the border, which were particularly affected by conflict, through the Government's Reconciliation Fund and through ministerial engagement with representatives of different community traditions.
Outstanding Commitments: We will support efforts to implement the unfulfilled commitments under previous Agreements, including the establishment of a North-South Consultative Forum; the establishment of a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane; and the promulgation of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
lreland-UK Relations: Building on the successful state visits of 2011 and 2014, we will continue to enhance Ireland's relationship with the United Kingdom, including under the Good Friday Agreement, through the British-Irish Council and the annual summits between the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister.
We will strengthen cooperation with all devolved administrations.
NORTH SOUTH COOPERATION
North South cooperation has strengthened significantly in recent years.
Fine Gael is committed to building on this momentum for the benefit of people on both sides of the border.
Economic Cooperation: Fine Gael pioneered trade missions jointly led by Jobs ministers north and south.
We will increase the number of such trade missions to create new job opportunities for people on both sides of the border.
We will deliver on the Irish Government commitments made in the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements which will aim to boost economic growth in the North West through the North West Gateway initiative, the upgrading of the A5 road and the further development of the Ulster Canal.
We will continue to develop further cross-border Greenways and Blueways.
Narrow Water Bridge: Working with the Northern Ireland Executive, we will undertake a review of the Narrow Water Bridge project to identify options for future development.
Atlantic Youth Trust Initiative: We will work with the Northern Ireland Executive to agree a funding plan for the Atlantic Youth Trust initiative, which involves a new sail training vessel to facilitate youth development, mentoring and training on an all-island basis.
North South Ministerial Council: We will continue to advance North South cooperation, particularly through cross-border bodies and the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and harness the potential of the Stormont House Agreement to develop new areas of cooperation in areas such as trade, health, tourism, sport and security.
EU Supports: We will work with the Northern Ireland Executive to agree and implement cross-border projects that can benefit from EU funding through the INTERREG and PEACE programmes.
SECURITY AND CRIME PREVENTION
The preservation of peace on this island is a core priority and is linked to maintaining a strong law and order focus as terrorist groups frequently profit from involvement in organised crime.
Tackling Terrorism: We will ensure that the Gardaf are adequately resourced and that all necessary cross-border cooperation takes place at ministerial, institutional, agency and policing levels to thwart the dissident terrorists who seek to destroy the peace process and the reconciliation agenda which is supported by the overwhelming majority of people on this island.
Tackling Cross-Border Crime: In the Fresh Start Agreement we committed to establishing a Joint Agency Task Force to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime, which would build on current joint efforts focusing on tobacco smuggling and fuel laundering.
Conscious of the serious economic, health and environmental consequences of cross-border crime, this Task Force, involving a new strategic and operational approach, will significantly enhance efforts to tackle the scourge of cross-border crime.
IRELAND IN EUROPE
Since Fine Gael's election to government, Ireland has returned to the heart of Europe, moving from a bailout situation to regaining our status as a committed and active member of the European Union.
This has been achieved through the dogged efforts of the Government, its officials and its diplomats.
Addressing External Threats: Fine Gael will work through the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council to ensure that Ireland plays its part in resolving the many external conflicts facing the European Union today.
Effective Institutions: We will work with like-minded Member States to ensure that EU institutions more effectively address the concerns of Member States and work for and in the name of all the people they represent.
UK Membership: Fine Gael believes that UK membership of the EU is beneficial for Ireland, the UK and the EU.
We will advocate for continued UK membership of the EU and play a positive role in negotiations and debates.
The European People's Party (EPP): The EPP is the largest and most influential political bloc in the EU.
Fine Gael will continue to play a very active role in shaping EPP policy.
Taxation: At EU level, we will oppose any attempt to dilute the unanimity requirement for tax harmonisation.
EU Competitiveness and Growth: Ireland's national economy is recovering but we also want to see further improvement in the economic performance of the wider euro area and EU economies.
We will work with like-minded countries to ensure that the EU's regulatory regime is pro-jobs and pro-growth.
As part of this, we will continue to focus on the need to achieve a deeper Single Market for goods and services in all key areas, through measures such as the implementation of the Digital Single Market and the Action Plan on Capital Markets Union.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT
Our own experiences of conflict on this island give us a unique perspective on conflict resolution, and in particular on the value of dialogue and patient, quiet diplomacy.
While a small country, Ireland has played an energetic and leading role in a range of international organisations including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe (COE) and the United Nations (UN).
Security and Defence Policy: Our Security and Defence Policy will be guided by the following key principles:
The  commitment to adhere to the fundamental principles of the UN
The commitment to the pursuit of universal nuclear and biological disarmament, and a promise never to use either type of weapon
The  commitment to providing peacekeeping and peacemaking operations
The  commitment to respect the right of other EU Member States to enter other military alliances, or to be neutral, as they choose
The right of Ireland to opt in and opt out of aspects of a mutual defence and security system on a caseby-case basis
Protecting Women and Girls: Recognising that women and girls are disproportionately affected by violent conflict, we will ensure the timely implementation of Ireland's second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and support international efforts to protect women and girls in conflict zones.
Conflict Resolution: We will continue to play an active role at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, the OSCE and through the UN, in seeking diplomatic resolutions to crises and conflict, with particular reference to Syria, Iraq, Libya, and the Ukraine.
We will continue to play a role in advancing a stronger role for the EU in the Middle East Peace Process, having regard to the stalled nature of the process at present, and honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict.
Addressing External Threats: Radicalisation and terrorism pose a threat to our safety and our value system.
We will support EU and UN efforts to tackle radicalisation outside the EU's borders by measures such as working with third countries to stop the advance of brutal terrorists.
Promoting Fundamental Rights: We will promote fundamental rights, the rule of law and religious freedom and support efforts by the EU and UN to stop the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.
We will continue to protect and promote human rights through multilateral fora and to support the work of Human Rights Defenders.
Active UN Membership: Our active membership of the UN is an important aspect of our foreign policy.
Fine Gael will campaign for Ireland's election to a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 term.
We will advocate for UN Security Council reform to ensure greater regional balance in membership.
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament: Continuing Ireland's proud legacy, we will ensure Ireland continues to play a leading role in nuclear non-proliferation and arms control through the UN and OSCE.
TRADE
Ireland's strong export performance in recent years has been key to our growing economic recovery.
Trade Missions: Fine Gael will continue to deliver record numbers of minister-led trade missions.
New Cross-Sectoral Trade Strategies: Fine Gael will develop a new cross-sectoral, whole-of-government Asia-Pacific Strategy, recognising the strengthening relationship between Ireland and many Asia-Pacific countries.
We will develop a new cross-sectoral, whole-ofgovernment Strategy for the Americas, taking account of Ireland's strong links to countries right across the American continent and the opportunities such links create.
Continuing Reform and Modernisation: We will evaluate the diplomatic mission network to ensure that its breadth and depth is consistent with Ireland's strategic priorities, with a view to expansion in line with the proposed strategies for Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (ODA) AND HUMANITARIAN AID
In the face of difficult economic challenges, Fine Gael has remained strongly committed to our ODA programme, stabilising funding and recognising the crucial importance of Ireland's ODA and humanitarian response programmes.
ODA was increased by 7% in Budget 2016.
NGO Partnerships: We will continue to closely partner with international and Irish NGOs to ensure that Irish aid funding effectively reaches those in need and has the flexibility to deal with emergencies whilst prioritising long-term outcomes from development programmes in line with the Government's 2013 international development policy, One World, One Future.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Ireland, along with Kenya, eo-facilitated agreement of the new SDGs at the UN.
Fine Gael will work to implement the SDGs and to promote their implementation around the world.
Funding: We will continue to make progress towards achieving the UN target of 0.7% of gross national product for ODA, as resources allow.
Oversight: We will ensure robust oversight of Ireland's ODA budget.
PASSPORT SECURITY
The Irish Passport booklet is among the most secure in the world.
We recognise that continued investment in new technology is essential to protect its integrity.
We will continue the innovation agenda that led to the introduction of the Passport Card in 2015.
New Technology: Building on the progress already made, we will introduce facial recognition software to enhance passport security.
Closer Cooperation: To enhance the cooperative arrangements already in place, we will appoint a Garda fraud expert to the Passport Office.
21. Political Reform
Fine Gael in government has introduced a series of reforms to both open up and modernise Irish politics.
We effectively abolished corporate and political donations, enacted gender quotas, restored the Freedom of Information Act and introduced new whistleblowing and lobbying legislation.
We have reformed local government, merged county councils and reduced the number of local councillors.
We are reducing the number of TDs in this election and in the next Dail the Government will no longer have a near monopoly of Oireachtas Committee Chairs and the next Ceann Comhairle will be elected by secret ballot.
We also devolved new powers to local councils, opened up the law-making process to citizens by involving them in a new Pre-Legislative Stage and established an independent Fiscal Advisory Council to analyse budgetary and financial matters.
We recognise, however, that more needs to be done to create a more effective political system, with greater openness, improved accountability and delivery, and more effective public participation.
Underpinning our political reform programme will be a commitment to ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated to ensure we keep the recovery going.
A MORE EFFECTIVE OIREACHTAS
Parliamentary Investigation Unit: Fine Gael will provide the Oireachtas with the supports necessary to establish a permanent Parliamentary Investigation Unit.
This Unit, which will be independent of Government, will operate as part of the Oireachtas and will be headed by an Office of the Parliamentary Investigator.
A Parliamentary Investigations Unit was one of the recommendations of the Banking Inquiry; however, we will go further than this.
This Unit will carry out preliminary investigations in advance of the Oireachtas establishing any Commission of Inquiry or as part of the investigation phase of any Oireachtas Committee of Inquiry.
The Houses of the Oireachtas will also be in a position to refer any matter to the Parliamentary Investigation Unit.
The Unit will then carry out an initial feasibility study on the matter and report to the Oireachtas, who may request a more extensive report or refer the matter to an Oireachtas Committee.
The Office of the Ceann Comhairle: In government we introduced a new system under which the next Ceann Comhairle will be selected by secret ballot.
After the election any Fine Gael TD who wishes will be free to seek nominations for the Office and all Fine Gael TDs will have a free vote to select the next Ceann Comhairle by secret ballot.
We will hold a referendum to give the Office of the Ceann Comhairle constitutional standing as recommended by the Constitutional Convention.
Strengthening Oireachtas Committees: The work of Oireachtas Committees will be further opened up, and made more strategic and effective.
All government ministers will be asked to appear before their relevant Oireachtas Committee to update them on a quarterly basis.
The chairs of Oireachtas Committees will be allocated on a proportional basis using the D'Hondt system in order to ensure fairness and greater accountability of the Executive to Parliament.
In line with the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention we will give Oireachtas Committees constitutional standing.
Oireachtas Committees, rather than government ministers, will review the functioning of an Act a year after its enactment under a restructured system of Post-Legislative Scrutiny.
In addition to these reforms we will also:
Restructure the Oireachtas  Committee system to create stronger committees, including an Oireachtas Budget and Finance Committee
Reduce the size  of Oireachtas Committees so they have fewer members
Seek  to assign each TD to only one Oireachtas Committee so they can give due attention to that Committee and its business
Establish  a Dail Committee of Selection, like that which exists in the Seanad, with the parties coming together to agree on this selection process
Establish  panels of relevant external experts to advise and work with each Committee
Taoiseach's Engagement with Committee Chairs: In the next Dail the Taoiseach will appear before the Working Group of Committee Chairpersons twice a year to discuss matters of public policy.
This will further enhance the accountability of the Office of the Taoiseach to the Oireachtas, reinforcing Parliament's power to hold the Government to account.
Committee Engagement with the Dail and the Seanad: After a Committee Report is published, time will be allocated in the Dail for the Committee Chair and members to outline the purpose of the report.
More reports will be debated in the Dail and Seanad.
Chairs/Vice Chairs of Oireachtas Committees will be allowed to appear before the Seanad (as ministers do) to participate in debates on Committee Reports.
Application of the Party Whip: The use of the whip is ultimately a matter for each individual party.
Fine Gael will work on an all-party basis to relax its use.
Fine Gael supports the removal of the whip, on an all-party basis, in committees, except on budget matters.
No whip will be applied in the election of the next Ceann Comhairle, which will be a secret ballot.
Pre-Legislative Scrutiny: In order to embed the new pre-legislative scrutiny process, new bills will commence in Oireachtas Committees.
Ministers will be required to seek the approval of the Working Group of Committee Chairpersons to bypass this prelegislative stage.
Programming of Government Bills: Fine Gael will introduce a requirement for the Oireachtas to be provided with new timelines for the passage of legislation through the Oireachtas, to avoid the use of the guillotine, where possible.
When a Bill is taken at Second Stage in the Dail or Seanad, a detailed programme setting out, in broad terms, a timetable for the Committee and Report Stages of the Bill in that House must be presented.
Any future proposal to guillotine a debate on any aspect of a Bill will automatically trigger a Dail vote.
Question Time in the Dail: The way the Government is held to account in the Dail will be transformed and strengthened and backbench TDs will be given a greater role in the process.
Specific measures that will be taken will include the following:
Leaders' Questions will be formally extended to half an hour each day.
Ministers' Questions will be extended to 90 minutes a day (from 75 minutes), with a set 30 minutes for priority questions from Opposition Spokespeople and 60 minutes for questions from backbench TDs, selected by draw.
TDs will continue to be required to be present in the Chamber to have their question taken.
Taoiseach's Questions will be overhauled to make it more relevant and topical by giving party leaders' priority questions and not allowing questions become out of date
The  Order of Business will be restructured to make it more responsive to the work of the Dail, involve government ministers and allow questions on legislation be taken by ministers from the Department concerned.
