Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011

Manifesto2011

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ifesto 2011

Labour’s manifesto 2011

www.labour.ie/manifesto

ContentsForeword 2Labour’sActionPlanforIreland 4Jobs 701 FinanceandBanking:ABetterDealforIreland 802 FiscalStability,InvestmentandCompetitiveness 1203 EnterpriseandInnovation 1804 ANewDealforJobseekers 2305 GrowingtheGreenEconomy 2606Infrastructureforthe21stCentury 3007 GrowingJobsinFood,AgricultureandFisheries 3408 GrowingJobsinTourism 37

Reform 4109ReformingPolitics 4210 ReformingGovernment 4511 ReformingPublicService 4912 ReformingSocialProtection 5213 ReformingPolicingandJustice 55Fairness 5914 FairnessinEducation 6015 Labour’sPlanforFairHealthCare 6416 MakingHomesMatter 6817 OneIrelandforChildren,Families&OlderPeople 7218 AFairerandMoreEqualIreland 7619 Culture,SportandtheArts 8020 ForeignAffairs,theEUandNorthernIreland 85

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ForewordTheIrishpeoplehaveahistoricchoicebeforethem.Together,onpollingday,wecanvotetochangethedirectionofourcountry.

Irelandisagreatcountry,withagreatfuture.Itisalsoacountrywithgraveproblems.Butnobody,andespeciallyourselves,shouldeverdoubtwhatwearecapableof.Ourabilitiesarefargreaterthenourproblems.

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Wecan,andwewillgetthroughthisrecession.Wecan,andwewill,getourcountryontheroadtorecovery,creatingjobsandforgingopportunitiesforourfuture.Wecan,andwewill,changethewaythiscountryisrunandfixthesystemthatisbroken.

Ourcountry’sbestdaysarestilltocome.

Itisnotenoughtowishforabetterfuture.Wehavetograspitandworkforitandonpollingdaywehavetocometogetheranddecideonchange.

Thatiswhatthiselectionisallabout.Real,transformativechangethatcanbringaboutthekindofIrelandwewanttolivein,notjustforourselves,forourchildrenaswell.

ChangeisnothingnewformostIrishpeopletoday.Mostpeoplehavealreadyhadtochangetheirownlives,outofnecessity.Theyhavehadtocopewithjoblosses,reducedincomes,andreducedlivingstandards.

Nowwehavetheopportunitytotakecontrolofthatchange,andtotakebackourfuture.

Forthefirsttimeeverinthe90yearhistoryofthisState,wecanelectagovernmentwhichisledbyneitherFiannaFáilnorFineGael.Forthefirsttimepeoplehavearealalternative–toelectagovernmentledbyLabour.

Thisisnotsimplyachoiceofpartylabel.Itisachoiceaboutthefuturedirectionofourcountry.

OnlyLabourcanleadthatchange.Achangeofgovernment,andachangeinthewaygovernmentworks.Achangeinthewaygovernmentthinks.Achangethatbringstherealconcernsofthepeopletotheheartofgovernment.

Real, transformative change that can bring about the kind of Ireland we want to live in, not just for ourselves, for our children as well

LabourwillfightthiselectiononthreeissuesthatgototheheartofIreland’schallenge:jobs,reform,andfairness.

Throughoutthiscrisis,Labourhasinsistedthatjobsmustbeattheheartofwhatgovernmentisdoing.Labouristhepartyofwork,andaLabour-ledgovernmentwillhavejobsatthetopofitsagenda.Wewillworktoprovideskillsandworkexperienceopportunitiesforthosewithoutwork.Wewillworktodevelopnewopportunitiesthroughtradeandinnovation,findingnewmarkets,andnewgoodsandservicestosellinthem.Wewillworkonthebasisthateverysinglejobcounts.

Labouristhepartyofreform.Forgenerations,inandoutofgovernment,LabourhaschampionedprogressivechangeinIreland.Now,onceagain,wearedeterminedtoleadanewwaveofchange,tofixabrokensystemthathasfailedtheIrishpeople.

Labouristhepartytoreformpoliticsbecausewehavethebesttrackrecordonreform.LabouristhePartytoreformourpublicservicesbecausewebelieveinthevalueofpublicservice,andwhatitspotentialis.

Labouristhepartyoffairness.Wehaveledthewayinshowinghowthetwo-tierhealthsystemisbadforallofus,andhowitcanbefixed.Wehaveleadthewayindemandingfair

taxation.Aloneamongthepoliticalparties,wewillmakeliteracy,notjustapolicyobjectivebutanationalcause.

Labour’svisionisthevisionofOneIreland,wherewearedrivenbywhatunitesus,notwhatdividesus.Ourcountryistoosmall,andourproblemsaretoogreat,toindulgeindivisions,orsolo-runs,orsectionalinterests.

ThisisnotthetimefordivisionorforthepoliticsofpittingonegroupofIrishpeopleagainstanother.Thisisthemomentwemustcometogether,andmoveforwardtogether–lechéile.

Governmentisnotahospitalitytent,ropedoffforVIPs.GovernmentisnotaBigHouseshieldedfromthepeoplebyhighwalls.Governmentisnotthebusinessoftheinsiders,itisthebusinessofusall.It’stimetorollupthetent,andputtheconcernsofthepeopleattheheartofgovernment.ThatisthebeliefthathasdriventheLabourPartysinceitsfoundation,rightuptotoday.Labourisreadytoputthatbeliefintoaction.

OneIreland.Privatesectorandpublicsector.Thosewithjobsandthoselookingforwork.Employersandemployees.Ruralandurban.Gayandstraight.Nowisthetimetopulldownthewallsthatstandbetweenthepeopleandtheirgovernment.NowisthetimeforLabour.

EamonGilmoreTD

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Labour’s Action Plan for Ireland

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JOBSPutjobsandgrowthfirst.ThatmeansrenegotiatingtheEU-IMFdealtoincludeajobsstrategy,tosharethedebtburdenwithbondholders,toreducetheinterestrate,andtoleaveroomforIreland’seconomytogrow.

Buildonourstrengths.LabourhasspecificplansforjobcreationinIreland’sagri-foodindustry,tourism,renewableenergy,creativeindustries,cleantechnology,andretail;forturningscientificresearchintojobs;andfordevelopingnewmarketsforIrishexports.

Investinjobsandtraining.Labour’s€500millionJobsFundwillfundnewideastogrowjobsinstrategicsectorsoftheeconomy,whileourplanforaStrategicInvestmentBankwillprovidecredittogrowbusinessesandbuildvitalinfrastructure.TheJobsFundwillalsoprovide60,000neweducationandtrainingopportunitiestohelpthoseoutofworktogetbackintoemployment.

Makenextgenerationbroadbandhappen.Labour’splanbringstogetherprivatesectorfundinginaninnovativeco-optobuildahigh-speed,nextgenerationbroadbandnetwork.

REFORMChangepolitics.Labour’sjobingovernmentistoservethebestinterestsoftheIrishpeople.LabourwillabolishtheSeanad,endcronyismonStateboards,andmakeMinistersandpublicservantsaccountablefortheirdecisions.

AnewConstitution.Labourwillaskapeople’sconventiontodrawupanewConstitutionsettingouttheaspirations,thevaluesandtherulesthatIrishpeoplewanttolivebynow.

Openupgovernment.LabourwillextendtherighttoFreedomofInformation,requirepoliticallobbyiststobepubliclyregistered,andintroducelegalprotectionforwhistleblowers.

Reformpublicservice.Labourhasaplantomakethepublicservicemoreflexible,workbetter,andtogetbettervalueformoney.

FAIRNESSKeeptaxesfairandbalanced.UnderLabouringovernment,nooneearninglessthan€100,000willpaymoreincometax.Labour’splantoclosethegapinourpublicfinancesissplit50:50betweenspendingcutsandnewrevenue-raisingmeasures.

Afairer,moreaffordablehealthsystem.Labourwillreformtheunfairtwo-tierhealthsystemtoreducethecostofdeliveringcare,andusethosesavingstoextenduniversalaccesstoessentialmedicalcare.Wewillstartbymakingaccesstoprimarycare,suchasGPs,moreaffordable.

Makeliteracyanationalcause.Nochildshouldleaveschoolunabletoreadandwrite.Labourhasaplantoimprovechildliteracyforthefirsttimeinageneration.

Equalityisforeveryone.Labourwillholdareferendumongaymarriagerights.

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Labour’s manifesto 2011www.labour.ie/manifesto

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01 The firsT sTeps

• RenegotiatetheEU/IMFDealtore-focusongrowthandjobcreation

• BankBondholdersshouldshareinbanklosses

• RenegotiatetheinterestrateontheEUloans

• Renegotiatethefiscalstrategytopromotegrowthandfairness

• EnsureanadequateflowofcredittotheIrisheconomy

Finance and Banking: A Better Deal for IrelandTime for changeIrelandfacesaprofoundeconomiccrisis,butwhilewehaveseriousproblems,wealsohavemajoreconomicadvantages.Withtherightpoliciestheeconomycancreatejobsandreturnourcountrytoprosperity.

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LabourdoesnotacceptthattheEU/IMFdealprovidesaworkablebasisforrestoringtheIrisheconomy.LabouringovernmentwillengagewiththeEUandtheIMFtorenegotiatethedeal,soastoachievefairandrealistictermsforIrelandandfortheIrishpeople.

resTore The Banking sysTemTheEU/IMFdealprovidesfundingtosupportaprocessofdownsizingandrestructuringintheIrishbankingsystem,soastorestoreinternationalconfidenceandensurethatthesystemcanfunditself–i.e.thatthebankswillbeabletofunctionwithoutsupportfromtheECB.Labourwillapplythefollowingprinciplestotherestructuringanddown-sizingofthebanks:

• Labourbelievesthatbankbondholdersshouldshareinbanklosses.Depositorsmustbefullyprotected.Labourwillseektoensurethatburdensharingwithbondholdersispartofarenegotiateddeal.

• Labourwillinsistthatanadequatepoolofcreditisavailabletofundsmallandmedium-sizedbusinessesintherealeconomyduringthere-structuringanddown-sizingprogramme.

