The Progressive Democrats  Getting the Nation Working  'The crucial question facing you on November 25th is: what  kind of Government do you want for this country?  The Progressive Democrats have proved we can make a valuable  contribution to Government. We are now putting many fresh  and challenging plans before the people in this campaign.  We want more deputies in the next Dail, to achieve even more in  the interests of the people. What follows is a summary of some  of our main proposals. With your support, we can continue to  change the face of Irish polities for the better.'  DES O'MALLEY  The Progressive Democrats  GETTING THE NATION WORKING  In 1987 the major problem facing this country was the imminent  threat of national bankruptcy. The public finances were running  out of control and economic chaos was looming. That crisis was  affectively tackled through the implementation of strong and  decisive Progressive Democrat policies, most notably during our  participation in Government over the last three-and-a-half years.  Now our country is confronted by a new crisis-the urgent need  to protect and create jobs. The sharp downturn in the  international economy has hit all countries hard. For Ireland the  situation has been compounded by the recent collapse in the  value of Sterling.  We in the Progressive Democrats believe that the jobs crisis can  be resolved through a combination of immediate measures to aid  job creation, combined with the continuation of our programme  of tax reform and fresh initiatives to boost enterprise.  JOB CREATION  In the short term, strong and decisive action is urgently needed  to confront the jobs crisis. We in the Progressive Democrats are  proposing a series of imaginative measures to restore  confidence, protect existing jobs, boost employment, and  prevent the country from sliding further into recession.  1 In order to ensure a speedy reduction in interest rates, and  reduce the cripplingburden currently affecting householders with  mortgages, and businesses, we will:  (a) Maintain a firm commitment to the fiscal disciplines required  for immediate participation in Monetary Union (EMU).  (b) Replace high interest rate Irish borrowing with low interest  rates overseas borrowings.  This will inject liquidity into the Irish money market, bringing  down interest rates. This would also act as a strong signal to  overseas investors that the Irish Pound will not be devalued, and  that in turn will further help the interest rate situation in Ireland.  2 Further action to aid exporters affected by the fall in sterling.  The £50m. Market Development Fund introduced by Des  O'Malley has provided immediate support  for 50,000 jobs in firms heavily reliant on the British market.  Where necessary, this will be reinforced by tax changes,  including a possible cut in Employers' PRSI, or other special  measures to ensure the longer-term competitiveness of Irish  business.  3 A sustained five-year programme to create employment; this  will involve priority use of the substantial EC Funds which will  flow into Ireland as part of the Maastricht process, as well as  further tax reform and fresh job creation initiatives  4 A major programme of infrastructural development, with  immediate moves to activate a strong and efficient National  Roads Authority, with significant private sector representation.  The aim will be to substantially boost spending on national roads  by attracting in private sector financing and securing a  consequent increase in the funding available from the EC.  With these measures, we believe that people can be put back to  work in substantial numbers and that confidence can be restored  to the Irish economy  TAX REFORM  Ireland continues to have the most penal anti-work tax system in  the Western world. This puts us as a nation at a severe  disadvantage in competing with other countries for projects with  a major employment content. The Progressive Democrats remain  committed to a substantial programme of pro-jobs tax reform, to  be worked towards over a five-year period, and bearing in mind  overall budgetary circumstances.  The main features of our tax reform proposals are:  a standard tax rate of 25%  a widening of the standard rate band up to the average industrial  wage  an upper tax rate of 40%  a reform and simplification of the PRSI system.  These measures will, over a five-year period, result in a tax  system that favours work and enterprise. This radical overhaul  will be funded in part by improved efficiencies in the tax  collection system to effectively tackle the black economy, and by  reform of the current system. We are firmly committed to the  retention of mortgage interest relief. The general thrust of our  policies will be to focus tax-breaks on those with the lowest  incomes.  The Irish tax system is now strongly biased in favour of bank  deposits and against job-creating investment. We will undertake  an urgent review of the tax treatment of investment products,  and the capital taxes regime in particular. Our objective is the  elimination of the current disincentives to investment.  LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT  No matter how successful these initiatives prove in generating  new employment in sustaining existing jobs, the sad reality is  that the underlying scale of unemployment, along with the fact  that up to 25,000 additional people join the workforce every  year, means that for many years to come we will have a major  unemployment crisis in Ireland.  The Progressive Democrats propose the establishment of a  National Community Employment Scheme modelled on the  existing Social Employment Schemes, which would provide  three days work each week. Initial priority would be given to the  100,000 plus long term unemployed.  