Seanad Reform: Fine Gael will ask its proposed Citizens Assembly to consider the merits of comprehensive reform of the Seanad.
lt will examine various reform proposals, including the Report of the Working Group into Seanad Reform and proposed legislation to give effect to the 1979 referendum on extending the Seanad electorate to all graduates.
MORE INCLUSIVE POLITICS
Automatic and Online Voter Registration: Fine Gael will introduce automatic and new online voter registration for citizens once they reach 18.
Electoral Commission: Fine Gael in government will establish an Electoral Commission, taking into account the Oireachtas Committee's Report on their consultation process, published in January 2016.
An Electoral Commission will oversee voter registration, promote voter education and seek to increase voter turnout.
Such a Commission will also assume the role of Registrar of Political Parties, regulate political funding and election expenditure and allow the Referendum Commission to become a separate section within it.
The Electoral Commission will be independent of Government and accountable directly to the Oireachtas.
Increased Female Participation in Politics: Fine Gael is committed to increasing female participation at local and national level and is committed to gender equality in politics.
lt was Fine Gael that introduced gender quota legislation and we have reached the 30% quota for Election 2016.
To make our parliament a better working environment for all Oireachtas members with young families, Fine Gael will ask the Ceann Comhairle and the Oireachtas to consider the introduction of family friendly hours for the Dail following a review of how other parliaments address this issue and a consultation process with all members as to how it would work in our parliament.
A Digital Democracy Commission: A Digital Democracy Commission will be established through the Oireachtas to examine how new technology can further open up politics and allow greater citizen participation in the political process.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS
Independent Fiscal and Budget Office: Fine Gael set up the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) in 2011 to serve as an independent fiscal watchdog after poor budgetary management led to the crash of2008.
1FAC has emerged as a credible independent institution, fulfilling its mandate and increasing transparency on fiscal matters.
We will build on IFAC's work to date by enhancing its role and giving it the powers and responsibilities of an Independent Budget Office, which will work directly with a new Oireachtas Budget and Finance Committee.
In addition to fulfilling its current function, the new Independent Fiscal and Budget Office (IFBO) will be available to cost election manifestos and budget proposals for all political parties.
This will go beyond the costing of individual proposals which is already done by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and look at the overall impact of a package of proposals
.. We will also mandate IFBO to put increased focus on long-term fiscal issues.
Furthermore, I FBO will engage with members of the Oireachtas on important fiscal issues through presentations and written output.
IFBO will have a strong statutory right to obtain information covering relevant public sector authorities as recommended for independent fiscal institutions by the OECD.
A New Independent Competitiveness and Productivity Commission: Building on the reforms of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) introduced by the current government, and in response to the 2015 recommendations of the OECD, Fine Gael will transform the NCC into the Competitiveness and Productivity Commission of Ireland (CPCI).
The Commission's remit will be, among other things, to:
Advise the Taoiseach and Government on  how to maintain competitiveness and develop productivityenhancing programmes
Contribute to a national productivity initiative which will underline the importance of supporting workers and employers to enhance productivity across the economy
Independently  assess, and comment publicly on, whether policy actions and initiatives are consistent with maintaining Ireland's competitiveness
Provide a set of recommendations to Government, including a submission to the Action Plan for Jobs, which will be considered by Government within 6 weeks of submission
ProvideadvicetoGovernmentonthecompetitiveness impacts of policy initiatives
EMPOWERING CITIZENS AND DRIVING POLICY
Citizens' Assembly: Fine Gael is committed to establishing a Citizens' Assembly.
Unlike the Constitutional Convention, the Assembly will be composed solely of randomly selected citizens and will be asked to undertake a detailed review of a limited number of key issues over an extended time period.
These will include:
Seanad Reform
Climate Change
The 8th Amendment of the Constitution
A review of the power of Oireachtas Committees to conduct inquires on foot of the recommendations of the Banking Inquiry and consider whether there should be a new Constitutional Referendum to strengthen these powers
As  part of the plans to mark the centenary of the 1916 rebellion, the Assembly will also be asked to examine how we should, as a republic, best respond to both the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.
A range of specific propositions will be set before the Assembly by the Government for the former's consideration, while IFBO will be asked to provide the Assembly with the necessary technical expertise.
All of the Assembly's proposals will be referred to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee for review, and then forwarded to Government for its consideration and response.
Volunteering: Fine Gael will publish a National Strategy for Volunteering, in order to encourage as much volunteerism at local level as possible.
Policy Delivery: Fine Gael will establish a Programme for Government Delivery Unit in each Department to ensure effective implementation of government commitments.
22. Older People
Fine Gael is committed to making our older years better years, and ensuring Ireland is a supportive country to grow old in.
Over the next 30 years the number of people aged over 65 will double.
Indeed, as we are living longer, the number of us living to be over 80 is set to quadruple.
lt makes it all the more important that we plan, design and deliver services appropriately, in order to keep people living independently in their homes.
To do this, we will invest in and streamline services and supports so that older people have better quality services and better access to such services.
OLDER YEARS, BETTER YEARS
Fine Gael has a plan to keep the recovery going in a way that will generate the resources to invest in and improve the living standards and quality of life of our older generation.
Budget 2016 provided targeted supports for older people, through increases in the weekly State pension, the Christmas bonus and the fuel allowance and provided additional funding for the Free Travel scheme, to ensure its sustainability.
State Pension: .We will increase both the contributory and non-contributory State pensions by at least €25 per week by 2021 (a €5 increase every year).
Living Alone Allowance: We will increase the State pension for those who qualify for the living alone allowance by at least €30 per week by 2021 (a €6 increase every year).
Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT): We will increase the Group A tax-free thresholds (including all gifts and inheritances from parents to their children) to €500,000, from €280,000 at present.
We will ensure that parents can continue to support-tax-free-their children through education.
Significantly Reducing the Maximum Annual Cost of Medicines: We will significantly reduce the level of eo-payment which families/individuals have to pay for medicines under the Drug Payment Scheme.
Currently a family/individual has to pay a maximum of €1,728 per year and this will be reduced to €950, helping families/individuals with significant ongoing medical bills.
Currently a family or individual with a medical card has to pay up to €25 a month in prescription charges, this cap will also be reduced to a maximum of €17.50 a month.
Streamlining Access to Services: Fine Gael will consolidate all means testing under a single national body so that people will only apply once for services or entitlements across all government agencies.
ENHANCED PRIMARY CARE
As part of our Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going we are committed to significantly increasing investment in primary care, which will include additional doctors, nurses, and therapists, keeping care in the community.
Primary Care Centres and GP access: We have committed funding for at least 80 additional primary care centres.
To achieve our goal of providing more care in the community we must invest in more GP training places.
We will increase the number of GP training places by 100 over the next five years to 259 places annually.
Subject to negotiations, we will fund GPs to expand to services like minor surgery and cardiac monitoring.
We will ensure GPs have access to X-ray, ultrasound and other investigations for their patients.
Chronic Disease Management: We will expand chronic disease management in general practice, taking into account advice from the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
Over 63,000 patients have signed up for the diabetes cycle of care in general practice, which was initiated in 2015.
In addition to diabetes, which is already covered, we will seek to cover chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure and atrial fibrillation, so that patients can keep their care in their community, close to home.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams: To underpin the expansion of services we will increase the number of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, mental health professionals, public health and community nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, nurse/midwife specialists and social workers in our primary care centres.
Dementia Care: Fine Gael published the first ever National Dementia Strategy to plan for the future care needs of people, provide access to timely diagnosis, and increase awareness and care supports at local and national level for families.
Fine Gael will fully implement this strategy.
Community Pharmacists: We will expand the role of community pharmacists, beyond dispensing prescriptions, to managing the health of their patients, within 2 years.
This may include a minor ailments scheme, a new medicines and medication review service, vaccines, warfarin clinics, smoking cessation and chronic disease management.
We will extend a limited authority to pharmacists to prescribe medicines.
PROMOTING INDEPENDENT AND ACTIVE LIVING
Fine Gael is committed to ensuring that people continue to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
In order to meet that goal, we need to decisively shift care to the community and invest in home and community supports, thereby ensuring quality care for people in their older years.
Services for Older People in the Community: We will commit significant resources to older peoples' services over the next 5 years.
This will include 2.2 million additional hours for home help, bringing it to 12.6 million hours annually, and additional home care packages, keeping older people in their homes.
Uniformity of Home Care Services: We know that home help and home care provision across the country ranges from excellent to irregular.
Fine Gael will put a new structure in place that will provide a consistent, high-quality level of home care to those who need it.
New Technologies for Community and Homecare: Fine Gael will build on the success of the Health Innovation Hub by developing new technologies and solutions that help people remain independent in their home.
Housing Adaptation Scheme: Keeping people independent in their own home is a priority for Fine Gael and the Housing Adaptation grants provided to local authorities are essential to meeting this goal.
Budget 2016 increased this scheme by 10% to €56m, which will see over 8,500 households benefit from the scheme.
We will increase this scheme by a further 20% to €66m by 2021.
Fair Deal: We will fund additional beds for the Nursing Home Support Scheme to keep the Fair Deal scheme at approximately 4 weeks and ensure support for those unable to remain at home.
New Residential Care Options: We will mandate the Strategic Investment Fund to offer loan finance to provide stimulus to private nursing home investment and assisted living arrangements so that the needs and preferences of a more diverse older population can be met.
Senior Alert Scheme: The Senior Alert Scheme offers reassurance and support to older people.
We will double the funding of this scheme to provide additional grants to the elderly.
The operation of this scheme should be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness.
Elder Abuse: The last review of Irish legislation relating to elder abuse took place in 2009.
Fine Gael will increase the awareness of this serious issue and will review legislative options again, given the increase in referrals and our ageing population.
In 2014, there were 2,592 referrals made to the HSE Elder Abuse Service, with psychological and financial abuse the most frequently reported.
Fuel Poverty: Fine Gael will protect and maintain the Warmer Home Scheme to retrofit low-income housing for greater energy efficiency.
We believe enhanced insulation of homes is the most effective way of keeping the elderly comfortable in their homes.
We will produce a strategy to address energy poverty, with a specific focus on conservation, pricing and income support, with a targeted approach and a time frame for delivery.
We will also target energy costs, with a view to pressurising the energy companies and the regulator to provide cheaper energy in the coming years in order to tackle fuel poverty.
Health Insurance: We will ensure the maintenance of a stable health insurance market which continues to monitor and introduce, where necessary, affordability measures.
Successful measures to date include a reduction in the community rating levy, introduction of Lifetime Community Rating and a reduction in the Health Insurance Authority funding levy.
CARERS
Family carers are the backbone of care provision in this country.
Most of us will be carers -or cared for -at some point in our lives.
And it is the family carer who will continue to play a key role in supporting family members to live independent lives.
National Carer's Strategy: Fine Gael published the first ever National Carers Strategy and is committed to implementing it in full.
Income Support for Carers: We will increase Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit by at least €20 per week by 2021 (a €4 increase every year).
Care Plans: We will ensure there is greater involvement of family carers in the preparation of care plans and provision of care, together with more accessible training and respite to facilitate full support.
A STRONGER VOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Citizens' Assembly: Over the last 5 years, several government strategies have been published and are being implemented, including the Positive Ageing Strategy, National Smart Ageing Strategy, National Dementia Strategy and National Carers Strategy.
Each seeks to improve the livesofoureldersandtheirfamilies and support people to age with confidence, security and dignity in their own homes and communities.
In an age when more and more people will be in retirement, we need to be aware of, and cater for, an increasingly diverse elderly population.
Fine Gael will establish a Citizens' Assembly, which will, amongst other issues, discuss and plan the future needs into one integrated approach for implementation.
Age Friendly Ireland and Older People's Councils: Fine Gael is committed to the success of Age Friendly Ireland and its programmes.
Fine Gael also supports the establishment of Older People's Councils in every local authority, which will include older people from the area and also local service providers.
Active Retirement National Fund: A new fund of €5m annually, to be administered by Pobal, will support community initiatives for retired and older people, led by retired and older people.
People can choose to support their peers through home care support, courses, reducing social isolation and more active citizenship.
23. Public Sector Reform and Public Procurement
Since 2011, our public service reform agenda, as a central element of our recovery plan, focused on cost-cutting and eliminating waste, while protecting frontline services.
While continuing to cut out waste, our next wave of public service reforms will, consistent with our Long Term Economic Plan, ensure that the resources generated by a growing economy and rising employment are used sensibly to deliver better services and outcomes for the public.
Our ambition is to create a public service that:
I m proves outcomes forcitizens thatare benchma rked against other countries
Delivers measurable improvements  in productivity each year, by embracing innovation, including the use of new technologies and work practices to deliver services
Offers more opportunity for staff development and promotion
To achieve this, we will empower frontline service providers to make more decisions, encourage more collaboration between public service bodies, and between the public and private sectors, reward public service innovation and change, and allocate scarce resources using more competitive processes that shift budgets to successful programmes.
A STRONG, STRATEGIC CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT THAT DRIVES NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATION
Long Term Economic Planning Unit: We will establish a Long Term Economic Planning Unit within the Department of An Taoiseach, encompassing the current Action Plan for Jobs Monitoring Committee, to coordinate the work of all relevant departments (particularly the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation) in managing the competitive process and making recommendations to Government on the allocation of the new €4bn Future Jobs Investment Fund.