• Labourwillensurethat,attheendoftheprocess,astrongandrobustbankingsystemexiststhatwillservetheneedsoftherealIrisheconomy.The

bankswillhavetoprovidedetailedplansonhowthiswillbeachieved,includingthenumberofSMElenderstobeinvolvedinachievingthetargets,howmanynewSMEclientswillabankachieve,andhowmuchwillbefocusedontoexistingclients.

• LabourwillseektoagreemoreeffectivealternativestothetransferoffurtherportfoliosofsmallerpropertyloanstoNAMA(NAMA2),giventhedifficultiesthiswillcreateinthemanagementofsuchloan-books.

• Labourisopposedtofurtherfire-salesofbankassetswhichimposegreaterlossesthannecessary.WedonotsupporttheNAMA3assetwarehousingproposalasasolutionthatcanbeimplementedinatimelymanner.Labourwillexplorealloptionstominimisethecostofre-structuring,includingassetinsurancemodels,andtoincreasetheavailabilityofaffordablefundingtothebankingsystemintheinterimperiodtoprovidetherealeconomywithcredit.

• Labourwillseektodisposeofthepublicstakesinthebanksassoonaspossibleatthebestpossiblereturntothetaxpayer.Labourbelievesthatarestructuredbankingsystemshouldincludeaspecialiststate-owned,butstrictlyindependent,investmentbank,focusedonfundinginvestmenttosupportthestrategicneedsoftheIrisheconomy,includingprojectfinanceforinfrastructureandgrowthcapitalforfirms.SuchabankwouldbecapitalisedfromthefundsremainingintheNPRFandshouldformanon-goingpartofthefinancialsysteminIreland’sopenandinnovativeeconomy.

Labour will insist that an adequate pool of credit is available to fund small and medium-sized businesses

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• Labourwillinsistonre-structuringofbankboards,toensurereplacementofdirectorswhopresidedoverfailedlendingpractices.Labourwillensurethattheregulatorhassufficientpowersofpre-approvalofbankdirectorsandseniorexecutives.

sTrong, coherenT decision-makingEffectivedecisionmakinginthisprocessdemandsbetterdecision-makingstructures,incontrasttothefragmentedandsometimescontradictoryapproachthathasbeeninevidenceduringthecrisistodate.Labourwillcreateastrongintegrateddecision-makingstructure,whichwhilerespectingthestatutoryrolesofthedifferentagencies,willincorporateallrelevantagencies,witheffectiveinclusionofappropriateadvice,ledbyseniorMinisters.

geTTing value for The Taxpayer from namaLabourhasbeenconsistentlyopposedtotheNAMAproject,becauseitpresentedanunacceptablyhighandirreversiblerisktothetaxpayer.LabouringovernmentwillseektocurtailanyfurthertransfersofassetstoNAMA,andwillseekalternativesolutionstothetransferoflargeportfoliosofsmallerpropertyloans.

EffectiveoperationsanddecisionmakingbyNAMAarecriticaltothefutureoftheIrisheconomy,inrespectbothofcurtailinglossestotheState,andinensuringthatthepropertymarketinIrelandfunctionsnormally.ThepricesatwhichassetsaresoldbyNAMAiscritical.LabourwillalsoinsistonthehigheststandardsoftransparencyintheoperationofNAMA,andwillworktolimitthecostsassociatedwiththeagency

suchasinrespectofprofessionalfees.LabourwillinsistonthefullestrecoveryoflossesfromthedeveloperswhoseloanshavebeentransferredtoNAMAandwhodonotmeettheirobligations.

never againIreland’sbankingcrisisclearlydemonstrateshowFiannaFáil’sphilosophyoffree-for-all,light-touchregulation,withoutproperchecksandbalancesriskssocialandeconomiccatastrophe.

LabourwillrestorethesoundnessandcredibilityoftheIrishbankingsectorsothatitcanagainplayitsvaluablesocialandeconomicrole–asafehavenforsavings,afacilitatorofpayments,aresponsiblelenderforproductiveinvestmentandimportantfamilypurchases.

Inthefuture,regulationmustbebasednotonlyonsoundprinciples,butonclear,enforceablerulesbackedupbystringentoversightandsanctionswherenecessary.TheCentralBankshouldbechargedwithmonitoringbalancesheetgrowthatfinancialinstitutionsunderitsjurisdiction,andinthefinancialsystemasawhole,andonthesustainabilityofthefundingmix,reportingannuallytotheMinisterforFinanceandrecommendingremedialactionifnecessary.

Oncethebanksareputonasoundfooting,effortsshouldbemadetoaccelerateamovetotheBaselIII

regimewithmoreonerouscapitalandreportingrequirements.

Longbeforethemostrecentbankingcrisis,Irishbanksestablishedatrackrecordonover-chargingtheircustomers.Irishconsumersneedareinforcedwatchdogwithrealteethandthewilltotakeonthebankers.FiannaFáilhavehivedofftheconsumerprotectionfunctionoftheFinancialRegulatortotheNationalConsumerAgency.Itisessentialthatitsquasi-judicialroleintermsofinvestigatingwrongdoingsandimposingsanctionsisnotwatereddown.

EnhancedcoordinationisneededbetweentheFinancialServicesOmbudsman,theOfficeoftheDirectorofCorporateEnforcement,theNationalConsumerAgency,andtheHeadofFinancialRegulationattheCentralBank.Thereshouldbeaone-stop-shopportalforconsumerswithissueswithfinancialserviceprovidersratherthanhavingtonavigatethesemyriadbodies.

paying for The crisisOvertime,thebankingsectormustpayafaircontributiontocleaningupthemessforwhichitisresponsible.WhentheIrishbankingsystemhasbeenputbackonitsfeet,fullyrecapitalised,andabletoaccessinterbankmarkets,Labourwillintroduceabanklevybasedonthesizeofabank’sliabilities(otherthanshareholders’capital).

Labour will insist on the fullest recovery of losses from the developers whose loans have been transferred to NAMA

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special resoluTion regime for failed BanksBecauseoftheimportantrolethatbanksplayinthewidereconomy,theycannotjustbewoundupinthesamewayasotherbusinesseswhentheyarebankrupt.Thisshouldnotmean,however,thattaxpayersareonthehookforbanks’debts.IrelandshouldworkwithourEuropeanPartnerstodevelopacomprehensivenewSpecialResolutionRegimethatensuresprotectionofbanks’depositors,butallowsforappropriateburdensharingwithothercreditors.

an end To Bonus culTureBonusesinthefinancialsectorhavegrownoutofallproportionwiththeirsocialandeconomicvalueandhaveencouragedrisk-takingthatisultimatelybornebythetaxpayer.Allremunerationschemesatbankssubjecttostatesupportshouldundergoafundamentalreviewtoensureanalignmentofinterestbetweenbanks,theirstaffandthetaxpayerswhohavebornesuchaheavyburdentokeepthemopen.

regional enTerprise fundsOpportunitiesshouldbeexplored(forinstancethroughJEREMIE,runbytheEIF)forthelaunchofaRegionalInvestmentFundbyre-focusingsomeofourremainingstructuralfundswhichhaveyettobedrawndownfromBrussels.Thiswouldbearevolvingfundwherethemoneycanbere-invested.geTTing crediT flowing To small & family BusinessesAcrossIreland,viable,profitable,well-runbusinessesaregoingtothewallbecausetheycan’taccesscredit.LabourwillintroduceanSMEWorkingCapitalGuaranteeSchemewhichwouldensurethatviablesmallandfamilybusinessescangettheloanstheyneed.

a sTrong muTual and crediT union secTorLabouriscommittedtomaintainingamutualandcommunitycomponentinourfinancialsystem.Ireland’screditunionshavearichtraditionandatrackrecordofprovidingloansincommunitiesandworkplacesacrossthecountry.ThecreditunionmovementhasanimportantroletoplayinIreland’sfuturefinancialarchitectureandthemovementdeservessupportinitsendeavourstoincreasinglymoderniseandprofessionalisethesector.Thiswillinvolveafairandimpartialreviewofcreditunionregulation.

inquiry inTo The BlankeT Bank guaranTeeTheblanketbankguaranteewasthemostdisastrouspolicydecisioninthehistoryofthestate.LabourwillinsistthatafullandproperinvestigationintothisdecisionandtheeventsleadinguptoitiscompletedandthattherearepublichearingsbytherelevantOireachtasCommittee.

addressing financial exclusionLabouriscommittedtotacklingtheproblemoffinancialexclusionthroughmeasuressuchastheintroductionofbasicbankaccounts.WealsobelievethatanewpartnershipshouldbesoughttoprovidebankingservicesthroughthePostOfficeNetwork.

The fuTure of The ifscLaboursupportsthefuturedevelopmentoftheIFSCasasourceoffuturegrowthinhighvalueemployment,subjecttoappropriateregulation,includingthedevelopmentofGreenfinancialservicesandIslamicbanking.

Labour will insist on a full and proper investigation into the blanket bank guarantee

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02 The firsT sTeps

• Extendthedeadlineforachievingthe3%ofGDPdeficittargetto2016

• Implementanetadjustmentof€7.1billionintheperiod2012-2014

• Afairandbalancedapproachtoachievingsavings

• Anewstrategicapproachtoachievebetterpublicspending

• EstablishaStrategicInvestmentBanktoinvestintheIrisheconomyusingresourcesintheNationalPensionReserveFund

Fiscal Stability, Investment And CompetitivenessTime for changeLabourbelievesthatthegrowthforecastsintheFour-YearPlanarebroadlyachievable,providedthattherightpoliciesareputinplace.Irelandcanachievehighexportgrowth,andseeareturntogrowthinthemorejob-intensivedomesticeconomy.

TheFiscalStrategysetoutintheEU/IMFdeal,however,involvesexcessiveausterity,whichwillputgrowthandjobcreationatrisk.Labourisproposingastrategythatwillmaximiseinvestmentandgrowth.

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thereforeseektorenegotiatethefiscalstrategyintheIMF/EUdeal.

laBour’s prioriTies for The fiscal year 2011Inrespectofthefiscalyear2011,LabourwillnegotiatewiththeEUandtheIMFtoensurethatadequateresourcesareavailablein2011tofundkeyjobsstrategiesandreformsinthehealthsector.Webelievethesefundsshouldbeprovidedfromcashbalances,andnotthroughfurtherexpenditurecuts.