There is so much work to do-community and environment  projects; home help services; sporting, cultural and social  organisations needing extra personnel.  The challenge for Government after this election, and one to  which the Progressive Democrats are fully committed, is to put  in place a National Community Employment Programme to give  the unemployed the opportunity to join in the economic and  social life of the country, offering them the dignity and sense of  belonging which every citizen should enjoy.  There is an urgent need too to focus resources specifically on  urban unemployment blackspots. These represent both in social  and economic terms a real challenge to society at large.  Talk of trickle-down economics where the so-called rising tide  of economic growth will lift all boats is meaningless for many of  our neighbourhoods. We need to concentrate Exchequer and  European Social Fund resources on urban disadvantage. This  should be based on the concept of bottom-up development with  strong community involvement.  The approach should be multi-disciplinary and should  concentrate on resources from pre-school level upwards and  extend to wider issues in education and resource centres.  We propose to develop partnerships between community  statutory and voluntary agencies in the target areas. These can  draw heavily on the existing experience of community  development on the EC Poverty III Programme and others  which have pioneered the concept of community development  based on partnership in recent years.  CARING FOR ALL  There are now 715,000 social welfare beneficiaries who have a  further 600,000 dependants. The number of people therefore on  social welfare exceeds the wcrkforce of 1.1 million by over  200,000.  While the central thrust of the Progressive Democrats policies  for the next Government is to generate greater employment it is  also essential that our major social services are  delivered efficiently to meet the needs of all our people.  The Progressive Democrats therefore propose:  The incomes of people on social welfare must be fully protected.  Develop the Family Income Supplement (FIS) into a universal  low income employment support scheme to encourage people to  take all available employment opportunities. At present it is  restricted to families with children.  A graduated medical card entitlement system to be examined to  ensure medical card-holders are not financially disadvantaged if  they take up employment, resulting in the sudden loss of a range  of welfare benefits.  The cost of healthcare has been rising rapidly in all countries and  poses major financial difficulties for many countries, as well as  in Ireland. Some easing of the financial burden can be achieved  through more efficient use of the available funds and that must  be a priority  There is also an urgent need to make more effective progress in  transferring resources within the Health Budget into primary  community care services.  But in the longer term a much greater contribution must come  from changes in lifestyles and preventive actions which will  significantly reduce the incidence of illness and the need for  treatments.  For instance it is estimated that there are about 10,000 deaths in  Ireland each year  related to smoking, which is one of the main causes of lung  cancer and heart disease.  The Progressive Democrats specific proposals include:  A national stop-smoking campaign aimed particularly at younger  people.  Courses in healthy lifestyles to be part of all primary and  secondary school programmes.  More competition to be allowed in the provision of health  insurance.  All family planning methods should be available to all GMS  patients, and in all public hospitals.  A free national screening service for cervical cancer.  Our teachers and our education system have made an enormous  contribution to the betterment of Irish society, but greater  resources must he supplied at primary level, particularly in  disadvantaged areas.  The Progressive Democrats support improvements in the  pupil/teacher ratio and providing more remedial teachers,  especially in disadvantaged areas.  In Government, the Progressive Democrats were successful in  achieving limited reform of he Third Level Education Grants  Scheme, to tackle inequities in the system, particularly as they  relate to the PAYE sector.  We propose that this process of reform be continued to ensure a  fair and transparent  grants system for all students.  BEATING CRIME AND VANDALISM  There is now an epidemic of crime and vandalism in our  country. Many people no longer feel safe, either in their homes  or on the streets. This sense of helplessness is compounded by a  feeling that the scales of justice are tipped in favour of the  criminal.  This problem has several elements. Sophisticated criminals are  financing crime through drug dealing and money laundering. In  addition, the vast majority of accused persons obtain bail and,  feeling that they have nothing to lose while on bail, use that  freedom to commit further crimes.  Any reform of the criminal law must seek to address these twin  problems. We propose:  Measures to ensure more uniform sentencing policy in the  courts.  The swift introduction of legislation which would allow for the  seizure of the assets of money launderers and drug dealers. This  is an established feature of US anti racketeering legislation (the  so-called "RICO laws") and one which is unfortunately overdue  in this country as a means of dealing with organised crime.  A special Garda Task Force should be established to target the  receivers of stolen goods.  Reform of bail laws to prevent the present abuse of our  generous rights to bail in order to strike a balance between the  interests of the accused and the victims of crime  Proper system of victim compensation.  