To help inform this process, the Unit will coordinate a new, annual interaction between the Taoiseach and other ministers and the Irish Academy of Engineering on a range of key long-term policy challenges facing the country, including:
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Energy policy and related environmental issues
Planning  and delivering national infrastructure priorities
Technological solutions in the health sector
Cost-effective transportation solutions  -roads, rail, airport and harbours
Communication infrastructure, including broadband and security issues
Techno-economic aspects of the emerging "sharing economy" and other disruptive technologies
Comprehensive Review of Expenditure: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be mandated to complete a new Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, by September 2016, to underpin new 3-year departmental spending ceilings, for 2017, 2018 and 2019, to be published in Budget 2017, to allocate resources in line with the new Programme for Government.
Competitive Funding: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be mandated to reform the annual estimates process to drive the use of "competitive funding" across all departments in the budgetary process, thereby rewarding public service agencies and bodies that collaborate and innovate in designing and delivering solutions to complex social and economic problems.
Better Regulation: We will mandate the Cabinet Secretariat within the Department of An Taoiseach to act as a centre of expertise for, and enforce compliance with, the regulatory impact assessment procedures for all major regulatory and legislative proposals.
To promote the better regulation agenda the Taoiseach will also host an annual meeting of economic regulators to discuss ways to promote greater efficiency in the regulated industries.
Programme for Government Office: We will strengthen the role of the Programme for Government office in the Department of An Taoiseach and give it the responsibility to:
Oversee  the delivery of the Programme for Government and keep the Cabinet informed on delivery of the Government's key priorities
Coordinate  the work of new Programme for Government Delivery Units in each department to ensure effective implementation of government commitments and that departmental work plans reflect strategic priorities
Publish  annual reports on Programme for Government implementation
Conduct and publish an annual National Risk Assessment
Ensure  that the budget preparation process takes account of, and reflects, strategic priorities of Government
Ensure that the overall priorities of Government are reflected in departmental strategy statements and other strategic documents of Government, such as fiscal strategies and social policies
Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure and Reform: The establishment by the current Government of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform played a pivotal role in Ireland emerging from the fiscal crisis by helping to drive efficiencies and value for money across Government.
Another term of government is needed to finish the job.
As the economic crisis abates, the Taoiseach will commission, by 2020 at the latest, an expert group to make recommendations on the future relationship between, and the roles of, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance.
NewERA and Commercial Semi-States: We will add the Dublin Airport Authority, the CIE companies, and the sea ports of national significance to the list of commercial semi-states under the NewERA portfolio.
We will, subject to EU competition policy constraints, transfer shareholdings in all the commercial semi-states under the NewERA portfolio to either the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
NewERA will provide both ministers with financial and commercial advisory services in relation to the activities of these commercial semi-states, including on the exercise of any ministerial consents required.
This centralisation of the ownership functions will help address the conflicts that can arise from many ministers' current responsibilities, as both shareholder of a commercial semi-state and as a policy maker.
Line ministers will remain responsible for policy matters in transport, water, energy, forestry etc.
NewERA will be asked to set out a new dividend policy for the commercial semi-states to increase overall dividend receipts.
NewERA will also be mandated to prepare a new comprehensive 5-year strategy by March 2017 for the portfolio of commercial semistates to ensure maximum coherence, cooperation and synergy in the delivery of renewable energy, broadband and infrastructure services.
The cabinet handbook will be changed to require that every year when the annual report and financial statements of each semi-state are presented to cabinet, they will be accompanied by an analysis by NewERA of the financial statements and company strategy.
eGovernment for the 21st Century: Fine Gael will mandate the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to publish, by March 2017, an eGovernment strategy with the goal of moving Ireland into the Top 5 internationally within a decade.
This strategy will emphasise an "Agile IT" approach to both system design and implementation, and partnerships with other countries who have relevant experience in the delivery of effective eGovernment.
We will set a deadline of end 2017, by which all significant government transactions with business will be available online.
This will reduce the administrative burden for small Irish businesses.
Data Analytics in the Public Sector: We will ensure government departments and agencies meet their obligations to protect personal data that is entrusted to them by citizens.
We will also expand the remit ofthe recently established Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service to include a centre of excellence in data analytics in order to provide skills and services across all government departments and agencies.
Providing the Skills for a Digital Future: As part of our investment programme, we have committed to upgrade school ICT and to install robust wireless networks in all schools under our Digital Strategy for Schools.
This investment will provide the infrastructure to support ICT skills on the schools curricula and will encourage more computer coding clubs throughout national schools.
PUBLIC SERVICE NUMBERS, PAY AND PENSIONS
An Additional 10,183 Frontline Public Servants: Fine Gael plans to hire an additional10,183 doctors, nurses, teachers, Gardaf and other frontline professionals to address the needs of a growing and ageing population, compnsmg:
3224 Teachers
2,800 Nurses
600 HSE consultants, other doctors and dentists
1,000 Other health and social care professionals
1,800 Gardaf
217 Speech and language therapists
500 Social workers
42 NEPS psychologists
Ongoing Public Service Recruitment: After years of blanket recruitment freezes across the public service as a result of the economic crisis, we are committed to allowing public service bodies to begin new hiring programmes that bring new skills, energy and vitality into the public service.
Public Sector Efficiency and Reform Plan: To contain the growth of public service numbers at these levels, even as the economy and population grow, we will mandate the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to prepare a new overarching Public Sector Efficiency and Reform Plan by September 2016, compnsmg:
A  new shared services plan, to be prepared and implemented by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), to extend shared services, on a mandatory basis, to all public service bodies in areas of Human Resources, Finance, Pension Administration, Payroll and ICT.
We will legislate to put the NSSO on a statutory footing.
A further reduction in duplication of activities across numerous public bodies through:
Consolidation of procurement under the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which will be put on a statutory footing
A rationalisation  of the number of economic regulators, to be set out in a new White Paper on Economic Regulation to be published by 2017
A further consolidation of all business licensing activity by public bodies-on a mandatory basis -under the Integrated Licensing Application System
Consolidation  of all means testing under a single national body
Examining mechanisms by which responsibility for collecting commercial rates may be moved from local authorities to the Revenue Commissioners
A  new programme of external service provision where this offers demonstrable savings for the taxpayer, to be published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by the end of 2017
A reduction  in the number of administrative grades across the civil service and other public service bodies, to be agreed by Government by the end of 2017
Reducing  the excessive bureaucracy in the relationship between public bodies and nongovernment organisations (NGOs), by coordinating all public funding for any NGO through one public body, building on the "Benefacts" partnership initiative
Public Sector Pay: As the economy recovers, it is right for public servants to seek gradual, sustainable pay recovery. Fine Gael will honour the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Public Service Remuneration Commission: We will establish a new statutory Public Service Remuneration Commission, within 6 months, as an independent statutory body, comprising solely independent experts, that will publish analysis and recommendations on future pay determination to the Government in advance of the expiration of the Lansdowne Road Agreement (September 2018).
Our Long Term Economic Plan includes a provision to accommodate the costs of a new public sector pay agreement.
Public Sector Pensions: Fine Gael will, by 2021, reverse the public service pension reductions introduced during the crisis, prioritising in the early years those in receipt of low pensions.
DEVOLVING POWER TO FRONTLINE DECISION MAKERS
Frontline professionals in the community are in a better position to prioritise resources and drive changes than central government departments.
Under our new Earned Autonomy Programme, we will give schools, hospitals and other public service bodies new freedoms -within strict budgets and new accountability systems-to set their own staffing needs, automate routine processes and adapt work practices to local staff and customer needs.
Earned Autonomy for Public Service Bodies: Agencies across the public service that engage proactively with shared services and other efficiency initiatives will get devolved authority-within strict overall budget caps -to recruit staff and adapt employment conditions to local staff and customer needs.
We will mandate the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to prepare, within 6 months, a plan to devolve decisionmaking powers -within overall guidelines agreed by Government -to public service bodies, including on the staff mix and some areas of pay setting.
We will begin this process by:
Moving from caps on numbers  to budget caps for IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and economic regulators
Freeing universities from centralised human resource controls
Giving Hospital Groups and Trusts the freedom  to determine their staff mix
Giving school principals more discretion  as to how their school's budget is deployed
Linking Increments to Performance: Fine Gael will empower public service managers to reward staff delivery and excellence by ensuring that pay increments are awarded on merit.
We will mandate the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to recommend, by end 2016, a new model of devolved performance assessment focused on identifying excellent performance, leadership potential and under-performance.
The Department will police this new system and publish regular reports on its implementation for scrutiny by the Oireachtas and the public.
Ending the Recruitment Embargo: We will replace the recruitment embargo faced by public service bodies, which is restrictive and bureaucratic, with a new Payroll Control Framework, which requires departments and agencies to commit to keeping payroll budgets within agreed ceilings and imposes financial and other sanctions where these ceilings are breached.
Expenditure Ceilings: To give departments and other public service bodies adequate planning horizons, we will legislate to reinforce the credibility of the multi-annual expenditure ceilings.
We will introduce new Standing Orders in the Oireachtas which will require special legislation to change a departmental expenditure ceiling outside of a 3-year Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and a written explanation from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the Dail to explain the special circumstances requiring the change.
CIVIL AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Civil Service Performance and Accountability: With more autonomy and power must come more accountability.
We will legislate for a new civil service performance and accountability framework by end 2017, which will clarify the respective responsibilities of ministers and civil servants.
Ministers and civil servants will present bi-annual reports to the relevant Oireachtas Committees on the performance of their department against Programme for Government commitments and annual work programme targets.
Civil Service Renewal: Fine Gael is committed to implementing the four key areas identified in the Civil Service Renewal Plan: (i) A unified civil service,
(ii) A professional civil service,
(iii) A responsive civil service,
(iv) An open and accountable civil service.
Our aim is to implement the Plan's 25 actions by the end of 2016.
Public Service Disputes: Fine Gael will remove all individual public sector industrial relations disputes from the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration scheme.
Such disputes will in future be heard by an Adjudication Officer of the Workplace Relations Commission and on appeal to the Labour Court.
This will bring an increased level of transparency to industrial relations disputes within the civil service, with all Labour Court decisions being published.
Appointments to State Boards: All appointments to state boards will be advertised openly on www. stateboards.ie, operated by the Public Appointments Service.
Fine Gael will ensure that this website becomes widely used and regularly updated.
We will ensure that at least 40% of all new appointments to state boards are women.
Attracting Talent into the Civil and Public Service: Fine Gael will extend open recruitment across all grades of the civil service and wider public sector.
MORE DIVERSITY OF PUBLIC SERVICE PROVISION AND MORE "CHOICE AND VOICE" FOR SERVICE USERS
Resources go further when users of public services choose or shape their delivery, and are well informed about quality.
Rather than giving fixed budgets to traditional public service providers like the HSE and VECs, we will commission more service delivery by alternative providers, and put more resources into the hands of citizens to acquire services that are tailored to better suit their needs and are less expensive for the taxpayer.
Public Service Commissioning: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be mandated to lead a decisive shift towards the increased use of commissioning in the delivery of services.
Within 6 months, the Department will prepare a coherent set of best practice principles for commissioners/funders and service providers.
School Reports and Patronage: We will require schools to publish annual reports, taking into account exam results, facilities, extra-curricular activities, ICT resources, and special education resources.
We will also deliver better choice, diversity and standards by expanding the diversity of school patronage and ethos.
Training Vouchers: Instead of giving block grants to Education and Training Boards, we will earmark a fixed proportion of SOLAS's annual budget for Training Vouchers that empower the unemployed to define -by agreement with their lntreo support officers and acquire their own reskilling needs, and to help fund networks of businesses to customise their own training requirements at less cost.
Individualised Budgets: We will also give adults and children with disabilities and their families the option of Individualised Budgets to choose the services they want and need.
Ending Block Grants for Hospitals: Instead of giving block budgets to hospitals, we will put in place an activity-based funding system that pays hospitals for the patients they treat.
MORE FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION
Prevention and Early Intervention Unit Fine Gael will establish a dedicated Prevention and Early Intervention Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
lt will focus on early intervention policies that can improve the life outcomes of children in particular, as well as the quality of life for older people dealing with long-term conditions such as obesity, alcohol dependency and chronic illness.
The unit will also produce an annual report outlining the percentage of departmental budgets which is devoted to early intervention and long-term planning on social issues, and recommend changes.
lt will oversee and monitor the impact of a number of new Prevention and Early Intervention programmes to be implemented by line departments, most notably:
The  second pre-school year and other early childhood development interventions, including additional educational psychologists and speech and language therapists
The sharing and implementation  of learning from Area Based Childhood (ABC) programmes to other initiatives as they expand their reach
A shift towards primary care and population health, including the extension of free GP care at the point of access to all children
Extra home help hours and home care packages for the elderly
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
Better Value for the Taxpayer: As part of a new Procurement Reform Programme, we will charge the newly established OGP with delivering cash savings in public procurement across all state-funded bodies of €lOOm per annum in 2016-18 (€300m in total) and with avoiding procurement cost inflation thereafter, through:
Establishing new structures for procurement across the State that bring increased levels of collaboration and consistency to public service procurement
Strengthening procurement spending analytics and data management
Greater aggregation  of purchasing across public bodies to achieve better value for money
Examining the specifications set out for goods and services
Evaluating ways to reduce procurement demand
Putting in place dedicated teams for sourcing goods and services at a whole-of-government level in:
Facilities management
Legal services
ICT
Driving savings  in IT consultancy by hiring more specialist staff on contracts
Reducing  the cost of leasing buildings for state agencies through the OPW's rationalisation programme
Supporting Irish Businesses: The public procurement market in Ireland is worth roughly €8bn a year, or over €20m a day.