ItisclearthattheUniversalSocialChargewasnotproperlythoughtthrough,andthatitishavingadramaticimpactontheincomesofmanyfamilies.Thechargehasbeenintroducedatatimewhenothertaxesareincreasing,aswellashouseholdbillslikeVHIfees.Thisiscausingparticularhardshiptosomefamilies,includingworkingwidowsandelderlypeople.LabourwillconductadetailedreviewoftheimpactoftheUSCtoidentifythefamiliesthathavebeenhardesthit,andwillreformthetaxaccordingly.Wewillfundthesechangesbyextendingthe10%rateofUSConincomesover€100,000toincludeemployees’incomesover€100,000,andbychangestocapitaltaxes.

fiscal sTraTegy for 2012 – 2014Labourproposesanetfiscaladjustmentin2012-2014of€7.1billion,soastoallowadequateroomforjobsandrecovery.Labourwillcompletethereductioninthedeficittobelow3%ofGDPbynolaterthan2016.

Labourbelievesthatthecompositionoftheadjustmentshouldbefairerandmorebalanced,includingfairertaxationandon-goinginvestmentineducationandothervitalservices,whichareessentialtosocialsolidarityandtolong-termeconomicgrowth.

ensuring fiscal sTaBiliTy and growThAsaresultofthemismanagementoftheeconomybyFiannaFáil,IrelandisdependentontheIMF/EUloanfacilitytofundthefiscaldeficit.Labourhasconsistentlysupportedtheobjectiveofrestoringfiscalstability,inlinewithourobligationsasamemberoftheEurozone,andasanecessaryrequirementforeconomicstabilityandlong-rungrowth.Labourdoesnotaccept,however,thatthefiscalstrategydevisedbythediscreditedFiannaFáilgovernmentandincludedintheEU/IMFdealprovidesabasisforeconomicrecoveryorformaximisinglong-termgrowth.Inparticular,theexcessiveausterityintheFiannaFáilplan,endorsedbyFineGael,posesanunacceptablerisktoeconomicrecovery.

LabourbelievesthattheaverageGDPgrowthratesetoutinthefour-yearplanisachievable,providedthatpro-growthpoliciesareadopted.Theseincludeactiontoenhancecompetitiveness,toensureadequateflowsofcredit,topromoteinvestmentandanappropriatefiscalstrategy.TheFiannaFáil/FineGaelausterityprogrammedoesnotallowsufficientroomforeconomicgrowthandemploymentcreation.Thescaleandnatureofthecutsbeingproposedalsoposeriskstomediumandlong-termeconomicgrowthandtosocialcohesion.Labourwill

Labour does not accept that the fiscal strategy devised by the discredited Fianna Fáil government provides a basis for economic recovery

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new prioriTies in capiTal expendiTureIrelandneedstotakeanewapproachtopublicandprivatecapitalinvestmentthatreflectsthenewrealitiesoftheeconomyandtheconstraintsonpublicresources,whilealsoincorporatingthenewfundingthatwillbeavailablethroughLabour’sStrategicInvestmentBank.

LabouringovernmentwillcommissionanewstudyofIreland’sinvestmentneeds(similartothe2006ESRIstudy),anddrawupaNationalDevelopmentPlancoveringtheseven-yearperiod2012-2019.

Intheinitialyears,whenresourceswillbemostheavilyconstrained,Labourwillprioritiseinvestmentineducation,inhealth,inscienceandtechnologyandinjob-creation.

Labourwillinsistthatmajorcapitalprojectsaresubjectedtopropercost-benefitanalysisandevaluation,improvingfutureproductivityandgrowthprospects,andthatthevalue-for-moneyobtainedissignificantlyenhancedcomparedtothemostrecentperiod.

Labour’sstrategyistosupportthedevelopmentofaninvestmenteconomy,whilemaximisingthereturntothepublicfrommajorprogrammesofinvestment.

a comprehensive spending review and wasTe audiTGiventheneedforfiscalconsolidation,itwillbenecessarytocurtailcurrentexpenditureintheimmediatefuture.Whilethiswillinvolvedifficultdecisions,itwillalsoaffordtheopportunitytoreformthepublicservicetoenhanceefficiencyandeliminatewaste.Ratherthanadoptingapiece-meal,cheese-paringapproachLabourwillinsistonaproperlyplannedmulti-annualexpenditurestrategy.

Tothisend,LabourwillconductaComprehensiveSpendingReviewandWasteAuditthatwillexamineallareasofpublicexpenditure.Thiswillbemarkedlydifferenttothe‘BordSnip’exercise,initspurposeandinthewayitisconducted.

TheComprehensiveSpendingReviewandWasteAuditwillbeamajorexerciseinstrategicbudgetingandwillinvolveafundamentalassessmentofallspendingprogrammes,examiningtheirobjectivesandhowthoseobjectivesareachieved.Thepurposeofstrategicbudgetingistofindthemostcosteffectivewaystoprovideservicestothepublicandtoimprovefuturegrowthandproductivity.ItwilltakeaccountofthechangingneedsofmodernIreland,andwillbeconductedona‘wholeofgovernment’basis.

Learningfromtheexperienceinothercountries,thespendingreviewwillbeled,notbyexternalconsultants,butbygovernmentMinistersandtheSecretaryGeneralofeachDepartment,co-ordinatedfromthecentreofgovernment.Itwilladoptathree-yeartimehorizon,resultinginaplanforpublicexpenditurefortheperiod2012-2014.ThisexerciseshouldbeanimmediatepriorityforgovernmentandwillbeconcludedintimetofeedintoBudget2012.

Aspartofthisexercise,Labourwillincludea‘surrenderandre-grant’clause,wherebyDepartmentsthatproposesavingsinoneprogrammewouldbeabletoproposere-cyclingofsomeofthosesavingsintootherpriorityareas,subjecttoa‘reducingceiling’onaggregatebudgets.The‘reducingceiling’meansthatnon-paybudgetswillberequiredtobereducedbyatleast2%perannumoverthreeyearsonanaggregatebasis–thepercentagesavingsachievedwillvaryacrossdepartmentsinlinewithpolicypriorities.Labourwillalsoseektoenhancethelocalflexibility

availabletopublicservicemanagersinhowtheydeploytheirbudgetstoachievemaximumefficiencyandservicequality.

culling quangosNon-CommercialSemi-StateBodiesorquangoshavemushroomedinrecentyears.Labourisconcernedaboutthevalue-for-moneybeingachievedbythesebodiesandbythelackofaccountabilityassociatedwiththem.TheComprehensiveSpendingReviewandWasteAuditwillincludeafullevaluationofallquangos,witheachbodybeingrequiredtojustifyitscontinuedexistenceoutsideofitsparentdepartment.RemainingquangoswillberequiredtobeproperlyaccountabletotheOireachtas.Labourisproposingaseriesofamalgamationsofquangosrelatingtoutilitiesregulation,equality,industrialdevelopmentandbroadcastingthatwillbothsavemoneyandachievegreaterpolicycoherence.

reforming social proTecTionInordertoclosethefiscaldeficit,itisvitalthatwereducethecostofFiannaFáil’sfailuretoaddresstheproblemofunemployment.Labourisproposingaseriesofstrategiestotacklethegrowingproblemoflong-termunemployment,andindoingsotoreducetheassociatedexpendituresonsocialwelfare.Wewillalsolaunchanall-outcampaigntotackletheproblemofwelfarefraud.

leadership from The poliTical sysTemAtatimewhensavingsarebeingsoughtacrossthepublicservice,thepoliticalsystemmustalsoshowleadership.LabourisproposingacaponallMinisterialandpublicsectorsalaries,correspondingreductionsinthesalariesofMinistersofState,

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reductionsinthenumberofpaidchairsofOireachtasCommitteesandabolitionoftheOireachtasallowancepaidtoMinisterswhohaveconstituencyofficesstaffedbycivilservants.LabourisproposingreforminthetransportarrangementsforMinistersincludingareductioninthenumberofGardadrivers.

ThearrangementsforMinisterialpensionsandseverancepackageshaverightlybeenthecauseofpublicoutrage.Labourwillensurethatinfuturethesearrangementsaresetbyanindependentperson,suchastheComptrollerandAuditorGeneral.

reducing The puBlic service pay BillAspartoftheprocessoffiscalconsolidation,itisnecessarytoreducethepublicservicepaybill.Ourproposalsarebasedonareductionof18,000inpublicservicenumbersintheperiod2011-2014.Publicemploymentceilingswillbere-assessedduringtheComprehensiveSpendingReviewandWasteAudittoensurethatthemaximumsavingsarebeingachievedandthatfrontlineservicesarebeingprotected.

LabourwillworktheCrokeParkAgreement.ItisessentialthattheagreementshouldresultinsavingstotheExchequerandthatthepaceofimplementationoftheAgreementbeaccelerated.

sTraTegic expendiTure prioriTiesInordertoachieverecoveryandreform,itwillbenecessarytore-allocateresourcestoareasofstrategicpriority.Thismeansachievingmoresavingsinordertore-investinreformanddevelopment.Labour’sadjustmentproposalsprovideforresourcestofunda€500millionannualjobspackage.AspartofLabour’shealthstrategy,thecostofprovidinghealthcareinIrelandwillbedrivendown,with€489millionbeingprovidedtoensureamajorshifttowardsprimarycare.Additionalresourceswillbeprovidedinkeyareasofeducationandcriminaljusticetodrivereform.

fair TaxaTion 2012-2014LabourhaslongarguedforafairandbalancedtaxstructureinIrelandandwewillseektorenegotiatetheEU/IMFdealtoachievethisobjective.Itisanimportantprincipleoftaxationthatthosewhohavethemost,mustcontributethemost,andthatrevenue-raisingmustbeginwithreform,ratherthanconstantlydelayingitasFiannaFáilhavedone.

Labourdoesnotsupportfurtherimpositionsofincometaxonpeopleonmiddleandmodestincomesintheperiod2012-2014.Weproposenoincreasesinincometaxforpeopleearninglessthan€100,000.Wewillextendthe10%USCratetoemployeeincomesover€100,000.