Another major feature of the crime problem is gangs of youth  engaged in petty crime in  their own local communities. To deal with this problem we  propose:  There needs to be a proper system of Family and juvenile courts  nationwide that approx. 40% of crime is carried out by  juveniles.  Legislation which would control the activities of gangs roaming  local streets. The Gardai would be empowered to stop loitering  and be given powers of dispersal.  Making parents responsible in certain cases for the acts of their  children where there has been negligence on their part. In other  words parents might in some cases be required to pay  compensation to the victims of the crimes committed by their  children.  AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT  The Progressive Democrats are committed to policies which  support agriculture, encourage job creation in food processing  and maintain vibrant rural communities as a vital element of Irish  society.  A successful GATT Agreement is in the best interests of Irish  farming and the Irish economy.  Action is needed to stop farm incomes falling. We will press for  a reversal of the temporary 4% cut in milk quotas.  We support the continuation of MCA's on exports to Britain  until the European Community's currency crisis is resolved.  To encourage the entry of young people into farming, the burden  of Capital Acquisition's Tax (CAT) must be removed from land  transfers to family farms.  In face of CAP reforms, greater emphasis on diversification into  horticulture, organic farming, agri-tourism and other alternative  farm enterprises must be accelerated.  In Government over the last three years, the Progressive  Democrats have ensured that export credit insurance, a vital aid  to the Irish food industry, has been administered on a fair basis  in the interests of all processors and producers.  THE ENVIRONMENT PARTY  The Progressive Democrats are determined to continue building  on our outstanding record of achievement in protecting and  enhancing our natural and built environment. In Government the  Progressive Democrats would ensure that:  All Government policies and plans would be subjected to an  Environmental Impact Assessment so that the implications for  the environment would be fully assessed.  Environmental information held by State and Local Authorities  would be made available to the public except in cases where  there are security or trade related risks.  The coal ban which works so successfully in Dublin will be  extended to all major urban areas over five years.  The Environmental Protection Agency will be fully resourced  and staffed during 1993.  The Environmental functions of the Office of Public Works will  be transferred to the Office for the Protection of the Environment  and the roads responsibilities of the Department of the  Environment will be transferred to the Department of Transport.  All state bodies (with the exception of Gardai and Defence  Forces) would come under the scope of the Planning Acts. Local  Authority developments would be referred to Bord Pleanala for  approval.  State funding for environmental organisations i.e. An Taisce,  ECO and Earthwatch.  The establishment of a Cleaner Ireland Task Force which would  organise and implement a national crackdown on litter.  Comprehensive new waste legislation would be introduced  which will place the emphasis on waste prevention and  minimisation. A new national waste strategy will set recycling  and re-use targets both on a national and regional basis. Industry  will be given financial incentive to minimise waste.  The handling of waste will be rationalised and reorganised on a  regional basis which will result in fewer landfill sites, operated  to higher standards.  All waste handlers and facilities will be licensed and monitored  by the Environmental  Protection Agency.  CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE  It is now just twenty-five years since the All-Party Committee on  the Constitution reported in 1967. Much has changed since that  date and yet there has been no systematic examination by the  Dail of the workings of the Constitution. The Progressive  Democrats performed that task in January 1988 with our  "Constitution for a New Republic", but it is a task which  urgently needs to be performed by the in-coming Dail, on an  agreed All-Party basis.  Among the matters in our present Constitution requiring re-  consideration are:  Articles 2 & 3.  The absolute prohibition contained in Article 41 on the enactment  of divorce legislation.  The role of the Seanad.  Cabinet confidentiality: Is the new absolute ban on the  Disclosure of any Cabinet discussions compatible with open  government?  The role of the President: Should she be given wider powers  such as a role in appointing the members of an Independent  Boundary Commission?  The law of bail: Is it acceptable as our society endures an  upsurge of violent criminal activity that accused persons cannot  be denied bail even where there is likelihood that they will  commit crimes while on bail? In cur view the prevalence of  serious crimes committed by persons released on bail means that  the present law is something of a luxury in our present crime-  ridden society.  LAW REFORM  At present, the courts are creaking under the burden of litigation  and there is a pressing need for urgent legislative action in a host  of areas. These include:  Joint Ownership of the Family Home. In the light of a Supreme  Court decision last December (which confirmed that wives who  have made no financial contributions to the family income have  no ownership rights in the family home), legislative change  along these lines is urgently necessary.  