We have developed a number of initiatives to use public procurement to support Irish businesses, including:
"Meet the Buyer" conferences where businesses can meet public sector buyers, learn what their needs for the coming year are and network
A new Tender Advisory Service (TAS) which allows businesses to submit queries about tenders and receive a speedy response
Working with InterTrade Ireland to provide grants/ training so that SMEs can upskill in terms of procurement requirements and tenders
We will build on these initiatives in the following ways:
Facilitate  quarterly meetings of the SME Advisory Group, chaired by a Minister of State at the Department of Finance I Public Expenditure and Reform, so that the voice of Irish SMEs can be heard by Government and the OGP
Commission an external review of theTAS model by 2017
Conduct a consultation on the merits of establishing a Procurement Ombudsman
Refine  the new procurement structures in place, such as the OGP, as they bed down and make adjustments according to best international practice and in conjunction with Irish businesses
Social Clauses: We recognise the potential of public procurement to help vulnerable groups in society people with disabilities, people who are unemployed, etc.
We have established a Social Clauses working group across government departments to examine ways in which we can appropriately use social clauses in procurement documents.
Fine Gael will progress this in conjunction with stakeholders and in keeping with best practice in other countries.
Green Public Procurement: Given the scale of the Government's annual procurement budget, the State has the ability to significantly shape the environmental performance of activity in the Irish economy.
Fine Gael will work to ensure that the Green Procurement Guidelines are applied across the public sector and we will amend those guidelines, if necessary, to ensure their implementation.
This action complements our commitment to drive energy efficiencies in all state buildings such as schools and departments.
24. Rural Ireland
Rural Ireland is alive, but is changing.
Fine Gael will continue to put in place measures to revitalise rural Ireland during a second term of government so that the recovery is felt inside every doorstep, in every community, in Ireland.
Fine Gael will ensure that rural Ireland is supported, so that it can achieve its full potential across a wide-ranging spectrum of areas.
Regional Spread of Growth and Jobs (see the Jobs, Enterprise and Regional Growth chapter for further detail): Fine Gael will continue to implement Regional Enterprise Strategies to help spread growth to all areas.
The aim of the Regional Enterprise Strategies, which are at the heart of the latest Action Plan for Jobs, is to encourage agencies and companies to work together and build on the competitive strengths of each region.
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) (see the Jobs, Enterprise and Regional Growth chapter for further detail): During a second term of government we will continue to develop the LEO network, to ensure that the standard of service delivered is consistent across the country and that any SME or prospective SME that visits its LEO will receive high-quality mentoring, support and seamless access to the wider range of Enterprise Ireland supports for high-potential enterprises.
Western Development Commission: We will also reinforce the role of the Western Development Commission (WDC), so that it supports the implementation of the Regional Enterprise strategies in the West and North-West.
As part of this, the WDC will be given a specific mandate to stimulate the development of enterprise networks in these two regions and to stimulate innovative approaches to development.
This will build on the recent allocation of €2m in additional funding to support regional economic development in the West of Ireland, which the WDC will administer across a number of economic development projects.
Agriculture (see the Agriculture and Food chapter for further detail): Fine Gael has recognised the crucial importance of agriculture to the Irish economy and has maintained a strategic and ambitious focus on the development of the sector.
Over a second term of government, we will continue to implement an ambitious 10-year plan that will grow employment by 23,000 and substantially increase activity in this hugely important area.
LEADER: We will work with local authorities and local action groups to ensure that LEADER funding delivers the maximum possible benefit for communities throughout the country.
In addition, as part of our Future Jobs Investment Plan we will seek to allow LEADER groups to bid for additional resources for projects that support rural economic development.
Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA): Having already provided €3m to support CEDRA initiatives, we will continue to implement the recommendations of the CEDRA report and the new Rural Charter, as appropriate, in order to further support the long-term sustainable development of rural Ireland.
Impact Assessment: As part of our smarter regulation agenda, Fine Gael will step up the use of impact assessments across Government, driven by a new specialised section within the Cabinet Secretariat.
Our new impact assessment guidelines will have to take account of impacts on rural Ireland as well as other socio-economic factors.
Village/Town Renewal Scheme: We have committed funding of to support town and village renewal as part of a concerted effort to support the development of rural towns and villages.
The central aim of the scheme is to support the revitalisation of towns/villages in order to improve the living and working environment of their communities and increase their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.
The focus for improvements eligible under this scheme will extend to the enhancement of villages, small towns and the surrounding countryside.
Credit Unions (see the Banking chapter for further detail): Fine Gael will continuetosupportthe invaluable role of credit unions in Ireland.
We recognise that the sector requires further support to help overcome the significant challenges it faces.
Fine Gael will roll out a number of initiatives to further strengthen the credit unions' crucial role in rural Ireland.
Technological Universities: Fine Gael continues to support the creation of Technological Universities, which will be linked to industry and will have an enormous impact on our capacity to create and retain jobs in regions.
We will prioritise those institutions with clear ambitions and plans for the furthering of industry-relevant technological research and education.
Rural Transport: Fine Gael recognises the importance of the Rural Transport Programme, especially its role in protecting against rural isolation.
Fine Gael will closely monitor the progress of the new Transport Coordination Unit structure and ensure that the scheme is adequately funded, to best meet rural transport needs.
Rural Buses: During a second term, Fine Gael will improve integration in the rural bus network.
This includes public buses, school transport and the HSE transport networks, thereby increasing efficiencies for both the passenger and taxpayer.
This will make existing routes more sustainable and open up the potential for new routes to be established.
Rural Hackneys: In order to increase the take up of rural hackney licenses, we will review the regulations governing them, so as to allow more areas to be served.
Community Involvement Schemes (CIS) and Local Improvement Schemes (LIS): We will provide funding for Community Involvement schemes and Local Improvement Schemes, on an annual basis.
As part of our commitment to local government reform we will also give councils greater discretion in how they spend their money on local and regional roads.
Greenways (see the Tourism and Sport chapter for further detail): During a second term of government, Fine Gael will build on the success of the development of the Greenway network and establish a central fund for supporting the network across the country.
While we will continue to expand the network, we are also conscious of the rights of farmers and landowners and will work with them to ensure that the expansion of the network is beneficial for both users and landowners.
Regional Airports (see the Transport chapter for further detail): We will invest €28m under the Capital Plan for safety and security enhancements across the regional airports.
We will also look to establish a fund to assist developing new flight routes from all airports outside of Dublin.
Spreading Growth in Tourism throughout Ireland (see the Tourism and Sport chapter for further detail): During a second term of government we will build on successes such as the Wild Atlantic Way to drive tourism to all parts of the country, in accordance with their potential.
Post Offices: Post offices are a local institution in hundreds of towns and villages throughout the country. Fine Gael has endeavoured to halt the rapid decline in our post office network which took place during the 2000s under Fianna Fail.
We recognise that post offices face unprecedented challenges, in a climate of rapidly changing mail trends.
We have just renewed the Department of Social Protection's contract for cash social welfare payments at post offices, which in 2015 was worth approximately €54m, with over 38 million social welfare payments being made in post offices throughout the country.
We will swiftly act on the recommendations of the Post Office Business Development Group by supporting the introduction and rollout, by An Post, of an "ePayment Account" in 2016, to enhance post office activity in financial services and increase footfall.
We will also support the establishment of a post office network renewal process, to report within 6 months, to build on An Post's existing 5-year strategy for the network.
Rural General Practice: Fine Gael recognises the importance of maintaining and sustaining a general practitioner in rural communities.
Therefore we support proposals aimed at incentivising rural general practice, with the first measures commencing in 2016.
Arts: In recognition of the crucial role that the Arts play in communities across the country, we will introduce a new small grants scheme to provide essential upgrades to existing regional arts and culture centres.
We will also boost supports to facilitate increased loans between our National Cultural Institutions and our network of regional museums.
During a second term we will also expand the Historic Towns Initiative to include an additional15 towns.
Supporting Islands and Costal Areas: Fine Gael is committed to sustaining vital public services, investing in and developing our island and costal communities into the future.
Broadband (see the Connected Ireland chapter for further detail): Within the next Dail term, Fine Gael guarantees to deliver next-generation broadband to every household and business in the country.
No town, village or parish will be left behind under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) through a combination of industry and State investment, we will ensure that 85% of premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband by 2018, with 100% access by 2020.
Public Houses: Fine Gael recognises the economic and social role that the local pub plays in sustaining rural communities.
Fine Gael will support pubs to diversify their range of services and products.
As part of this support we will endeavour to deliver high-quality, high-speed broadband to every pub in the country by 2020 as part of our National Broadband Plan.
We will also remove the rate of duty for publicans' licences for premises with an annual turnover of less than €190,500.
25. Seafood and the Marine
Fine Gael has published the first ever blueprint for the marine sector, Harnessing our Ocean Wealth (HOOW).
lt makes clear our ambitions for the sector: to double the value of the blue economy by 2030 and deliver 29,000 additional jobs across the various maritime sectors.
This growth will be built on innovation, research and the sustainable use of our largest natural resource: the sea that surrounds us.
Areas such as ocean energy, shipping, marine tourism, sport and leisure, offshore oil and gas, seafood, marine telecoms and marine safety are all exciting growth areas that will result in the development of the broader blue economy.
The structures are in place across Government to deliver on the ambition of HOOW through a cross-departmental Marine Coordination Group.
Fine Gael will ensure this group continues to be chaired by a senior minister and the ambition and recommendations stemming from the taskforces underpinning the Group are progressed to deliver on our ambition for the marine.
We believe that the marine economy can be a major contributing factor to new growth in an overall Irish economic context in the next 5 years and we will prioritise the sector accordingly.
FOOD WISE 2025 -SEAFOOD
One of the most significant growth areas in our strategy for the agri-food industry, Food Wise 2025, is the seafood sector.
With an increase of 37% in seafood exports since 2011 and an estimated 40 million tonnes of seafood required globally by 2030, our target is to increase the share of value-added seafood by 30-50%, maximising the value from our raw material base.
We will invest €24m from the Seafood Development Programme in seafood processing to support investment in capital infrastructure, innovation and business planning, scaling and new market development.
INVESTMENT AND LEADERSHIP
Fine Gael has secured an EU eo-funded Seafood Development Programme worth €240m, which will be central to achieving our ambition for growth in the seafood sector.
This is more than double the size of the previous Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) fund.
This investment will be targeted at a range of supports for fishermen to adapt to the challenges of the new CFP, seafood processing and marketing, aquaculture, inshore fisheries, Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGS), data collection and enforcement.
We will also invest in knowledge transfer, engine replacement, change management, new entrants, selective gear development, decommissioning, fleet improvement, mutual funds and storage aid.
Fine Gael has prioritised the marine at the Cabinet table during the past 5 years and we will continue to do so.
THE NEW COMMON FISHERIES POLICY (CFP)
Ending Discards: The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was successfully renegotiated by Fine Gael and ensures a positive outlook for the fishing industry.
Central to the CFP is the ending of discards, rebuilding stocks and generating higher quotas, ensuring more profitable livelihoods for fishermen
. €45m will be made available to support the industry in adapting to the new CFP.
Additional quota to cover the increased landings has been negotiated.
For 2016, this uplift has resulted in a 10% increase in whitefish quota, with a value of €9m.
Setting Quotas Based on Science: We are committed to the internationally recognised concept of Maximum Sustainable Yield.
This will mean setting quotas that maximise the available fish for fishermen to catch, ensuring stable fish stocks on the basis of science.
Proof that the new CFP is working can be seen in the most recent negotiation of increases to whitefish quotas where the discards ban applies, where quotas were increased for stocks covered by the discards ban.
Fine Gael will continue to protect fish stocks while negotiating hard to provide for continued growth in the Irish fishing industry.
We have committed €40m from the Seafood Development Programme to the collection of scientific data to achieve this objective.
Healthy stocks will mean a growing fishing industry; this is of benefit to everyone.
QUOTAS-A NATIONAL ASSET
Unlike other countries in the EU who have privatised ownership of quota, we will legislate to protect fish quotas as a national asset to be managed in the interest of healthy stocks and the fishing industry.
Fine Gael will also enshrine in legislation the protection of quotas as a national asset.
Regional Decision Making: Fine Gael is committed to making decisions on fishing close to home.
No longer will we have a one-size-fits-all approach.
We have negotiated as part of the CFP a regional decisionmaking model, which means less control from Brussels and more decision making regionally, with other countries who share our fishing grounds.
Hague Preferences: While negotiating the new CFP, Fine Gael prioritised the retention of the Hague Preferences, which were strengthened by the CFP process.
This will continue to be of fundamental significance in future fisheries negot1at1ons, guaranteeing Ireland a better share of stocks when they are at low levels.
SUPPORTING GROWTH IN THE SEAFOOD SECTOR
Aquaculture: Significant potential exists for growth in the aquaculture sector.
We have cleared 300 licences from the backlog caused by years of environmental neglect and will continue this work.
We have committed €20m to the new National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture.
Knowledge Gateway: We have committed €8.2m from the Seafood Development Programme to the aquaculture sector to support research, new species development and commercialisation, management of disease and environmental and business planning advice.
International Ocean Laboratory: Subject to EU funding and support Fine Gael will develop an lrish-led international ocean research laboratory, changing the dynamic in how we produce food at sea by focusing on research into sustainable new approaches via cutting edge R&D in the aquaculture sector.
This project will be developed with a focus on sustainability and in consultation with environmentalists and members of the research community.
Marine Safety: Too many families have experienced the tragedy of losing someone at sea.
We published a marine safety strategy and will constantly update policy as well as invest €5.6m from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) in the fisheries sector for investment on fleet improvement and safety measures, to reduce the number of fatalities at sea.
Inshore Fisheries: Fine Gael is committed to ensuring that smaller inshore boats are given new opportunities for commercial fishing by developing sustainable new sectors and investing in marketing to back them up; for example, a mackerel line fishery.