Labourwillinsertanewprovisioninthetaxcodetoensurethathighearners(taxunitswithincomesover€250,000)mustcomplywithaMinimumEffectiveTaxRatetobesetat30%.Thiswillimposeafairrestrictiononthecapacityofhighearnerstoreducetheirtaxbillsthroughtaxplanning.

Labouringovernmentintroducedthe12.5%corporationprofitstaxrate,andwewillinsistthatitremainsinplace.Reformstotheregimeforoff-settingcorporatelossesagainstCorporationTaxcanbeadoptedtoincreasetheyieldfromthetaxwithoutaffectingIreland’sattractivenessasalocationforinwardinvestment.

Labourwillprioritisetheeliminationofunnecessarytaxexpenditures,aswehavebeenproposingformanyyears.Theseincludethelegacypropertyreliefs,andphasingdownoftheamountofinterestthatcanbeoffsetagainstrentalincomefortaxpurposesto25%.

Labourbelievesthatthetotalquantumoftaxreliefcurrentlyinplaceforpensionsisnolongersupportable,andthatthedistributionofreliefatpresentisnotfairorequitable.Labourwilltargetafurtherreductionof€500millioninthetotalamountofrelief,butratherthansimplystandardisingtherateofrelief,Labourfavoursanapproachthatretainsstrongincentivesforpeopletoinvestinpensionswhilealsomakingthesystemfairer.Thiswillincludecappingthetaxreliefonpensioncontributionsfrombothemployersandemployees,reducingthemaximumtax-freelumpsum,reducingthemaximumpensionfundandincludingpensiontaxreliefintheminimumeffectivetaxrate.

LabourfavourstheintroductionofnewprogressivestructuresforCapitalTaxes.InrespectofCapitalGainsTaxandCapitalAcquisitionsTax,thefirst€50,000overthe

Labour will conduct a Comprehensive Spending Review and Waste Audit that will examine all areas of public expenditure

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thresholdwillbetaxedat30%andthebalanceat35%.Thesemeasureswillraise€236millioninafullyear.ThechangeinCapitalAcquisitionsTaxwillbeintroducedin2011tofinancechangesintheUniversalSocialCharge.

Labourbelievesthatappropriatetaxruleshavearoletoplayinprotectingourenvironment.Labourwillincreasethecarbontaxto€25pertonne,withanoffsetof€40milliontofundfuelpovertymeasures.LaboursupportsabroadlybasedtaxonpackagingasproposedbyComharthatwillraise€60million.

Labourisproposinga1%increaseinthestandardrateofVATthatwillraise€310millioninafullyear.Labour’sproposalsincludemodestincreasesinexciseonwineandcigarettes.LabourwillprioritiseactiontoreducelossestotheExchequerfromsmugglingthroughstrongerrevenueenforcement.Labouracceptsthatitwillbenecessarytointroduceasitevaluecharge,inordertopreventhighertaxesonwork.TheGovernmenthasnot,however,carriedoutsufficientworktoallowsuchachargetobeintroducedintheshort-term.Furtherdetailedstudywillberequiredtodeviseafairbasisforsuchachargethattakesaccountofthevalueofpropertyindifferentregions,theneedtoexemptsomecategoriesofhomeowners,andtheneedtotakeaccountofthosewhohaverecentlypaidlargesumsinstampdutyorwhoareinnegativeequity.Anychargeofthissort,therefore,cannotbesetinplacebefore2014.Accordingly,LabourwillpublishaGreenPaperbytheendof2012onhowthechargecanbestructuredinafairandefficientmanner.Asaninterimmeasure,Labourwillincreasethesecondhomeslevyby€300toyield€95million.

Labourwillinsistonactionbeingtakentodealwiththescandaloftaxexiles,andwewillfurtherstrengthenrevenueactiontoreducetax-evasion.

invesTing in JoB creaTionThroughoutthecrisis,Labourhasbeenclearthatcutsalonewillnotsolvetheproblem.Irelandneedsastrategyforjobsandgrowth,andthelackofactiononjobshasmadethecrisisinthepublicfinancesandinthebanksevenworse.Whiledifficultdecisionsareneeded,wealsoneedastrategytogrowourwayoutofourpredicament.

Despitethefinancialcrisisathomeandabroad,wearelivinginaperiodofopportunityfortheIrisheconomy.Intheadvancedeconomies,economicgrowthisnowincreasinglydrivenbywhatisknownasthe‘knowledgeeconomy’,withnewtechnologiesdrivingeconomicgrowthbothinknowledge-intensivesectors,andmorewidelyacrossthewholeeconomy.Atthesametime,theglobaltradingsystemisexpanding,andtheemergingeconomiessuchasChinaandIndiapresentenormousopportunitiesforIrishcompanies.ExportgrowthinIrelandispickingup,andcompetitivenesshasimproved.Whatweneednowisacoherentstrategytotakeadvantageoftheopportunitiesthatareavailabletous.

laBour’s JoBs fundLabour’sfiscalstrategyprovidesfora€500millionJobsFundtofinanceaseriesofpro-jobsinitiativesthatinvolveelementsofcurrentexpenditure.ThefundwouldbeadministeredbyaCabinetsub-committee.ProposalsfromDepartments,agenciesandotherbodies,includingtheprivatesector,wouldbeconsideredonthebasisoftheircontributiontoanoveralljobsstrategyandwouldbefundedaccordingly.Theagenciesthusfundedwouldnotbeimmunefrommakingefficienciesintheirbudgets–fundingfromtheJobsFundwouldbedependentondemonstratedadditionalitytoexistingoperations.

sTraTegic invesTmenTToachievegrowth,theFiannaFáilcasinoeconomymustbereplacedwithbytheinvestmenteconomy.TheIrishbankingsystemhasnotprovidedthekindofinvestmentfinancethatisrequiredtomeetIreland’sinvestmentneeds.Tofillthegap,LabourisproposingtheestablishmentofaStrategicInvestmentBank.

TheStrategicInvestmentBankwillbeestablishedintwophases.ItwillbesetupinitiallyasavehicletoinvesttheremainingfundsintheNationalPensionReserveFundinprojectsthatwillenhanceinfrastructureandboostgrowthintheIrisheconomy.Itwillbefully

Labour will take action to deal with the scandal of tax exiles, and will further strengthen revenue action to reduce tax evasion

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independentandwillinvestonacommercialbasis.

Overtime,andwhenmarketconditionsnormalise,thisvehiclewillbedevelopedintoafunctioningbankthattakesdepositsandraiseslongtermfinancing.LabourbelievesthattheStrategicInvestmentBankshouldbeanessentialcomponentofthere-structuredbankingsystem.Thebankwouldbesetupasanindependentcommercialoperation,using€2billionoftheNationalPensionReserveFundascapital.Itwouldoperateonastrictarms-lengthbasisfromgovernment.IrishcitizensandtheIrishDiasporawouldbeencouragedtomakedepositsinthebank,andtopurchaseCitizen’sBonds,whichwouldbeawaytoinvestintherecoveryoftheIrisheconomy,andwouldbeofdifferentmaturities.Thebankwouldattractfundingfromanumberofsources,includingconsumerdepositsandwholesalemarkets(oncemarketconditionsnormalise).

TheStrategicInvestmentBankwouldbeakeylendertoSMEsandinnovativefirms.TheEnterpriseAgencieswoulddeveloprelationshipswiththeStrategicInvestmentBanktofacilitateintroductionsofhigh-potentialfirms.Investmentdecisions,however,wouldremaintheexclusivepreserveofthebank.TheStrategicInvestmentBankwouldalsosupportinvestmentinlargeinfrastructureprojects.

improving compeTiTivenessCompetitivenesshasimprovedduringthepastthreeyears,butweneedtoensurethat,asgrowthreturns,thesegainsarenoteroded.Inparticular,itisimportantthatcostsintheprotectedsectorsoftheeconomydonotunderminethecapacityofthetradedsectortocompete.Tomaintainandenhancecompetitiveness,Labourisproposingthefollowingmeasures:

WagePolicyLabourbelievesthatnegotiatedwagepoliciescanpotentiallybeanimportanttoolofmacroeconomicpolicyinasmallopeneconomy.Wewillexploreoptionsfordevelopingsuchanagreement,whichmayincludenationaland/orsectoralwagenorms.Labourbelievesthatinvestmentandjobcreationcanbeenhancedthroughstructuredmultiannualagreementsthatincorporatewagerestraint.

Wagecompetitivenessshouldnotbeconfusedwithalowwageagenda.LabourisopposedtothereductionintheminimumwageagreedbyFiannaFáilwiththeEuropeanUnionandtheIMFandwewillreverseit.Thenationalminimumwageaffectsfewerthan3%oftheworkforce,whoareonthelowestrungofthelabourforceladder.LabourwillreformtheJLCsystem,butthiscannotbeusedasthebasistounderminetherightsandconditionsofemploymentofvulnerableworkers.

CompetitionPolicyLabourwillsupportrobustcompetitionpolicyandenforcement.Wesupportstructuralreformintheprofessionstodrivedownthecostbaseforthetradedsector.

UtilitiesRegulationLabourwillenhancethequalityandeffectivenessofutilitiesregulationinIreland.Wefavouraproperlyplannedconsolidationofthenumberofregulators,tomakemoreeffectiveuseofregulatoryskills.LabourwillretaintheCompetitionAuthorityasaseparateentity.

Labour believes that the Strategic Investment Bank should be an essential component of the re-structured banking system

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The firsT sTeps

• UseLabour’ss500millionjobsfundtogrowemploymentinsectorswhereIrelandalreadyhasacompetitiveadvantage

• MakethestrategicdecisiontotargetthedevelopmentofnewmarketsforIrelandintheemergingeconomies

• Appointatradeczartoco-ordinateactionacrossgovernmentinopeningthesefastgrowingmarkets

• Plugthegapinournationalsystemofinnovationbyinvestingtoturnnewscientificadvancesintojobs

• Createinnovationcentresfocusedoncommercialisationofresearch

Enterprise and InnovationTime for changeToachieveeconomicgrowthandjobcreation,theIrisheconomymustshiftfromaproperty-basedeconomytoaknowledgeeconomy.Weneedtocarveoutnewmarkets,anddevelopnewproductstosellinthem.Irelandhasanopenandentrepreneurialeconomywithmultiplenaturalanddevelopedcompetitiveadvantages.