The law of occupiers' liability. The operation of this law is  causing great concern to farmers, voluntary groups, schools and  others. In practice the situation now appears to be that owners  and occupiers of land are responsible for all accidents suffered  by others while on their land and this must be changed.  The high cost of personal injury awards. The cost of such  awards renders car insurance premia for young drivers  prohibitively expensive and forces many of them off the roads.  We need new forms of arbitration to ensure that these cases are  heard speedily and with less cost.  Reform of the libel laws. As the Law Reform Commission  report demonstrated we need to move away from damages as an  exclusive means of compensating the  libel victim and explore other possibilities of setting the matter  straight. As the Law Reform Commission pointed out, the  present law of libel seriously inhibits the press and a new  balance must be struck which would give greater weight to the  public interest in an uninhibited and free press.  Abolition of Ground Rents. We have already published detailed  proposals for the phased abolition of all remaining ground rents  over a five year period, and a bill to do this was part of the  revised Programme for Government.  Converting the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds into  commercial semi-state bodies. If this was done, it would extend  the system of lard registration which is also vital if conveyancing  costs are to be brought down.  IRISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE  The Irish language is a unique and distinct feature of our cultural  heritage. The Progressive Democrats are committed to the  preservation, development and extension of the language and see  the immediate establishment of Teleffs na Gealtachta as essential  to protecting and developing the language.  Teachers of Irish must have access to in-service training and  refresher courses. The Progressive Democrats strongly support  the establishment all-Irish schools where the demand for such  facilities exists.  The Progressive Democrats believe there is significant scope for  job creation in the areas of arts, crafts, culture and heritage. We  acknowledge the need for proper public funding and a coherent  development plan in these areas.  WORKING FOR PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND  The Progressive Democrats are fully committed to working far  peace and reconciliation between the divided communities of  Northern Ireland, and greater understanding and a  better relationship between Northern Ireland and the Republic.  The Progressive Democrats are committed to the current round  of Northern Talks, and have participated fully at Government  level in helping to achieve a level of mutual understanding and  trust that will enable a new political settlement to be agreed  which in turn would begin to overcome the appalling cycle of  murder and violence there.  Should the current talks, presided over by Sir Ninian Stephen,  reach the stage where comprehensive agreement embracing the  three strands of relationships - between the two communities  within Northern Ireland; between Northern Ireland and the  Republic, and between the Republic and Britain - is fully agreed,  and which would transcend the Anglo-Irish Agreement signed at  Hillsborough in 1985. then the Progressive Democrats in  Government would support placing such an agreement before  the Irish people for ratification, along with any consequential  modifications of Articles 2 & 3 to express them as an aspiration  of the majority of Irish people to unity.  PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT  In addition to the foregoing the Progressive Democrats remain  committed to the implementation of the policies we included in  the Revised Programme for Government of October 1991.  to maintain strict control on public spending;  to achieve continuing pro-jobs tax reform that would promote  employment;  to act on a comprehensive review of our industrial policy  to develop vigorously our natural resource industries;  to undertake major institutional reform effecting how our  democracy is run;  to modernise our whole legal code;  to ensure proper accountability by the State and business at  every level;  to afford every citizen greater access and openness concerning  Government and State affairs;  to further develop and improve our social services in the field of  healthcare social welfare the penal system and caring for children  at risk and  to institute the reform of our education system through a  comprehensive Education Act.  PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS  ACHIEVEMENTS IN GOVERNMENT, 1989- 1992  Income tax - standard rate down to 27% with just one other rate,  48%.  Culliton Initiative to transform employment policy and create  one-stop- shop agency for industrialists.  Competition Act introduced to overcome monopolistic and cartel  arrangements in Irish business, so as to give greater consumer  choice and reduce prices.  Environmental Protection Agency established.  Dublin's smog eliminated.  Abuse of Section 4 and planning compensation abolished.  Appeals Board for farmers in disadvantaged areas.  Local Government Reform - eight regional authorities to be  established and Dublin County Council broken into three  authorities.  Oireachtas Reform - shorter holidays, register of members  interests.  Legislation to outlaw illegal telephone tapping.  Legislation to reform anomolous ministerial pensions system.  White paper on marital breakdown published and commitment to  further divorce referendum.  National lottery grants abuse ended.  Financial assistance far emigrant welfare agencies in the United  States.