We developed the first ever National Inshore Fisheries Forum and six regional fora, representing the sector.
We will provide €6m from the Seafood Development Programme to support enhanced management and conservation of inshore stocks, including v-notching of lobster, more selective fishing gear and preparation and implementation of management plans for inshore stocks.
Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs): We established six Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), to focus on developing local marine economies and will invest €12m from the Seafood Development Programme in FLAGs to support 1,000 projects in fishing communities, starting in 2016.
Marine Taxation: Fine Gael has carried out the first ever review of marine taxation policy across Government, published in 2015.
Fine Gael will implement measures aimed at growing the potential of marine industries and creating jobs in coastal communities.
In particular, Fine Gael will investigate the possibility of introducing a seafarer's allowance, in line with other EU Member States.
Harbours: Fine Gael has invested €59m in harbours since 2011 and we will continue to invest strategically in the development of harbours in coastal communities.
Marine Leisure: We recognise that significant potential exists in the marine leisure area for tourism around our coastline.
We will drive a step change in the development of this sector under the ambit of the Marine Coordination Group, to maximise the potential opportunities that exist.
26. Social Welfare, Making Work Pay and Pensions
The Government has started the job of overhauling the social welfare system, transforming it from a passive welfare system into an active and responsive employment service.
Rather than sustain a system that encourages welfare dependency, we want to create a system that fosters independence through retraining and employment.
In the next government we need to be more radical to end the plight of jobless households.
MAKING WORK PAY
The Working Family Payment We will roll out a new Working Family Payment that promotes work over welfare.
Targeted at low-income families, it will supplement, on a graduated basis, the income of a household, while at the same time incentivising more hours and full-time work.
lt will ensure that parents working more than 15 hours a week will receive at least €11.75 an hour.
The current Family Income Supplement creates major hurdles for unemployed parents transiting from jobseekers welfare payments into work, and also locks many parents into working fewer hours.
Under the current set-up, if someone on Jobseeker's Allowance works more than 3 days they are cut off welfare entirely and if they work less than 19 hours a week they do not receive any income support at all.
By better aligning the Working Family Payment with existing jobseeker supports, there will be a seamless transition from welfare to work for families and many of the welfare traps families face will be eliminated.
This new in-work payment, in conjunction with our tax plan and increases in the minimum wage, will make work pay.
Existing Family Income Supplement beneficiaries will have the option of transitioning to the Working Family Payment if it makes work pay more, otherwise their current supports will be maintained.
Fine Gael will also make available further training and skills development opportunities for those in low-income jobs.
We will mandate the Low Pay Commission to make recommendations to the Government on the phased introduction of the Working Family Payment, from 2018.
Minimum Wage: Fine Gael will increase the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour, during a second term.
lt will still be a matter for the Low Pay Commission to make annual recommendations on the level of adjustment each year.
We will cut Employers' PRSI for low-income workers to mitigate the cost of minimum wage increases, in order to protect jobs.
Forcing unaffordable increases in the minimum wage on small Irish businesses will cost jobs and set back recovery.
Employers' PRSI: To mitigate the impact on jobs and small employers of further, sensible rises in the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour, we will cut the lower 8.5% rate of Employers' PRSI to 6.5% and increase the lower rate threshold to €426 per week (from €376).
We will still be guided by the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on the phasing in of these minimum wage changes during a term of office.
Welfare Traps: To break the cycle of joblessness, we will do more to close down poverty traps:
Housing Traps: Recipients of Rent Supplement are faced with the worst welfare trap, with lone parents and larger families at particular risk.
Fine Gael will roll out nationwide the Housing Assistance Payment, which provides housing support based on income and not employment status.
Healthcare Traps: We will extend free GP care for the children of all working families.
Childcare Traps: Parents need affordable childcare that makes work pay for their family.
We understand that at each stage of a child's development their needs change and we will provide quality and flexible options for families to avail of.
For more information, please see our chapter Families and Childcare.
Pathways to Work Plan for Jobless Households: Ireland's historically high prevalence of jobless households is the biggest cause of inequality in our society.
During the height of the Celtic Tiger, Ireland experienced one of the highest rates of jobless households in Europe, even when unemployment was at its lowest.
Building on the success of the Pathways to Work Action Plan during our first term, Fine Gael will publish a specific Pathways to Work Plan for Jobless Households.
lt will have specific targets for key groups of individuals within jobless households and updates to the Plan will be published on a regular basis.
ACTIVATION
Breaking the Cycle of lntergenerational Joblessness: No young person wants to start their working life on the dole.
Young people who are unemployed and not in education or training risk entering a cycle of lifelong joblessness and low income.
Building on the successful Ballymun Youth Guarantee pilot scheme we will roll out a guarantee scheme for all 18 and 19 year olds, where a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship will be made available within a period of 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
A Social Contract with the Long-Term Unemployed: Fine Gael will provide every long-term jobseeker with a caseworker to help them back into work, with individual engagements and work progression plans.
Engagement with these services is vital, which is why Fine Gael introduced the Social Contract of rights and responsibilities, signed by all jobseekers.
We will review the current regulations for caseworkers in order to streamline the application of penalty rates and payment suspensions for those who refuse to engage or take up genuine offers of training or employment.
For those who are long-term unemployed, a caseworker will be empowered to compulsorily refer someone to a work placement programme such as Gateway or Tus, or risk suspension of their welfare payment.
lncentivising Employers to Hire the Long-Term Unemployed (JobsPius): We will put the long-term unemployed at the top of the queue for new jobs by increasing the incentive for employers under the Jobs Plus scheme.
We will increase the level of payment from €7,500 to €8,500 for hiring someone between 1 year and 2 years unemployed, and from €10,000 to €12,000 for someone over 2 years unemployed.
Providing Caseworkers for all Long-Term Unemployed (JobPath): Fine Gael has sought to ensure that lntreo centres are adequately staffed with case officers to maximise reactivation.
The new JobPath initiative will see approximately 1,000 more staff support the unemployed, bringing the ratio of clients to case officers from 500:1 towards 200:1.
Fine Gael will prioritise the implementation of JobPath and keep it under review in light of changing labour market trends.
JobBridge: JobBridge has acted as a successful bridge from welfare to work.
Independent research has shown that over 60% of participants go on to paid employment shortly after their internships, which compares favourably to similar schemes in other countries.
Fine Gael recognises there has been some abuse of JobBridge by certain employers.
Controls have always been in place to prevent abuse of the system and we will adapt those controls as the scheme progresses.
We will continue to fund the scheme into the future, adjusting it along with labour market trends.
Gateway: Fine Gael will continue to support the Gateway scheme, which is designed to provide short-term working opportunities for the long-term unemployed.
We believe it has worked well and we will look to enhance the scheme as it takes root in communities across the country.
Tus: Like Gateway, Tus is a community work placement scheme designed to provide short-term work for the unemployed.
We believe it is right and necessary to oblige the long-term unemployed to take up such offers and gain the experience and skills necessary to re-join the workforce.
WELFARE REFORM
lntreo Offices: We have rolled out a new network of lntreo centres, which are job support and welfare offices that provide employment and income supports to jobseekers in one place, for the first time.
Fine Gael wants to benchmark the centres at local, regional and national level and publish the results nationally to ensure targets are met.
Rewarding Work by Boosting Jobseeker's Benefit: Fine Gael will reform Jobseeker's Benefit to provide a better safety net for those experiencing short spells of unemployment.
As part of Fine Gael's reforms to the tax and social insurance system we will increase Jobseeker's Benefit to €215 for the first 3 months of unemployment, reducing to €200 for between 3 and 6 months of unemployment and reverting to the standard rate of €188 after 6 months.
Social Welfare Fraud: Fine Gael adopts a zerotolerance approach to social welfare fraud, which undermines confidence in the social welfare system and drains money away from those who need it.
In the case of welfare payments, Fine Gael will increase from 15% to 25% the amount that can be recovered from a person's weekly payment.
Fine Gael will continue to support and fund the Special Investigations Unit that targets systematic fraud and we will further encourage people to avail of anonymous reporting mechanisms.
Supply Once Means Test: Fine Gael will develop a new system of means testing across Government that only requires applicants to submit their information once for it to be used by any agency that an applicant wishes to receive a service from.
PENSIONS REFORM
Only half of the Irish workforce has supplementary pension coverage and, as life expectancy continues to rise, the risk is that too many people will have insufficient savings to adequately replace their preretirement incomes.
A central element of our Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going is our commitment to making the necessary policy changes to address the "pensions gap" in a way that is fair and affordable for young and old, men and women, and for public and private sector workers.
State Pension: We will increase both the contributory and non-contributory State pensions by at least €25 per week by 2021 (an increase of €5 per week every year).
Clarity on State Pension Entitlements: We will require the Department of Social Protection to provide contributors, from a certain age, automatic statements on social insurance contribution history and expected entitlements to the State pension.
By doing this, every individual will know in good time the additional contributions required to access this valuable entitlement.
We will also require the Department of Social Protection to review, within 6 months, the calculation of State pension, and the costs and benefits associated with giving parents (mostly women) credits for years spent "home making" outside the paid workforce.
Increasing Pension Coverage: We will construct a new "universal" supplementary pensions savings system to substantially increase supplementary pensions coverage among private sector workers within the lifetime of the next Dail.
We will require the Inter-Departmental Universal Retirement Savings Group, which has been working on this issue since late 2014, to finalise its report to Government on the development of a Universal Retirement Savings Scheme within 6 months.
Public Service Pensions: Fine Gael will, by 2021, reverse the public service pension reductions introduced during the crisis, prioritising in the early years those in receipt of low pensions.
Separately, we will ask the Public Service Remuneration Commission to make recommendations, by end 2017, to ensure the long-term sustainability of public service pensions, to reflect the value of public service pensions in overall public service remuneration and to promote greater mobility between the public and private sectors.
This work should have reference to the development of a Universal Retirement Savings Scheme.
Reviewing Compulsory Retirement Ages: We will establish an Inter-Departmental Group to review, within 6 months, whether compulsory retirement ages, common in the public and private sectors, are still appropriate.
Pension Tracking Service: We will work with the Pensions Authority, the Revenue Commissioners and the pensions industry to develop a pension tracking service, ideally via an online portal, which would help people track their pension benefits as they move through their career.
We want to facilitate career mobility and eliminate red tape to make workplace pensions more attractive to both employees and employers.
European Pension Tracking Service: As part of our push to attract emigrants home, we will support efforts in Europe to introduce a European Pension Tracking Service, helping mobile workers to keep track of their pension as they move jobs within the EU and helping pension providers to keep in contact with their customers.
27. Transport
During a second term of government Fine Gael will deliver a transport system that is better integrated, well maintained and which provides choice and value for customers throughout the country,
while also helping in our efforts to combat climate change.
In order to keep the recovery going, our infrastructure must be capable of meeting the demands of an expanding economy.
Fine Gael is determined to meet those needs through a €10bn capital investment in Transport over the next 7 years.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Public Transport Investment: We will invest €3.6bn across the lifetime of the next Capital Plan to enable a number of major public transport projects to proceed, and to fund additional capacity to meet existing and future commuter needs.
These will include the new Metro North and the completion of LUAS Cross City.
In line with these commitments, we will instigate a full review of public transport policy to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy.
Accessibility: Fine Gael will continue to invest to make public transport services more accessible for people with disabilities.
Examples of such investment include increased wheelchair access to bus and train stations, bus fleet enhancement and audio announcements on train and bus services, to aid the visually impaired.
We will also introduce a provision whereby taxi companies who wish to bid for state procurement contracts must ensure that a minimum of 10% of their fleet is wheelchair accessible.
Bus Competition: Fine Gael supports investment in our national bus market for the benefit of passengers and supports more choice and compet1t1on in the bus market.
We will support the role of the National Transport Authority in determining the appropriate mix of direct award and public service obligation contracts for bus routes.
This will allow us to provide more routes and choice to the public.
Integrated Ticketing: Ireland is behind the curve when it comes to integrated ticketing.
Fine Gael is determined to address this by fast-tracking the rollout of Leap Card nationwide.
Rural Transport: Fine Gael recognises the importance of the Rural Transport Programme, especially its role in protecting against rural isolation.
We have radically restructured the scheme, putting it on a more secure financial footing.
Fine Gael will closely monitor the progress of the new Transport Coordination Unit structure and ensure that the scheme is adequately funded into the future to best meet rural transport needs.
Rural Buses: Fine Gael will introduce improved integration in the rural bus network.
This includes public buses, school transport and the HSE transport networks and will increase efficiencies for both the passenger and taxpayer.
This will make existing routes more sustainable and open up the potential for new routes to be established.
Rural Hackneys: In order to increase the take up of rural hackney licenses, we will review the regulations governing them, so as to allow more areas to be served.
Public Bike Schemes: During a second term of government, we will support the extension of existing public bike schemes and will also drive the rollout of additional schemes in other urban areas.
Public bike schemes link up existing infrastructure, are environmentally friendly, and are in line with our vision for a "Healthy Ireland".
GREEN TRANSPORT
Sustainable Transport: Investment in our public transport system will uphold the principles of the Government's Smarter Travel policy.
Under the Capital Plan, €lOOm is being committed to smarter travel and carbon reduction measures, including Greenways, to ensure that the transport sector makes a major contribution to climate change mitigation targets.
Electric Vehicles: Fine Gael wants Ireland to become a leader in the take-up of electric vehicles.
Within 6 months of government we will establish a dedicated taskforce to work on this goal, involving relevant government departments, agencies, industry and representative groups.
We will implement the recommendations contained in the Government's energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 20152030, designed to increase the number of low carbon vehicles on the road.