Weneedagovernmentthatwillhelpthateconomytogrowbydrivingtrade,innovationandproductivitygrowth.

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a new approach To enTerprise policyCompetitivenessandproductivitygainswhichgeneratedstrongexport-ledgrowthformedthebasisfortheCelticTigerfrom1994to2002.Weneedarenewalofthisstrategyinordertocreatethefoundationsforfutureeconomicandemploymentgrowth.Howeverthepreviousblueprintwillhavetochange.

Neweconomicrealities,theimperativetodecarboniseoureconomy,andtheneedtodevelopanewgenerationofexportchampionswillrequirearesetinourtradeandenterprisepolicy.Labourwillplaceamuchstrongeremphasisonthepromotionofservicesexports,includingsoftware,engineering,financialservices,educationandculture.

TosupportthedevelopmentofexportingSMEs,wewillseekreformofEUprocurementrulessothatagreaterportionofallpublicprocurementgoestosmallandmediumsizedenterprises.

WewillpromptlyimplementalltherecommendationsintheTradingandInvestingintheSmartEconomyReport.Inparticular,wewillestablishaTradeCounciltostrengthencooperationandcoordinationacrossallofthekeydepartmentsandStateagenciesinvolvedinthepromotionanddevelopmentoftradeandexports.MembershipoftheCouncil

willbedividedequallybetweengovernmentandprivatesectorrepresentativeswhohaveexperienceinestablishingandgrowingexport-orientedbusinessbothinIrelandandabroad.

WewillappointahighprofileTradeandEnterpriseczartoworkwithintandemwiththeTradeCouncil,whowillbeabletodrawonfulldiplomaticandcivilserviceresourcesandwhowillreportdirectlytotheMinisterforEnterpriseandtheTaoiseach.

AkeypillarofLabour’snewenterprisestrategywillbetopositionIrelandtodevelopbettertraderelationshipswiththerisingeconomiesofBrazil,Russia,India,andChina.

LabourwillestablishalocaltradeandinvestmentteamreportingtothelocalIrishAmbassadororHeadofMissionandtheMinisterforEnterpriseineachofthetargetemergingcountriesandotherprioritymarkets.Theseteamswillexecuteadetailedlocalmarketplan,withprogressagainsttargetsreviewedannually.

Athome,LabouringovernmentwilldrawontheeconomicstrengthsandconnectionsofIreland’simmigrantcommunitiesbyappointingarepresentativefromeachoftheBRICSandotherstrategicmarketsresidentinIrelandastradechampionsfortheirrespectivecountries,reportingtoboththeTradeCouncilandtheMinisterforEnterprise.TradechampionswillhaveamissionofpromotingtradetoandfromIrelandandwillbesupportedbytheDepartmentofEnterprise.

Labourwilltakeinitiativestodeepeneducationalcooperationwiththeemergingeconomies,financedfromLabour’sJobsFund.

Labour will establish a Trade Council to strengthen cooperation and coordination across key departments

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an innovaTion sTraTegy agencyInnovationisthesinglemostimportantfactorinthetransitiontoasustainableinvestmenteconomy.WhileIrelandhasanumberofkeystrengthsinthisarea,suchashighqualityscientificresearchinstitutions,scientistsandengineers,ourinnovationsystemhasanumberofdeficiencies.Labour’splanforinnovationisdirectlyaimedataddressingtheseweaknesses,whilebuildingonourexistingstrengths.

LabourwillsubsumethecurrentactivitiesandfunctionsofForfas,theInnovationTaskforce,theAdvisoryCouncilforScience,TechnologyandInnovationandtheSustainableEnergyAuthorityintoanewly-establishedInnovationStrategyAgencyanindependentagencywithintheIDA/EnterpriseIrelandstructure,whoserolewillbetostimulatetechnology-enabledinnovationintheareaswhichofferthegreatestscopeforboostinggrowthandproductivity.

Labour’sInnovationStrategyAgencywillpromoteandsupportinvestmentintechnologyresearch,developmentandcommercialisationbeyondthebasicresearchsupportedbyScienceFoundationIreland,aswellasadvisinggovernmentonhowtoremovebarrierstoinnovationandacceleratetheexploitationofnewtechnologies.

ThemajorityofthemembersoftheboardoftheISAwillbedrawnfromindustryandfinancefrombothIrelandandabroadwithexperienceoftechnologychangeandinnovation.

TheInnovationStrategyAgencywillfocusitsworkbytargetingkeytechnologyareasandsectorswhereinnovationcanbeappliedincludingbutnotlimitedtohighvaluemanufacturing,advancedmaterials,nanotechnology,bioscience,electronics,photonicsandelectricalsystemsandinformationandcommunicationtechnology.

TheISAwillalsofocusontheapplicationoftechnologicalinnovationinestablishedsectorsoftheeconomylikeenergygenerationandsupply,transport,creativeindustries,high-valueservicesandarchitectureandconstructionbyidentifyingchallenges,establishingprioritiesanddevelopingstrategieswhichspecifythenecessaryactionstotransitiontoamoreinnovativeapproach.

TheISAwillpromoteIreland’sfullengagementwiththe‘InnovativeUnion’proposalsissuedbytheEuropeanCommissioninOctober2010asoneofthesevenflagshipinitiativesundertheEU2020Strategy,withthespecificaimofrefocusingR&Dandinnovationpolicyonmajorchallengesandatturninginventionsintoproducts.

Turning research inTo JoBsThereisacriticalgapbetweenthebasicresearchpromotedandfundedbyScienceFoundationIrelandandthirdlevelinstitutions,anditssubsequentdevelopmentintoacommercialopportunityforinvestors.Thisgapcanonlybeclosedbymakingnewtechnologiesinvestmentready.

TheInnovationStrategyAgencywillbetaskedwithclosingthisgapthroughtheestablishmentofanetworkofTechnologyResearchCentresfocusedonappliedtechnologicalresearchinspecificareas,tobelinkedtoappropriatehigher-educationinstitutions.Thecentreswillacceleratetheexploitationofnewtechnologiesbyprovidinginfrastructurethatbridgesthegapbetweenresearchandtechnologycommercialisation.

TheestablishmentofthesecentreswillbuildontheapproachalreadyadoptedwiththeTyndallCentreonICTandtheInternationalEnergyResearchCentre(IERC)inUCCwhere

government,industryandacademicspartnertofocusonappliedresearchthatwillleadtoconcreteresultsandcommercialapplications.

InordertopromoteIreland’sstronghistoricaltraditioninscienceandtechnologyforthenextgenerationofscientists,eachcentrewillbenamedafterarenownedIrishscientistsuchasRobertBoyle,ErnestWalton,JocelynBellBurnellorKathleenLonsdale.

Initiallythesecentreswillbefundedinathree-waysplitbetweentheISA,competitivegrants,andcontractswithprivatecompanies.Overtime,thecentreswillbeexpectedtosupplementtheircorefundingbygainingfurtherincomefrompublicandprivatesectorcontractresearch,andthroughthecommercialisationofintellectualproperty.

TheISAwillinitiallyestablishthreeadditionalcentresbuildingonTyndallandtheIERCfocusingonbiotechnology,nanotechnologyandhighvaluemanufacturing.Furthercentresfromanumberofotherareaswillbeselectedsubsequently.

TheInnovationResearchCentreswillalsobeinapositiontoplayaroleasanchortenantsinmorebroadly-basedScienceandTechnologyParksthatwillattractprivatefirmsinthespecificresearcharea.

secToral JoBs sTraTegiesAswellascreatingtheconditionsforinnovationandexport-ledgrowth,Labourisproposinganumberofsectoralstrategies,whichbuildonIreland’sexistingstrengths.Labour’sproposalsforgrowingemploymentintourism,thegreeneconomy,theagri-foodsectorandintheeducationsectorareoutlinedelsewhereinthismanifesto.Othersectorswithspecifictargetsinclude:

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Labour’splanforCreativeIndustries• EstablishcommonIP

agreementsacrossthedigitalmediasectorandthirdlevelinstitutions.

• SupportthedevelopmentofanInternationalContentServicesCentretomakeIrelandaworldleaderinthemanagementofintellectualproperty.

• MergethefunctionsofCultureIrelandandCulturalProjectsintotheArtsCouncil,whichwillbegivenanexpandedmandatetopromoteIrishartsabroad.

• ExtendtheR&DtaxcredittothegamesindustryinordertoattractgamedevelopersandgrowthegamesectorinIreland.

• EnsureIrelandfullyengagesinthedebatearisingfromtheforthcoming(2011)EuropeanCommissionCommunicationonCulturalandCreativeIndustries.ThisCommunicationshouldincludeproposalstopromotecreativestudies,attractinvestmentandprovidefundingforartists,andtoestablishnetworkswithbusinessesandimprovemobility.

Labour’splanforInternetservices&CloudComputing• ContinuetomarketIreland

asanEMEAheadquarterslocationforinternetservicescompanies.

• PursueanaggressivepolicyofattractinginternationaldatacentrestoIreland,leveragingtheappropriatenessofourclimateandenergyandcommunicationsinfrastructure.

• Establishanexpertgrouptoaddressnewsecurityandprivacyissuesarisingfromtheuseofcloudcomputingandreviewtheadequacyofcurrentlegislationandidentifywhatstepsneedtobetakentoensureasupportiveregulatoryenvironment.

• Introduceapolicythatallgovernmentdepartmentsandagencieswilladoptcloudbasedservicesiftheydemonstratevalueformoneyandareadequatelysecure.

• Activelyencouragenewbusinessesthatarecloud-focused.

• Reviewbroadbandpricingandpoliciesofcommercialandotherproviderstoensurethatanyobstaclestotheadoptionofcloudcomputingareremoved.

• InnovationStrategyAgencytocreateandfundaprogrammetoactivelyencouragetheuseofcloudcomputingthroughoutallsectors.