Climate Change Mitigation Plans: As part of the first National Mitigation Plan we will focus on the development of a cost-effective policy platform for reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency across all transport modes.
lt will examine the role of technology, sustainable land use patterns, modal shift, travel demand, alternative fuel options and the impact of proposed measures on other national policy objectives.
ROADS
Roads Investment: In a second term of government, we will adopt a twin-track strategy to maintain our existing road network to meet climate adaptation and EU standard requirements
while also expanding our national roads network to meet our future economic needs.
In the context of an improving economy, our road network is likely to come under considerably more stress.
To deal with this, €4.4bn will be invested over the 7 years of the Capital Plan to ensure the network is maintained and strengthened.
In addition to a maintenance focus, we will also make a number of targeted strategic investments in new national road upgrades, with €1.5bn allocated under the 2016-2022 Capital Plan towards these new projects, which are spread throughout the country.
As part of a mid-term review of the Capital Plan, we will also examine if funding allows for the progression of the M20, linking Cork and Limerick.
Community Involvement Schemes (CIS) and Local Improvement Schemes (LIS): We will provide funding for Community Schemes and Local Improvement Schemes, on an annual basis.
As part of our commitment to local government reform we will also give councils greater discretion in how they spend their money on local and regional roads.
Road Safety: During a second term of government we will commit to ambitious targets to seek to reduce deaths on Irish roads from 166 in 2015 to fewer than 125 in 2020.
Conscious of the fact that one road death is one too many, we will also leverage technology wherever possible to increase driver safety, as we have done in relation to testing for the presence of drugs.
We will enforce new legislation against driving while under the influence of drugs.
We will establish a "third payment option" for Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) and the creation of an integrated database that contains vehicle ownership and driving license information.
In tandem with this, we will consolidate all existing road safety legislation into a single Act, helping to safeguard against the emergence of legal loopholes.
AIR AND SEA TRANSPORT
Aviation (see Tourism and Sport chapter for further detail): We will implement the National Aviation Policy in full, maintaining state ownership of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, while working to improve connectivity and further fostering Ireland's worldleading aviation leasing industry.
Maritime Safety: We will continue to invest in a robust maritime safety strategy that tackles the recurring factors that contribute to maritime fatalities, encourages those who take to the water to take maritime safety seriously, and supports a better maritime safety culture.
Ports: We will implement the National Ports Policy in full, with particular emphasis on the completion of changes in ownership structure to properly equip ports to attract new investment.
To this end, Ports of National Significance shall be supported through state ownership, while Ports of Regional Significance shall be transferred to local authority control.
28. Tourism and Sport
TOURISM
The tourism sector has played a crucial role in the Irish economic recovery.
Underpinned by strategic decisions, such as the zero-rated travel tax and the introduction of a special 9% VAT rate, tourism has thrived during the last 4 years.
During a second term of government, Fine Gael will work towards achieving the ambitious tourism policy goals that we have set for 2025.
These include increasing revenue from overseas visitors to €5bn, growing employment in the tourism sector to 250,000 (from 200,000 currently) and increasing the number of visits to Ireland to 10 million.
0% Travel Tax Rate: Fine Gael will continue to maintain the 0% rate to ensure Ireland remains an attractive destination for tourists.
9% VAT Rate: We will retain the hugely successful 9% VAT rate, providing that prices remain competitive.
Activity and Sport Based Tourism: We believe that Ireland is a fantastic location for activity and sport based tourism and we will work with Failte Ireland to help them develop this sector further.
As well as looking to grow the thriving marine, golf and angling sector, there is significant potential growth in the areas of cycling, sailing, running and in adventure sports.
Greenways: Fine Gael invested approximately €20m in new Greenway development in recent years.
We will build on the popularity of new Greenways by establishing a central fund in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to support the construction of a Greenway network across the country.
Our long-term v1s1on is for Greenways throughout the country, promoting sustainable travel, increased tourism and balanced regional development and forming a nationwide inter-connected network that will promote Ireland as a leading cycling and activitybased tourism destination.
As part of this vision, we will complete the Ashtown to Athlone section of the Dublin-Galway Greenway by 2017.
While we will continue to expand the Greenway network, we are also conscious of the rights of farmers
and landowners and will work with them in this rollout to ensure that the expansion of the network is beneficial for both users and landowners.
Marketing Ireland as an All-Year-Round Destination: Tourists visiting Ireland tend to be culturally curious and/or in search of adventure.
We will do more to market Ireland as an all-year-round destination and Fine Gael will work closely with Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to make this happen.
Specific focus will be placed on building on the success of the Wild Atlantic Way, which has particular potential as a yearround destination.
Marketing Ireland as a Destination for Cruise Holidays: In order to fully exploit the tourism potential that Ireland's harbours, coastline and canal network offers, Fine Gael will promote Ireland as a destination for cruise holidays, both in overseas markets and for domestic tourists.
Spreading Growth in Tourism throughout Ireland: The tourism sector is uniquely placed to make a contribution to regional development.
During a second term of government we will build on successes such as the Wild Atlantic Way to drive tourism to all parts of the country, in accordance with their potential.
We will also further develop the Ireland's Ancient East and Dublin -A Breath of Fresh Air campaigns to ensure all parts of the country benefit from increased tourism levels to this country.
Dublin Airport: We will develop Dublin as a vibrant secondary hub that will compete effectively with the UK and other European airports for the expanding global aviation services market.
Cork Airport: Cork Airport's unique position as a "gateway" to both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East is a clear advantage and a platform for growing inbound tourism traffic.
The airport also plays a key role as a tourism and business gateway for the local region and its further development, particularly with regard to the development of key niche markets, will be supported.
Shannon Airport: Fine Gael recognises Shannon Airport's strategic importance for connectivity in the Mid-West region.
To further strengthen the airport, we will support its development as an air-cargo hub.
We will also support the airport as it seeks to increase the number of aircraft using US preclearance.
These measures will help underpin the airport's ambitions to expand existing operations and develop new routes.
Regional Airports: Fine Gael understands the continued importance of Donegal, Kerry, Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) and Waterford airports, due to the level of international connectivity that they bring to their respective regions, both in terms of tourism and business.
To this end, we will invest €28m under the Capital Plan for safety and security enhancements across the regional airports.
We will continue to provide funding to assist developing new flight routes from all airports outside of Dublin.
This would be similar to a recent UK initiative which has been shown to be permissible under EU rules.
Flagship Events: Building on recent successes, Fine Gael will continue to target the hosting of international sporting and cultural events.
This will include the already announced hosting of the Boston College vs Georgia Tech American Football game, and the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Having proven our ability to host major international events we will also seek to host other such events as opportunities present themselves.
Rugby World Cup 2023: Fine Gael will strongly support Ireland's efforts to host the 2023 Men's Rugby World Cup and provide the assistance needed to produce a successful bid.
Legacy of the Gathering: Following on from the highly successful year of The Gathering, Fine Gael will develop the legacy of networks The Gathering has created and continue to invest in local tourism infrastructure.
To build on this, we will hold a successor to The Gathering, in 2019.
SPORT
Conscious of the significant social and health benefits that participation in sport delivers, Fine Gael is committed to supporting sporting organisations in their efforts to increase sporting participation across the country.
Making improvements in the area will be a key factor in tackling the significant obesity challenge that we will face in the future if present trends continue.
A healthy Ireland will improve everyone's physical and mental well-being, as well as enhancing the sustainability of future public health costs.
Sports Capital Programme: Building on the €130m investment in sports capital projects since 2011, Fine Gael will aim to allocate sports capital grants on an annualised basis.
By awarding sports capital grants on an annual basis, sports clubs and voluntary and community organisations will be able to better develop their plans and apply for such funding at the most appropriate time, rather than potentially submitting applications before they are ready, due to a fear that a subsequent round of funding might not materialise.
Sport for All: Building on the proposals contained in the National Physical Activity Plan, Fine Gael will launch a programme aimed at encouraging all citizens to participate in sporting activities on a weekly basis.
A fund will be established that could be accessed by voluntary organisations and sporting bodies who can demonstrate that they can achieve clear objectives in this area.
Particular preference will be given to organisations who can demonstrate that their programmes will increase participation amongst women and in disadvantaged communities.
National Sports Policy: We will publish a National Sports Policy, early in the next Dail term, to support sport across communities and across Irish society.
Sports Campus: We will continue to invest in the National Sports Campus with a view to increasing the use of the facilities by the general public, and provide world-class support to high-performance athletes.
In a second term of government, we will open the National Indoor Arena and the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre.
Concussion in Sport: Fine Gael is committed to keeping people healthy through sport and safe in sport.
We will work with sporting bodies and medical professionals to develop robust concussionmanagement policies for every sport and to consider appropriate measures to ensure compliance.
29. Youth Affairs
Despite the economic crisis we inherited from Fianna Fail,
Fine Gael prioritised our children's welfare, by creating the first dedicated Cabinet Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, establishing a new Child and Family Agency, introducing strong child protection legislation, and holding a children's referendum.
Fine Gael's Long Term Economic Plan ensures that no one will be left behind in economic recovery, and that our focus is that every young person can reach their full potential.
For those who do need support from state agencies, their role must be to guide people out of difficulty and into stability and safety.
ENSURING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE MEET THEIR FULL POTENTIAL
National Youth Strategy: In consultation with 4,000 young people, Fine Gael published the first ever National Youth Strategy, which sets out 50 priority action points to be delivered for young people, including the Youth Employability Initiative.
€600,000 has been provided for this scheme in Budget 2016, which will provide grants to voluntary youth services that target disadvantaged young people and improve their employability.
We will continue to implement this strategy.
Youth Services: Fine Gael recognises the value of youth cafes and youth centres in communities with growing teenage populations.
We will continue to support the work that the youth sector does for young people.
Budget 2016 provided an additional €l.lm in current funding and €2.25m in capital funding.
Tackling Youth Unemployment: Tackling youth unemployment is a priority for Fine Gael.
We therefore support an increase in the mandatory schooling age to 17.
We will also build on the successful Ballymun Youth Guarantee pilot scheme and roll out a guarantee scheme for all 18 and 19 year olds, where a goodquality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship will be made available within a period of 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
Schools Excellence Fund: We wi 11 establish a new €50m Schools Excellence Fund, which rewards collaborative approaches driven by schools and by parents themselves, aimed at improving school outcomes through the teaching of subjects such as maths, science and technology, key life skills programmes, and pupil retention initiatives.
Applications that seek to tackle educational disadvantage will be prioritised.
Outside bodies, such as business and higher education institutions, may collaborate with second level schools as part of this initiative.
ENSURING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S WELLBEING
Free GP Care for Under 18s: Fine Gael has introduced free GP care for under 6s and Budget 2016 provided for the introduction of free GP care for under 12s.
Subject to negotiations with GPs, the next phase of our Plan is to provide free GP care to 12-17 year olds.
Wellness and Healthy Eating Programmes: Fine Gael recognises the growing problem of childhood obesity and supports all schools and pre-schools in developing an integrated wellness policy, which will include healthy eating and cardiovascular fitness.
Expand the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS): We will invest an additional €3m to increase the number of NEPS psychologists from 167 to 209 so that the Service can provide enhanced early intervention strategies for staff and pupils, and offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents.
Physical Education: Fine Gael supports the introduction of more PE in primary schools and its introduction as a Leaving Cert subject.
We will look at various ways in which organisations with experience in children's sports and fitness might provide schools with support.
CHILD PROTECTION AND CARE
Child and Family Agency: Fine Gael established Tusla, Ireland's first dedicated child and family agency, which has changed the way we deliver child protection and welfare services.
Funding for 200 additional social workers was provided for in Budget 2016.
We will continue to develop Tusla as it cements its progress and moves forward from crisis intervention to early intervention and by end 2020 we will fund 500 additional social workers.
We will extend its remit to incorporate new services and build improved interagency working arrangements with other services.
For example, child detention schools will be transferred to Tusla as we establish a single national directorate to respond to the challenges and needs of our most troubled and troublesome teens, bringing together child detention, youth justice, special care and targeted therapeutic and support services.
Ensuring Mandatory Reporting of Child Protection Concerns: We introduced legislation on child protection and ensured that the voice of the child is heard.
All relevant groups will be required to develop Child Safeguarding Statements so that parents can examine these statements and satisfy themselves that their child is safe and protected from harm.
Garda Vetting: Fine Gael will continue to ensure that the highest of standards of vetting procedures are met for all positions where there is substantial access to children and vulnerable adults.
Guardian Ad Litem (GAL): We will review the operation of the GAL mechanism representing a child's view in court proceedings to ensure that the perspective of the child is always taken fully into account.
This will include clearly setting out the role and functions of GALs, as well as the qualifications and experience required to act as a GAL.
This will ensure a better service, and a more effective use of resources to protect children.
Child Care Law Reporting Project: Fine Gael will respond, with an implementation plan, to the independent Child Care Law Reporting Project report and recommendations within 6 months of entering government.
YOUTH JUSTICE
Early Intervention in Adolescence: We will continue to extend youth justice and diversion programmes to seek to prevent and tackle youth offending at an early stage.
Targeting Young Repeat Offenders: Fine Gael is committed to supporting young offenders with alternative life choices, so that they do not progress to career criminality.
We will introduce targeted initiatives, involving Gardaf, Tusla and other agencies, to more effectively deal with those prolific youth offenders responsible for a large proportion of youth crime and for whom traditional Youth Diversion has not worked.
This will include, where appropriate, the use of extended detention with educational and therapeutic supports.
Intensive Bail Supervision: Fine Gael will pilot a scheme of intensive bail supervision to support vulnerable youths.
Such a scheme will improve the chance of youths observing their bail conditions and engaging in therapeutic services.
lt will also reduce the number of high-cost remand places.
Youth Detention: The new Oberstown development project is nearing completion, which will allow St. Patrick's Institution to close this year.
New therapeutic intervention services have also been introduced for children in detention, which provide psychology, speech and language therapy and referral to addiction services to children with the most challenging needs.
Fine Gael is committed to driving these new initiatives further.
Drugs Awareness: Fine Gael will ensure full implementation of the National Drugs Strategy and continue to resource the new Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and local drugs units to tackle changing trends in drugs supply.
We will continue to support Local Drug Taskforce projects for young people including targeted drug prevention and awareness programmes.
An Ireland for all.
Ireland is faced with a fundamental choice about its future.
Will we move forward together or will we become more unequal and unfair?
Fianna Fáil believes that there is a fairer way than Fine Gael and Labour’s divisive and failing policies.
This manifesto shows how we can create an Ireland which serves all of its people - which helps families and communities to thrive and supports them with strong public services.
Our plans address all areas of government activity and fundamental reform but there must be priorities.
Here we set out our core priorities and how they can be implemented and sustained.
Fiscal Responsibility Commitment
Ireland has now exited the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth pact as our deficit has fallen below 3%.
The debt / GDP ratio has fallen below the critical 100% mark.
This follows many years of sacrifice on the part of the public following the implementation of tax increases and painful expenditure cuts.
However as the European Commission, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and independent analysts have stated, this government is ignoring the lessons of the past in its fiscal policies.
Having spent a decade demanding more tax cuts and spending rises and subsequently voting against 70% of the measures which consolidated the state’s finances, Fine Gael and Labour remain committed to putting rhetoric ahead of sustainable long-term policies.
Enda Kenny’s radical objective of reducing taxation to US levels would represent a dramatic move towards a more unequal society
with poorer public services
and a declining infrastructure.
In contrast, this manifesto is based on not only achieving a fairer future for our country, but also a more sustainable one.
Fianna Fáil will fully uphold Ireland’s EU and national fiscal obligations on spending and Debt to GDP ratio convergence targets.
Our financial plans are based within the parameters of the €8.6bn fiscal space confirmed by the Department of Finance.
Furthermore we will establish a rainy day fund from 2017 to put aside budget surplus funds above that space during good times in order to invest it during any future downturn.
The specific commitments in this manifesto have been costed using a triple lock of sources.
Firstly with parliamentary questions to individual departments, secondly verifying those measures with the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform.
As a further third step, the costs were submitted to independent assessment of their accuracy and sustainability within current accepted economic projections.
This is the first time any party has submitted its manifesto to such a review.
The financial information and sources behind this document are published in a detailed appendix.
Fine Gael and Labour rejected our proposals to ensure all manifestos are objectively costed by an expanded Fiscal Advisory Council.
In government, we will legislate to address this failing.
This commitment to adhere fully to EU and national rules underpins each of our core priorities.
Our Four Core Priorities
Fianna Fáil has published detailed policy documents covering the full range of government responsibilities.
However, we believe that it is essential to set out the core priorities which we believe must underpin the work of the next government.
These are:
Create decent jobs
and support enterprise
Cut costs for families and improve the services they rely on
Tackle crime and develop community services
Secure home ownership and tackle homelessness
What our Priorities mean for you at each stage in your life
A fair start in life
We will:
establish a €2,000 childcare support credit to give working parents greater choice,
enhance the quality and sustainability of the childcare sector,
lengthen maternity leave benefit to 30 weeks and allow for shared leave,
increase child benefit by €10 a month,
The best education
We will:
reduce average class size to 23:1 in the next government,
establish on-site early intervention teams in primary schools to help children with developmental difficulties and fully restore resource teaching hours,
expand DEIS schools and widen the school meals programme,
guarantee a guidance counselling service in every secondary school,
freeze student contribution fees & restore  post graduate grants,
Getting a decent job
We will:
help create over 250,000 jobs by 2021,
set up a full State enterprise bank to fund business expansion,
reduce the tax burden on the self-employed to encourage start-ups,
roll out universal fibre to the home broadband and 4G mobile coverage,
set up an Entrepreneur Training and Mentoring Programme,
create a new apprenticeship scheme across a wide range of sectors,
ban zero hour contracts,
reduce Capital Gains Tax for entrepreneurs to 10%,
Securing a home
We will:
increase construction activity to deliver 150,000 new homes by 2021 including 45,000 new Social Housing Units,
retain mortgage interest relief to 2020,
create a special savings scheme to help first time buyers save for their deposit,
raise rent supplement and tackle the homelessness emergency,
Support with the quality & cost of living
We will:
reduce and eliminate USC for low  and middle income workers up to €80,000,
abolish Irish water and water charges,
reduce the monthly Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €100 per month,
increase working age welfare payments by €10 with an additional €10 top-up payment for carers, disability allowance, invalidity and blind pension recipients,
abolish prescription charges,
lower treatment and Emergency Department waiting times,
re-balance our health system towards primary care,
create a new National Mental Health Authority,
A vibrant and safe community to live in
We will:
increase Garda numbers to 15,000 and the Garda reserve to 2,500,
toughen sentencing with mandatory terms and a new sentencing council,
invest in Garda IT and cars to get more Gardaí on the beat,
create community councils and restore town councils,
increase LEADER funding and establish a new grant scheme for Community Centres,
allow cities to hold plebiscites on directly elected mayors,
reform planning laws to revitalise town and village centres across Ireland,
An independent retirement
We will:
increase the state pension by €30 a week and living alone allowance to €15 a week,
ensure older people can live independently in their home for as long as possible,
expand housing adaptation grants, home help hours and  homecare packages,
protect and develop the free travel scheme,
tackle older community loneliness with a social enterprise fund for older people,
Foreword
This election is a fundamental choice about the sort of Ireland, we as a people, can create.
Will we move forward together as a country or will we become more unequal and unfair?
Fianna Fáil is clear where it stands, we need a new government committed to building “An Ireland for all”.
Ireland is a remarkable country with a vibrant culture, deep history and a warm, open, generous people.
This is a country rich with immense potential, built on strong foundations.
Ireland has come through a long and difficult recession because of the skills and dedication built up by its people over generations.
The recovery belongs to all our people.
However, the profound sense of drift overseen by this government, setting ourselves at odds with our best traditions of fairness, threatens to make us more unequal and divided.
Fianna Fáil is committed to building “An Ireland for all” where economic growth is felt across the nation,
families can own their own home,
streets are safe
, hard work is rewarded
and society takes care of its young, vulnerable and older people.
Our manifesto sets out the Fianna Fáil plan to realise that commitment based on four, fully costed, key priorities:
Create decent jobs & support enterprise
Cut family costs & improve the services they rely on
Tackle crime & develop community services
Secure home ownership & tackle homelessness
These are our core priorities to help build a better country for all of our people.
This election, 100 hundred years on from the foundation of our Republic, gives you a chance to vote for “An Ireland for all” and help achieve a vibrant, secure future for you and your family.
A new government, with Fianna Fáil’s four core priorities at its heart, can deliver that country.
I am asking for your vote on February 26th to help create “An Ireland for all”.
Micheál Martin TD
Fianna Fáil Leader
Create decent jobs & support enterprise
Fianna Fáil will make Ireland a global hub of innovation for SMEs and generate over 250,000 jobs by 2021.
We will:
Help SMEs & Balance Regional development
Set specific regional job targets
Create a fully licenced state enterprise bank
Reduce CGT Entrepreneur Relief rate to 10% & expand chargeable gains limit to €15m
Incentivise Job creation by reducing Employer PRSI
Help Irish SMEs compete for public service contracts
Set up a business voucher scheme & Entrepreneur Training and Mentoring Programme
Ban zero hour contracts
and expand apprenticeships
Advance Science & Research
Implement multi-annual, ring-fenced funding for science & research
Strengthen the link between Researchers and Innovators
Support the Self-Employed
Introduce Employer PRSI relief
Reduce & reform income taxes on the self employed
Move towards a social protection safety net for the self-employed
Bridge the Digital Divide across Ireland
Conduct a national mobile phone coverage audit and Mobile Phone Infrastructure Plan
Roll out Fibre to the home broadband at 1000 Mbps across the state
Develop Regional Digital Hubs in every local authority
Secure a fair price for farmers & a successful Agri-Food Sector
Establish a Food Ombudsman to secure a fair price for farmers
Reform the farm inspection regime
Enhance and reform the Beef Genomics scheme
Roll out an “Island of Ireland” suckler beef label
Fully realise Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025
Secure a strong fisheries sector
Protect our Corporate Tax Rate & re-build the Eurozone
Fight in Europe to fully maintain our 12.5% corporate Tax Rate
Create a fiscal, banking and transfer union to prevent a future Eurozone crisis
Establish a Rainy Day Fund to invest during any future global downturn
Ireland is recovering because of the skills and enterprise of the Irish people built up over a period of decades.
However there are undeniable signs of a growing two-tier nature to the economy, with businesses and employees divided between high-value and high-security employment and those caught in low-value, low-security jobs.
Unless we have a government which addresses this it will become a permanent feature.
The politics-first approach of this government has meant that claiming credit for the work of others has taken precedence over addressing new problems.
An OECD review of the ‘Action Plan for Jobs’ has stated that it is not possible to claim specific job creation figures for the Plan, yet Fine Gael and Labour continue to do so anyway.
Over the past five years the only significant innovation in employment policy has been the active politicisation of its communications activity.
Announcements which were once routine are now hyped and withheld until ministers are in a position to get publicity.
The failure to plan or invest in critical infrastructure is a direct threat to medium and long-term economic prospects.
We are committed to a wide range of ambitious policies to foster a more sustainable and more inclusive approach to employment creation and economic development.
We will:
Build on the current core strengths of the economy but add to it a greater balance in terms of sectors and distribution,
Develop a more dynamic SME and start-up culture,
Have skills and support for innovation at the core of public policy,
Invest in essential infrastructure including the technological capacity vital in a modern economy,
Actively help areas in danger of being left behind,
This jobs plan will help to create a sustained, broad based recovery across the whole country built on decent, secure jobs.
Help SMEs & balance regional development
A strong multi-national sector has developed in Ireland because of consistent support over a period of decades.
A sustainable economic model requires a balance between this sector and the crucial, overwhelmingly indigenous SME sector.
It also requires a greater balance within and between regions.
We cannot allow a continued drift to a two-tier economy where good jobs are highly concentrated as other communities are left with insecure and lower-paid employment.
That is why Fianna Fáil is proposing a series of ambitious steps to help SMEs, including start-ups and to ensure more balanced regional development.
We will:
(i) Set regional targets for high-value and sustainable employment
The two tier recovery overseen by this government is leaving large parts of the country behind.
We need to directly address this by driving job creation across the entire country.
SMEs are key drivers of growth across the country and will play a vital role in generating new employment.
In addition strong indigenous industries such as the tourism and agri-food sector have to be fully utilised across very region.
We will:
Aim to reduce unemployment levels on a regional basis to their 2007 levels.
Set targets for sustainable employment growth and high-value jobs on a regional basis.
(ii) Create a full state enterprise bank
Small businesses that have withstood the pressures of the country’s most challenging recession continue to face the threat of credit starvation.
Credit is the life blood of a healthy economy; it allows businesses to invest in the future.
Currently the banks have failed to live up to their obligations as the financial custodians of the credit market, jeopardising SMEs across Ireland.
The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) established by this government is completely inadequate.
What is needed is a state backed bank along the lines of the Industrial Credit Corporation (ICC) which operated successfully in the economy for many years.
An enterprising nation needs the lifeblood of credit to flow around the economy in order to grow and prosper.
-We will fundamentally reform the role of SBCI by fully licencing it as a state enterprise bank similar to the former ICC.
This fully fledged enterprise bank will be a permanent solution to the lending gap which exists in Irish banking and would lend to any company, regardless of sector or size, including farms, provided it can demonstrate its creditworthiness.
-In addition we envisage SBCI will work with credit unions to help provide finance to SMEs.
Credit Unions will be able to put a portion of their €8bn savings fund into an SME lending scheme, backed by the enterprise bank.
This will maintain the regulatory integrity of the Unions while providing a fresh avenue of investment in SMEs. scheme, backed by the enterprise bank.
(iii) Reduce CGT Entrepreneurial Relief Rate to 10%
Risk takers need to be incentivised in order to promote and foster a strong culture of entrepreneurship across the country.
Ireland must be equipped to compete directly with the UK to ensure aspiring business people are willing to set up new companies here.
Reducing Capital Gains Tax (CGT ) on entrepreneurs will help to attract, retain and develop start-up businesses and encourage new ideas across the country.
-We will reduce the CGT Entrepreneurial Relief Rate to 10% and increase the chargeable gains threshold to €15m
(iv) Equalise the tax treatment of the self - employed
Self-employed people who have started their own small business and try to make a go of it are discriminated against in the current tax system.
Unlike PAYE works they do not receive the benefit of the €1,650 tax credit and receive a third of that in the Earned Income Tax Credit.
This means their hard earned income is subjected to an even higher effective tax rate regardless of the impact they have on the broader economy and community.
This type of tax discrimination is symptomatic of a state attitude that demotes entrepreneurship instead of fostering and cultivating it.
We will move to rectify this discrimination.
-We will increase the earned income tax credit from €550 to €1,650 at a cost of €123m and increase the earned income tax credit in line with the PAYE Tax credit to ensure equalisation is maintained into the future.
(v) Allow Irish SMEs compete for public service contracts
The state is the biggest employer in the country and invests enormous sums of money in public service contracts every year.
Ireland’s public procurement market is worth an estimated €12bn per annum.