Labour’splantosustaintheretailsector

• EnacttheLabourParty’slegislationtoabolishupward-onlyrentreviewsforallcommercialleases,asamatterofurgentpriorityfortheDáil.

• Intheinterim,appointaCommercialRentsOmbudsmanwithsomepowerscurrentlyonlygrantedtoanExaminer.ThisOmbudsmanwouldhavethepowertoadjudicateonrentsthathavethepotentialtocauseabusinesstofail,withoutundertakingacostlycourtprocess.

• ReformtheJointLabourCommitteestructure,beginningwiththeappointmentofindependentchairpersonstotheJLCs.

• RetaintheexistingRetailPlanningGuidelinesandmaintaintheretailplanningcap.

• Encouragelocalauthoritiestointroducedifferentiated,time-limitedratestofacilitatenewbusinessstart-ups.

Labour’s Innovation Strategy Agency will promote & support investment in technology research, development & commercialisation

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supporT for smesThereareapproximately230,000SMEsoperatinginIreland,representingthebackboneoftheIrisheconomy.SMEsareconfrontedbyaseriesofobstacles,mostnotablyworkingcapital,butalsoaccesstoventurecapital,complicatedbureaucracy,andinsufficientresourcingofthepatentprocess.Labour’sbankingpolicyisfocusedonensuringanadequatesupplyofcapitalforSMEs,includingaworkingcapitalguaranteescheme,andgreateraccesstoventurecapitalthroughLabour’sStrategicInvestmentBank.TheInnovationStrategyAgencywillworktoup-gradethepatentprocess,whilethestreamliningofbureaucracywillbeaddressedonacross-departmentalbasis.

co-operaTivesCo-operatives,friendlysocietiesandmutualcompaniesarealegitimateandvaluedpartoftheLabourtradition.InIrelandtheco-operativemovementhasplayedahugelyimportantroleinkeyareasofeconomic,environmentalandsocialdevelopment.

However,incomparisontoothercountries,theroleoftheco-operativeandmutualcompanyinIrelandislimited.Inmanyothercountriesnewco-operativemodelsofenterprisehaveemergedandaremeetingvitalsocial,businessandenvironmentalneedsandcreatingworthwhilejobsinimportantareassuchashealthcare,transport,childcare,housing,energyandenergyefficiencyandenvironmentalprotection.

Labouringovernmentwillworktopromoteagreaterappreciationoftheco-operativemodelasadistinctformoforganisation,ensurealevelplayingfieldbetweenco-operativesandtheotherlegaloptionsforstructuringenterpriseactivities,andprovideaconduciveframeworkforthefullpotentialoftheco-operative

modeltoberealised,includinginareassuchaschildcare,education,housing,energyretrofitting,environmentalprotection,transportandhealthcare.

semi-sTaTe companiesLabouriscommittedtoconceptofpublicenterprise,andisdeterminedtoensurethatsemi-statecompaniesplayafullroleintherecoveryoftheIrisheconomy.Labourisopposedtoshort-termistprivatisationofkeystateassets,suchasCoillteortheenergynetworks.

Labour is committed to the concept of public enterprise, and is determined to ensure that semi-state companies play a full role in the recovery of the Irish economy

The firsT sTeps

• AnewNationalEmploymentServicetoreplaceFÁS

• Amajorworkexperienceschemefor30,000recentgraduatesandapprentices

• 30,000neweducationandtrainingplacesforpeoplewhoareunemployed

• ReducedqualifyingperiodsforBacktoEducationAllowanceandBacktoWorkEnterpriseAllowancefortheperiodofthiseconomicemergency

• An18monthPRSIholidayforemployershiringnewemployeesofftheliveregister

A New Deal for JobseekersTime for changeIrelandisfacingajobscrisis,thatrisksbecomingacrisisoflong-termunemployment.Labourseesforcedemigrationasastarkfailureofgovernment,notasolution.Businessasusualwillnotbeenoughtocopewiththeunemploymentchallengeahead.

Weneedtoreformoursocialprotectionsystemsothatitisthefirststeponapathbacktowork,educationortraining,notapovertytrap.

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laBour’s plan for an inTegraTed naTional employmenT serviceLabourwillreplaceFÁSwithanewNationalEmploymentServicetomeettheneedsofa21stcenturyworkforce.

Allemploymentandbenefitsupportservicesforpeopleofworkingagewillbeintegratedinasingledeliveryunit,aNationalEmploymentService,managedbytheDepartmentofSocialProtection.

Thisnewemploymentandbenefitsupportservicewouldabsorb:

• ThefunctionsoftheDepartmentofSocialProtectionrelatingtoassessmentanddeliveryofbenefitsforpeopleofworkingage.

• ThefunctionsoftheDepartmentofSocialProtectionrelatingtoCommunityEmploymentparticipants.

• TheadministrationoftheSupplementaryWelfareAllowance,currentlycarriedoutbytheHSE.

• TheEmploymentServicesunitofFÁS,whichprovidessupporttojobseekers.

• TheLocalEmploymentServiceNetwork.

Thisintegratedservicewouldprovidea‘onestopshop’forpeopleseekingtoestablishtheirbenefitentitlements;lookingforajob;andseekingadviceabouttheirtrainingoptions.Italsodecentralisestheadministrationofworking-agebenefits,whichwillinfuturebeassessedandmanagedlocally.

Thisservicewillofferusersahigherlevelofpersonalisedemploymentcounselling,withmorefrequentface-to-faceinterviews.Traininganddeploymentofstaffwillreflectthisfocus.Thoseontheliveregisterwhoareidentifiedasbeingmostatriskoflong-termunemploymentwillreceiveprioritytreatmentformoreintensivesupport.

Aspartofthesereforms,Labourwillalsodevelopaflagshipweb-basedadultcareerguidanceportal,whichwillprovideadultswithfreeadviceonhowtodeveloptheirskillsforwork.Thiswillbefundedthroughefficiencysavingsarisingfromthereformprocess.

Helpingpeoplemoveintoemployment,orintotrainingthatleadstosustainableemployment,willbetheprimaryfunctionoftheNationalEmploymentService.Itsperformancewillbemeasuredonthisbasis,andtheresultspublishedannually.

Labour will replace FÁS with a new National Employment Service to meet the needs of a 21st century workforce

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60,000 new Training, educaTion and inTernship placesLabour’sJobsFundwillfund60,000newtraining,educationandinternshipplaces,tohelppeoplewhoarecurrentlyunemployedtodeveloptheirskills,andpositionthemselvesfornewjobopportunities.Labour’sinitiativeswillinclude:

• ‘BridgetheGAP’–aGraduateandApprenticeWorkPlacementScheme.Aweb-basedbrokerconnectsrecentgraduatesandapprenticeswithemployersofferingsix-monthinternships.Participatinginternswouldbepaidatthesingleperson’srateofJobseeker’sAllowanceforthedurationoftheplacement,plusamodestcost-of-workallowance.

• An‘EarnandLearn’schemethatenablespeopleon‘shorttime’tocombineashorterworkingweekwithtrainingoreducation.

• AreducedqualifyingperiodofthreemonthsfortheBacktoEducationandBacktoWorkEnterpriseAllowancetomakeiteasierforpeopletocomeoffthedoleandintoeducation,andgreateraccesstopostgraduatecoursesundertheBacktoEducationAllowance,fortheperiodofthiseconomicemergency.

• Atax-backschemetohelppeoplenoteligibleforothermeans-testedsupportsto

claimuptotwoyearsoftheirincometaxbacktofundfull-timestudyinanauthorisedinstitution.

• Literacyandbasicworkplaceskillstobeanationalpriority,withliteracytrainingincorporatedintoawidervarietyoffurthereducationandtraining.

• ‘SkillsExchanges’withinfurthereducationcolleges,libraries,InstitutesofTechnologyortrainingcentres,toenablethoseavailingoftraininginonefieldtousetheirpreviousprofessionalexperiencetohelptrainotherpeople.

• 30,000additionaltrainingplacesacrosstheentireeducationandtrainingsystem,distributedinlinewiththerecommendationsoftheExpertGrouponFutureSkillsNeedsontheskillrequirementsoftheIrishlabourforce.

encouraging employers To Take on new employeesLabourwillextendtheEmployerPRSIIncentiveScheme,andextendtheexemptionperiodto18months,toincentiviseemployerstoemploypeoplewhohavebeenontheliveregisterfor6monthsormore.Wewillensurethatemployersaremadeawareofthisandotherjobincentiveschemes.

ThisdevelopmentofaflagshipNationalEmploymentServiceisakeypartofLabour’swiderreformsofthesocialprotectionsystem,whicharegroundedintheprinciplethataperson’sfirstdayofunemploymentshouldalsobeafirststeponthewaybacktowork,withappropriatetraining,educationorworkexperiencesupportandotherincentivestomakethathappen.Thiswillalsoapplytothoseinreceiptofworkingagebenefitswhoarecapableofmakingatransitiontoworkinthecommunity,education,ortraining,oremployment.

meeTing The educaTion and Training needs of JoBseekersThemajorityofFÁSfundsfordirecttraining,andalloftheFÁStrainingcentres,willbetransferredtothefurthereducationandInstituteofTechnologysectors,withanexplicitmandatetodeliverhigh-quality,flexiblevocationaleducationandtrainingandabroader,modernapprenticeshipprogrammethatcaterstoawidervarietyoftrades,agesandgenders.ThiswillbeaccompaniedbyaredeploymentofqualifiedtrainingstafffromFÁStoCollegesofFurtherEducationandInstitutesofTechnology,asappropriate.Thetransitionwillbestrategicallymanagedbygovernmenttoensurethatavailabletrainingandeducationopportunitiesmeetthecurrentandprojectedneedsofthelabourmarket,andtheneedsofjobseekers.

InordertoretaintheelementofflexibilityintheoldFÁSsystemthatallowedittorespondtoemergingskillsshortages,aproportionofthefundingwouldgotocreateafundthatallproviders(publicandprivate)willbeabletotenderforinordertodelivertrainingindesignatedskillsshortages.Thoseskillsshortageswouldbeidentifiedinannuallabourmarketsurveys.