Irish SMEs are at a serious disadvantage in competing for contracts where the criteria laid out involved minimum turnover levels far in excess of what a small Irish company can achieve.
Furthermore in the long term the competitiveness of the procurement process is damaged by the narrow range of businesses eligible to compete.
-We will open up the procurement process to ensure all businesses can benefit.
We will work within EU rules to ensure that Irish SMEs are not disadvantaged in tendering for public service contracts.
This will include creating a Public Procurement Ombudsman to ensure SMEs are facilitated to compete for contracts.
This will eliminate discriminatory requirements which effectively exclude fair competition in many cases.
(vi) Tackle the shadow economy
SMEs bear the brunt of an extensive shadow economy that damages business, dampens employment and reduces exchequer revenues.
The scale of the shadow economy ranges from an estimated €5-20bn costing the state enormous sums of money and inflicting immense damage on compliant companies.
-We will take on the shadow economy by encouraging greater use of electronic payment systems, setting a target for an annual 10% increase in e-transactions over the course of the next government.
(vii) Support a fair Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement
Fianna Fáil supports the principle of removing barriers to trade.
This is essential for Ireland to be successful.
However, we also believe that trade deals must be fair and must protect the position of states which aim to ensure high living and employment standards.
An ambitious and comprehensive TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) agreement between the EU and United States has the potential to add up to 10,000 jobs to the Irish economy across a wide range of businesses.
However there are a number of issues that cannot be compromised around food standards and investor-state-dispute-settlement (ISDS) mechanisms to protect Irish interests before full support can be given.
We will:
Defend and ensure that EU standards are not up for negotiation. In particular, we recognise the importance of maintaining the high standard of food safety in Europe.
Fianna Fáil will only support a TTIP deal which fully upholds food safety standards to the highest levels.
-Work at an EU level to reform the ISDS proposals.
Ensure all companies benefit from the opportunities opened up by the trade deal by working with the European Commission and member states to facilitate the participation of SMEs’ in transatlantic trade after the agreement takes effect.
(vii) Provide access to vacant or underutilised public property to use as incubation centres
For fledgling companies the costs of accessing property to get going can be crippling.
In addition to rental cost, commercial rates can fatally undermine a business starting out.
The state is one of the biggest property owners in the country with significant sections of property currently under-underutilised or lying entirely vacant.
-We will undertake in 2016 a local authority survey of suitable properties including unused public buildings and earmark them as incubation units for start-ups.
These units will be subjected to a ‘use it or lose it’ clause to maximise their impact.
Community groups hoping to set up their own enterprise will also be eligible to apply for these units.
(ix) Promote Social Entrepreneurship
Social Enterprise is an innovative way of using business acumen to achieve broader social goals.
It already empowers some 30,000 people across the country through 1,400 enterprises.
With the right state support and framework the area has immense potential to grow and expand employment numbers while tackling a wide variety of social issues.
-We will extend the role of Local Enterprise Offices to support Social Enterprise Initiatives, expand CSO surveys to encompass social enterprise activity, move social enterprise clearly under the remit of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, establish social enterprise-specific training courses and broaden out finance guarantees to assist the attraction of investment.
(x) Reform the Commercial Rates System
The commercial rates system has to encourage start-ups and regional development not penalise them.
A reformed system will secure the foundations of local authority finance and help promote enterprise into the future.
Our measures are targeted to help business and revitalise town centres across Ireland within the existing financial envelope of local authorities.
We will:
Establish a Rate Holiday for start-up businesses
Encouraging and fostering entrepreneurship is vital to building a vibrant economy across both rural and urban Ireland.
Hefty commercial rates are a deterrent to start-up businesses.
Town centres are suffering from a severe drain to out of town shopping developments where a reduced commercial rates and parking charge burden allows business to grow and expand leaving towns hollowed out.
We need to breathe new life into our cities, towns and villages and encourage start-ups to take the risk and start creating jobs.
• We will introduce a rate relief scheme for start-up companies who set up in town centres and other neglected areas specified by the local authority.
This incentive will be for up to two years in order to help the business finds its feet and get going.
Introduce an “Inability to pay” clause for struggling businesses
The government has continually declined to introduce an “inability to pay” clause in the rates process.
This means that businesses in severe financial difficulty are hit with a commercial rates bill regardless of the potentially disastrous impact it will have.
Across Ireland significant parts of bills are going unpaid with businesses accumulating massive debt as they simply cannot afford to meet their commercial rates obligation.
The lack of recognition of turnover and ability to pay is destroying businesses that are struggling to hold on and keep jobs let alone create them.
• We will introduce an “inability to pay clause” in local government legislation to ensure that turnover and profit is taken into account by local authorities in calculating the commercial rates for individual businesses.
This will establish a transparent and accessible process which will allow businesses to appeal commercial rates bills on the grounds of financial constraint directly to the local authority in a clear organised format.
Introduce long-term reform of Commercial Rates on a revenue neutral basis
Some €1.5bn is raised for local authorities every year through the commercial rates system.
The weight of this burden falls on traditional bricks and mortar premises at the heart of communities.
The current system is effectively a disincentive to locating premises in the heart of our towns and cities.
Equally it provides no support for new and innovative business.
It is time to re-evaluate the long term viability of what is in effect a property tax on businesses in an age when business is becoming increasingly mobile.
• We will initiate a joint departmental report between the Department of the Environment & Local Government, the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform on the future of the Commercial Rates system drawing on independent expertise and international experience.
Its terms of reference will include finalising proposals for flexibility, encouraging town centre development
and supporting new businesses.
The report will be issued within 12 months with a clear action list for the government to carry out.
(xi) Ban Zero Hours contracts and tackle exploitative self-employment contracts
Bringing clarity to work hours is as essential to creating decent jobs as increasing the rate that a worker is paid and helping vulnerable families reliant upon welfare.
Workers in precarious zero hour contract positions face uncertainty every week, as to the hours they are required to do and this leads to a lack of security in relation to how much they are actually going to earn.
On a broader level, low pay and casual working arrangements prevent people from getting mortgages, entering rental agreements and being able to make ﬁnancial commitments.
Tackling this is an essential part of our commitment to creating decent jobs as part of our vision for “An Ireland for all”.
We will:
Ban zero hour contracts by changing the remit of the Low Pay Commission to put forward legislation on banded-hour contracts for those on low pay.
This will allow workers on low and zero hour contracts a minimum set of hours and the right to request more hours as practised in other larger retailers.
Clamp down on exploitative bogus self-employment contracts. These contracts, which are becoming increasingly prevalent, circumvent basic employee rights in relation to holiday pay, sick pay and pension contributions and deprive the State of PRSI revenue.
(xii) Reform JobBridge & strengthen interns’ employment rights
For many young people starting out in life trying to get a foothold on the career ladder is increasingly difficult.
The government’s JobBridge scheme has been unfairly exploited by certain employers while unpaid internships have exploded beyond short work experience to form a major part of the employment market for young people.
The instability and precarious nature of this employment and its financial implications is squeezing out opportunity for large parts of a generation.
A “pay to play” system risks creating an even more divided country.
As part of our commitment to creating decent jobs and achieving “An Ireland for all” we will protect the rights of young people and strengthen their job prospects.
We will:
Introduce legislation that provides clarity on employment rights associated with internships and work experience.
In line with current employment legislation, if an intern is doing work of value to the employer, has a similar level of supervision and responsibility as the rest of the workforce, then he or she should be paid at least the minimum wage.
Place a four week limit on unpaid internships in order to discourage and guard against the potential exploitation of unpaid workers by employers.
Reform the JobBridge scheme to ensure participants receive adequate on the job experience with relevant employers.
(xiii) Expand and diversify apprenticeships
Skilled craftspeople with practical training are an integral part of the economy.
Ireland needs to develop a broader spectrum of opportunities for young people who wish to learn a trade with real experience.
Apprenticeships are vital in building up a skilled workforce across a wide range of sectors.
We need additional avenues to a decent job that does not rely on a university education.
A diverse range of apprenticeship routes across IT, Finance as well as the traditional sectors similar to the model pursued in Germany will help tackle unemployment and ensure Ireland does not suffer from a skills mismatch in its economy.
These are demand led schemes but the state has an important role in facilitating and developing the courses involved.
We have earmarked €7m to accommodate initial future increases in numbers.
-We will expand the number of apprenticeships and broaden out the range of areas where they are available.
(xiv) Implement the Living Wage across Government Departments
Fianna Fáil has always protected citizens in this state who are on low pay.
We introduced the National Minimum Wage (NMW ) Act in 2000 which gave all employees a legal statutory entitlement to a minimum wage.
We suggested and welcomed the most recent increase to the minimum wage.
It allowed a careful balance against causing any adverse effect on job creation.
Establishing a “Living Wage” is an important measure in ensuring that works pays at all levels.
An adequate living wage, which has been estimated at €11.50 an hour, is vital to attracting more people in the workforce.
The living wage forms part of our commitment to creating decent jobs across the country.
The government, as the largest employer in the country, should act as a role model in this regard.
This will set a broader standard without placing an undue legislative burden upon employers struggling to keep down costs.
-We will make the Living Wage mandatory across all government departments.
12 out of 15 government departments responded to our request for information on the cost of implementing the living.
The total cost across these departments has been estimated at €9.7m.
Advance Science & Research
Fianna Fáil established Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in 1999 - this was a game changer and grew the reputation of Irish scientific research.
Support for science and innovation is essential to ensure that Ireland is a high-value economy supporting good jobs in the future.
For the past five years the emphasis has been on publicity for ministers over a credible policy covering a diverse area.
Fine Gael and Labour have limited funding opportunities and damaged a research system which had previously achieved immense progress.
For example, for two years there was no science strategy in operation.
We will end this neglect and implement an investment policy based on putting faith in individuals and teams rather than imposing restrictive controls.
We will:
(i) Implement Multi-Annual Funding for Science & Research
The government’s recently published science strategy is highly unambitious and fails to match its rhetoric with serious funding commitments.
In contrast, the last Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation published by Fianna Fáil set out very specific commitments and targets.
Research requires a multi-annual commitment in order to secure staff and take the time necessary to undertake breakthrough research.
We will:
Revise the Science Strategy and as part of this will provide a five year funding envelope for the sector.
Establish a new five year funding cycle for the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) of €300 million for investment specially earmarked for capital investment in research facilities as well as research projects.
Based on previous iterations we believe this funding pool could attract matching funding from private sources and institutions themselves of equal proportions.
(ii) Ring-fence funding for programmes in a broader range of areas
Research prioritisation was introduced by Fianna Fáil in order to ensure Ireland developed a critical mass of excellent research in strategically important areas.
This approach has been successful.
However, the more radical approach of this government has been to squeeze funding for all areas outside of these fields.
This is causing immense damage to our research base and involves a fundamental misunderstanding of how research and innovation works.
A research-intensive economy cannot exist without a broad base in primary research. In addition, genuine breakthroughs which create new industries and horizons primarily emerge from research cultures which value basic science.
The new Science Strategy’s commitment to this area is little more than a fig-leaf.
We will:
Ring-fence funding for the support of basic science outside of the research prioritisation areas.
Maintain a separate budget for research in the humanities and social sciences as part of a dedicated body within the Higher Education Authority.
Support the idea of a broad-based research capacity based on innovations driven by third-level institutions working in cooperation with each other.
Continue the support begun under our Centres for Science Engineering and Technology for critical mass in key priority areas based on innovation from within the system and cooperation with industry.
Publish an annual report on the balance of research funding by all principal research funding agencies.
Ensure that capital programmes such as the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions are linked to overall strategic development goals in higher education.
(iii) Ensure a sound evidence-base for science policy
Ireland has not yet been successful in embedding an appreciation of up to date science within its decision-making processes.
It is necessary to implement a complete reform of how scientific advice is accessed and utilised by government.
We will:
Separate the Office of Chief Science Adviser from any agency or implementation responsibilities.
The Office will be moved to the Department of the Taoiseach and take charge of a Science and Innovation Division in the Department.
Diversify the Office to contain a balance of expertise between education, research and business experience.
Empower the Office to coordinate a panel of scientific advisers available to provide confidential advice to government on detailed issues as they arise.
(iv) Link researchers and innovators
There remain important blockages preventing our research base from maximising its impact within industry.
This is particularly the case for SMEs, who have a very low rate of engagement with research.
-We will review Intellectual Property requirements concerning state-funded research to encourage innovation.
Support the Self-employed
The self-employed are a key dynamic force in our economy which has too often been ignored in official policy.
If we are to have an innovative and high-value economy we must support risk-takers.
We will:
(i) Equalise the tax treatment of the self-employed
The tax code currently imposes a draconian burden on self-employed people through an anomaly that can see self-employed people pay a considerably higher proportion of their income as tax, particularly at lower income levels.
This acts as a massive barrier to people willing to take the risk in setting up their own business and actively punishes enterprise rather than rewarding it.
It is at heart, grossly unfair and inequitable.
-We will remove the tax anomaly for the self-employed over the course of the next government to ensure the self-employed pay the same tax on the same wage.
The Earned Income credit will be increased by 300% to €1,650 to bring it in line with PAYE earned income credits.
The full year cost of this is €123m.
(ii) Move towards a social welfare safety net for the self employed
A further disincentive to potential entrepreneurs considering starting a business is the threadbare social safety net.
This is an active impediment to undertaking the risk inherent in creating new businesses.
Our welfare system should support existing business people and budding entrepreneurs who will lead the way in job creation in their communities.
-We will explore new mechanisms to allow self-employed people to make full Class A equivalent PRSI contributions in order to qualify for Jobseekers Benefit and Invalidity Benefit.
(iii) Provide business advice vouchers to help more start-ups survive
Good financial management is critical to the success of any business.