Labour’s Jobs Fund will fund 60,000 new training, education & internship places

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• PassLabour’sClimateChangeBilltosetlegallybindingcarbonreductiontargetsinlinewithEUtargets

• IntroduceaNationalRetrofitSchemetomakeourhousingstockmoreenergyefficient

• ClearobstaclestobringingIreland’srichrenewableenergysourcesonstream

• PositionIrelandasaleadingplayerintheglobalcarbonmarket,andacentreofexcellenceinthemanagementofcarbon

• Reformhowweregulatethewastesectortokick-startinvestmentandinnovation,andreducecostsforconsumers

Growing the Green EconomyTime for changeInthe21stcentury,asustainableenvironmentisintegraltoasustainableeconomy.Irelandhasanobligationtoreduceourgreenhousegases,andplayourpartintacklingclimatechange.However,thisalsoprovidesuswithanopportunitytocreatenewjobsinsectorssuchascleantechnology,renewableenergy,andservicesthatreduceourdemandforenergyinthefirstplace.Thesameistrueofmanagingourwatersupplies,reducingourwaste,andenhancingourenvironmentsothatitissafe,clean,andapositiveresourcefortourism.

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comBaTing gloBal warmingLabour’sClimateChangeBillwillprovidecertaintyaboutgovernmentpolicy,andaclearpathwayforemissionsreduction,inlinewithnegotiatedEUtargets.LabourwillalsoworkatEUleveltosetupanationalprogrammeforforestcarbonoffsets.

Irelandalsoneedsacoordinatedapproachtothetwo-prongedchallengeofreducingourcarbonoutputandgrowingourenergyindependence,withresponsibilityatthehighestlevelofgovernment.TheDepartmentoftheTaoiseachwillcoordinatebothourdomesticandinternationalpolicyonclimatechange.

WealsoneedtoanticipatechangestoIreland’sclimatethatarealreadyinevitable,byurgentlydevelopinganationalclimatechangeadaptationplan.

creaTing a low carBon socieTyOneoftheeasiest,fastestandcheapestwaystoreduceourcarbonemissionsistouselessfossilfuels.

LabourwillimprovetheenergyefficiencyofourexistinghousingstockbyinitiatingamajorNationalRetrofitScheme.Thereareupto1.2milliondwellingsinIrelandinneedofanenergyefficiencyretrofit,creatingatleast30,000directconstructionsectorjobswith

additionalindirectandinducedjobs.

Labourwillmakeiteasierandaffordableforhomeownerstoupgradetheirhome’sinsulationbyintroducinganEnergyEfficiencyObligationonenergysuppliers,whowouldinturnberequiredtooffer‘wholehouse’energyefficiencyupgrades.Thiswouldbepaidforthrougha‘payasyousave’mechanismonthehouseholdenergybill.

LabourwantstoendpoorqualityhousinginIreland.Toaddresstheproblemofexisting,inefficientbuildingstock,allhousingwillhavetomeetaminimumstandardofenergyefficiencyatthepointofsaleorrent.

Labourwillalsofurtherimproveenergyefficiencyfornewbuildings,withaviewtomovingtowardszerocarbonhomesinthelongerterm.Allnewcommercialbuildingswillalsoberequiredtosignificantlyreducetheircarbonfootprint.

Intandemwiththedevelopmentofasmartpublictransportsystem,Labourwilltargethaving350,000electriccarsonIrishroadsby2020.

Labourisalsocommittedtoaninitialtargetof50%greenpublicprocurement,andwillprogressivelyraiseenergyefficiencyandcarbonstandardsforfutureprocurementcommitments.

delivering clean, secure energy Irelandneedstomaximiseitsrichwindandwaveenergyregime,andpositionitselftobecomeanetexporterofcleanenergy.Renewableenergyprovidersneedcertaintyaboutpolicydirectiontoinvestandexpandtheirbusinesses.Labourwilllegislatetoregulatethegeothermalenergysectortoprovidecertaintyforinvestors,andtoprovideforanefficientForeshoreLicensingandLeasingprocessformarineenergy.

Labour will make it easier and affordable for homeowners to upgrade their home’s insulation

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Todate,thetransitiontoalow-carbonenergyfutureinIrelandhasbeendefinedbyalackofpolicyandinstitutionalcoordination.Thislackofclarityintheframeworkthatsupportsthedevelopmentanddeploymentoflow-carbontechnologieshasdelayedprogressintheenergysector.

Labourwillcreateacoordinatingpolicyoffice,usingexistingresources,withintheDepartmentofCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResources.Thiswouldhavethebenefitofjoinedupthinkingandbeinapositiontoenhancesustainabilitymeasuresinacoordinatedwayacrossanumberofsectors.AspartofLabour’senterpriseandinnovationstrategy,LabourwillseektoestablishIrelandasarenewablemanufacturinghubtoattractinternationalanddomesticinvestment.LabourwillalsopositionIrelandasaleadingplayerintheglobalcarbonmarket,andacentreofexcellenceinthemanagementofcarbon.

Labourwillfacilitatethedevelopmentofenergyco-operativestomakeiteasierforsmall-scalerenewableenergyproviderstocontributetoourrenewablestarget.

Reducingdemandforfossilfuelsandgrowingrenewableenergysuppliesarecriticaltoourenergysecurity.However,itisimportantthatourgasandelectricitynetworksarekeptinpublicownership,sothataccesstothisvitalinfrastructureisnotjeopardised.LabourwillalsoensurethatIreland’sroyaltyregimeextendstotheCorribgasfieldaspartofawiderreviewofthetaxregimeandconditionsofoilandgasexploration.

LabourwillscraptheplanbytheEnergyRegulatortoinsistontheunnecessarycostofre-brandingofBordGáisandESB.

Labourwillnotestablishanynuclearfacilityinthestate.WewillcontinuetoopposetheSellafieldplantandotherinstallationsintheUKwhichposearisktoourpeople.

Tackling fuel and energy poverTyInthemedium-term,ourproposalswillresultinacleaner,moresecure,moreaffordablesupplyofheatandelectricitytoIrishhomes.However,Labourwillalsotakeimmediateactiontoalleviatetheriskoffuelpovertyintheshorttermbyre-investing€40millionfromthecarbontaxtoalleviatefuelpoverty,andbydevelopinganationalfuelpovertystrategyassetoutinLabour’sFuelPovertyandEnergyConservationBill.

LabourwillalsodirecttheCommissionforEnergyRegulationtoimplementafairerdisconnectionpolicythroughtheuseofpre-paymentmeters,andtodevelopafairpolicyinrelationtodisconnectionfees.

a susTainaBle wasTe policyIrelandneedsanationalwastemanagementstrategythatisenvironmentallysustainable,thatreducescostsforbusinessesandconsumers,andthatcreatesjobs.

Labour’swastepolicywilladheretotheEUwastehierarchy.Labourfavoursacoherentapproachtowastemanagementthatminimisesthewastegoingtolandfill,andthatmaximisestheresourcesthatcanberecoveredfromit.

Atnationallevel,LabourwillfacilitatethecoordinationofRegionalWasteManagementPlansinordertoensurehouseholdsandbusinesseshaveaminimumstandardofwasteservices,andalsotoprovidecertaintytoinvestors.Labourwillalsoinvestigatethepotentialforavirtualwaste‘clearinghouse’,wherecompaniesinvolvedintherecyclingorreuseofwastecanbidformaterial.Thismeasurewillalsoprovideclarityforinvestorsastothepotentialfornewwaste-relatedbusinesses.

InordertoaddressIreland’sobligationsundertheEUlandfilldirective,Labourwillexploretheintroductionofa‘capandtrade’schemethatwouldphaseintheauctioningofpermitsforlandfill.

Labourwillalsodriveawastereductionprogrammethroughtheextensionofproducerresponsibilityinitiatives,andalevyonpackaging.Labourwillconsiderplacingaproductlevyonhard-to-recycleobjects.

Specificproducerresponsibilityrequirementswillbeintroducedforconstructionanddemolitionprojectsoveracertainthreshold,withrecyclingandwastemanagementrequirementsenforcedthroughmandatorycompliancebondsthatcanberefundedattheendoftheproject.

Labour will take immediate action to alleviate the risk of fuel poverty

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Inordertoimprovethewastecollectionserviceavailabletohouseholdersandbusinessesnationwide,andtoimprovetheamountandqualityofmaterialsavailableforrecyclingandre-use,Labourwillmakelocalauthoritieslegallyresponsibleforthecollectionofhouseholdwaste.Insteadofmultipleoperatorscompetingwithinlocalauthorities,operatorswillcompetetodeliveraservicetoeveryhouseholdinthelocalauthorityarea,asrecommendedbytheESRI.Localauthoritiescanalsocompeteagainstprivateoperatorsforthismarket,inwhichcasethecontractwouldbeawardedbyanindependentassessor.

Thesecontractswouldstipulateaminimumservicetobeofferednationwide,andapublicserviceobligation,includingafeewaiverschemeforlow-incomehouseholds.However,licenceswouldbeflexibleenoughtoallowforlocalisedwastemanagementneedsandopportunities.

ensuring access To safe waTerSecurityofaccesstocleandrinkingwaterisessentialforpublichealth.Thishasbeenunderminedbyrecentscandalsofpollutedwatersupplies,anddroughtcausedbyextremeweather.

Labourdoesnotfavourwatercharges,whichdonotaddresstheimmediateneedsofthosewhocurrentlyreceiveintermittentorpoorwatersupplies.Labourwillcontinuetoinvestinthewaterservicesprogrammeaspartofthecapitalbudget,focusingonminimisingtreatedwaterlostthroughleakage.

enhancing The qualiTy of our environmenTEveryonehastherighttoenjoyaclean,healthy,peacefulenvironment.Labourwillclampdownonenvironmentalcrime,suchasillegaldumpingandgraffiti,andstrengthenlawsagainstnoisepollutiontodealwithnoisefromneighbouringresidents,allowforonthespotfines,andprovideformediationbetweenneighbours.

Labourwillensurerelevantgovernmentdepartmentsintegratebiodiversityintotheirplans,policyandactions,andlegislatetobetterprotectourcoastalzones.Ourcountrysideandcoastlinesarepositiveamenitiesfortourism,andLabourwillworkinpartnershipwithlocalstakeholderstoensurereasonableandsafeaccesstothem.

LabourwillcontinuetheimplementationofnationalandEuropeanlegislationtoenhancebiodiversityandimproveconservation.LabourwillalsocompletetheratificationoftheAarhusConventiononaccesstoinformation,publicparticipationindecision-makingandaccesstojusticeinenvironmentalmatters.

Labour will make local authorities legally responsible for the collection of household waste

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The firsT sTeps

• Facilitatetheestablishmentofanewcompany,NetCo,whichwouldbegintheroll-outofnextgenerationbroadband

• Empowertheregulator,ComReg,toensureallbroadbandsuppliersprovideregulardataonspeeds,andendinaccurateadvertisingofbroadbandspeeds

• Addressthegrowingproblemofdigitalliteracy

• ProtectlocalpostalservicesbylegislatingforacomprehensiveUniversalServiceObligation

• RevisetheNationalDevelopmentPlantoprioritisepublictransportprojectsthatdeliverthebestvalueformoney,reduceroadcongestion,andreducegreenhousegases

Infrastructure for the 21st CenturyTime for changeBehindFiannaFáil’srhetoricofthe‘SmartEconomy’istherealityofIreland’spoorperformanceinalmosteveryinternationalleaguetable.Labour’sbroadbandstrategywillextendnextgenerationbroadbandspeedsacrossIreland,allowingustoembracecloudcomputing,e-health,e-transport,e-learning,improveonourenergyefficiencyandpositionIrelandasaworldleaderincommunicationsinnovation.Togetherwithrebalancingtransportpolicytofavourpublictransport,Labourwilllaythefoundationsforagreener,moresustainableeconomy.

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delivering nexT generaTion BroadBandIreland’sbiggestobstacletodeliveringnextgenerationbroadbandistheprohibitivecostofinvestinginanew,nextgenerationnetwork.Toaddressthatmarketfailure,Labourwillfacilitatetheestablishmentofacompany,NetCo,whichwillallowinvestorstosharetheriskofinvestinginanewnetwork.

Thiscooperativecompanywouldbeavehiclefortheroll-outofnextgenerationbroadband,connectingthemajorityofuserstofibreopticcableswhichwillallowspeeds100Mpb/sandgreater.Thevastmajorityofhomeswouldbedirectlyconnectedtothefibrenetwork,withawirelesssolutiononlybeingofferedinremoteareas.Thisnetworkwouldreplacetheagingcoppernetworkthatiscurrentlyinexistence.

NetCowouldownthepassiveelementsoftheinfrastructure,butwouldbebarredfromsimultaneouslyprovidingbroadbandservices,soasnottocreateamonopoly.Telecomsoperatorsandretailerswouldbechargedthesameratetoaccessthenetwork.However,initialinvestorsinthenetworkwouldbechargedapreferentialrateinordertoincorporatetheriskoftheirinitialinvestment.

ThiscooperativeapproachtoinvestingprivatefundsinthefibrenetworkhasbeensuccessfullyexploitedinSwitzerland,andthroughapublic-privateventureintheNetherlands.

BeTTer value firsT generaTion BroadBandComRegwillbemandatedtocontinuetolowerthepriceofLocal-LoopUnbundling.Tofurtherdrivevalueforconsumers,ComRegwillrequireallbroadbandproviderstopublishaveragespeedsforeachpackage.Wewillalsointroduceanewgovernmentratingsystemsothathomeownersandtenantscanassessbroadbandfacilitieseasily,andtorestrictmisleadingadvertisementsrelatingtomonthlycaps.

developing ireland as an ip huBLaboursupportsthedevelopmentofanInternationalContentServicesCentreinIreland,anditspotentialtomakeIrelandaEuropeanhubforthedisseminationofIntellectualProperty.WewillworkatEuropeanleveltoensurethatrightsclearanceisstandardised,toprovideforatransparentandcompetitivemarketinIntellectualPropertyacrosstheEU.

LabourwillalsoworktowardsthedevelopmentofEU-widestandardsfordigitisationandarchiving,inordertomaketheEUaworldleaderindigitalcontentmanagement.

mainTaining puBlic service BroadcasTingLaboursupportsandvaluespublicservicebroadcasting,whichhasalwaysbeenafundamentalcornerstoneoftheIrishbroadcastingsystem.Itpromotesdiversity,socialandculturalvaluesthatareessentialtoaproperlyfunctioningdemocracy.LabourwillupholdthesevaluesasIrelandmakesthetransitiontodigitaltelevisionandradio,ensuringthataccessto,andthequalityofpublicservicebroadcasting,areprotected.

Labourwillexaminetherole,andthecollectionof,theTVlicensefee

Labour will facilitate private companies to invest in a next generation network

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inlightofexistingandprojectedconvergenceofbroadcastingtechnologies.

regulaTing for The fuTure of BroadcasTingTelecommunicationsregulatoryandlicensingmattersarecurrentlyhandledbyComReg,whereasbroadcastingregulationandlicenseswillbetheresponsibilityoftheBroadcastingAuthorityofIreland.Giventheconvergenceoftechnologyinthissector–i.e.videoondemand,mobilebroadband–wewillmergetheBroadcastingAuthorityofIrelandandComRegtoformoneregulatorybody.

Thisnewpan-regulatorybodywillalsohaveresponsibilityforprotectingconsumersfrom‘ripoff’chargesandforQualityAssurance.

ensuring The survival of prinT media in irelandGiventheintensepressuresthatnewspaperandbroadcastmediacurrentlyface,adetailedandinformedpolicydiscussionisrequiredtoensurethefuturesurvivalofastrongindigenousmediapresenceinIreland.

TheDepartmentofCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResourceswillengageinastructureddialogueonthefuturechallengesfacedbytheprintandbroadcastmediainIreland,withbroadinputfromindustry,politics,andconsumerandcivicgroups.

susTaining a universal posTal serviceInlightoftheproposedliberalisationofthepostalservices,Labourbelievesthatauniversalpostalserviceisessential,inparticularforruralcommunitiesandthosedisadvantagedcommunitiesaffectedbythedigitaldivide.Acommerciallyviable,profitableandefficientAnPostiskeytothelong-termviability

ofthepostalmarket.LabourwillensurethatthePostalServicesBillprovidesforaclearcommitmenttotheuniversalserviceobligation.

Labourwillimplementtherecommendationsoftheall-partyagreedOireachtasCommitteePostcodesReport.

making TransporT more susTainaBleLabour’svisionforIreland’stravelandtransportsystemisforonethatismodern,reliable,integrated,accessibleandsafe.

Allplannedtransportinfrastructureprojects,includingPublic-PrivatePartnerships,willbesubjecttoacostbenefitanalysis.Basedonthisanalysis,investmentintransportinfrastructurethatprovidesthebestvalueformoney,andthatreducescarbonemissionsfromtransport,willbeprioritised.

Inlightofthedamagecausedtoroadsbyrecentextremeweather,Labourwillallocate,onaonce-offbasis,aportionoftheexistingroadsbudgettoprioritiserepairofthosesecondaryroadsmostaffected.

Cyclingandwalkingwillbeattheheartofanyfuturesustainabletransportnetwork.Labourwillprovideforcontiguouscyclingroutesforcommuters,andsafeschoolcycleroutes.Thesafety

needsofcyclistswillbetakenintoaccountinenhancedroadjunctiondesign,improvedsignageandroadmaintenance.Labourwillalsointroducelegislationtostrengthentheneedsofpedestrians,cyclistsandpublictransportcommutersintheplanningprocessandthetransportsystem.

Inordertoprovideforapublictransportinfrastructurethatgrowswithourpopulation,wewillintroducelegislationtoensurethatalllargenewresidentialandcommercialdevelopmentswillhaveintegratedtransportservicesaspartoftheirplanningpermission.

TheDublinTransportAuthorityActandthePublicTransportRegulationActwillalsobeamendedtorequireDevelopmentPlans,LocalAreaPlansandrezoningapplicationstomakeprovisionforpublictransportservicesifthepopulationoftheareasaffectedreachesorisplannedtoreachaspecifiedthreshold.

more efficienT puBlic TransporTBusserviceswillcontinuetobethemostcosteffectiveandmostflexiblewayofdeliveringpublictransportbothincitiesandinruralareas.InvestmentinpublictransportwillfocusonthefurtherdevelopmentofQualityBusNetworks,andParkandRidefacilities.LabourwillalsoexplorethedevelopmentoftheBus

Labour’s vision for Ireland’s travel and transport system is for one that is modern, reliable, integrated, accessible and safe

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RapidTransitmodelinourcities,whichcanreplicatethespeedandcomfortoflightrailatafractionofthecost.

Labourwillcompletetheroll-outoftheIntegratedTicketingSystemonallmodesoftransport.LabourwillalsocompletetheplannedimplementationofRealTimePassengerInformationatbusstopsinDublinandCork,withaviewtoextendingthisservicetootherregionsasresourcesallow.

Ruraltransportisessentialtopreventsocialexclusion,helpruralbusinessandreducegreenhousegasemissions.LabourwillseektomaintaintheRuralTransportProgrammeandmakeintegratedruraltransportakeyresponsibilityfortheNationalTransportAuthority.

LaboursupportsthedevelopmentofarevisedframeworkstrategyforthetaxiindustryundertheNationalTransportAuthority.LabourwilldefertheintroductionoftheNineYearRuleoncompulsoryreplacementoftaxisto1January2012,andendthesecond-handmarketintaxilicences. keeping ireland connecTed Anislandnationthatexports80%ofallitproducesmusthavesecureshippinglinesforinternationalconnectivity.LabourwillreviewourseaportoperationstoensurethatIrelandhasadequateshippingcapacityinthemediumtolong-termandthatourseaportshavemanagementstructuresandfinancialstabilitytocarryouttheirmandate.Thisreviewwillalsotakeintoaccount

thecurrentandprojectedneedsofoceanenergyproviders.

AirtransportisofvitalnationalstrategicimportancetoIreland.Maintainingstrongcompetitiveness,andregionalconnectivity,intheairlinemarketwillbeapriority.

making our roads saferLabourwillsupporttheRoadSafetyAuthorityintheimplementationoftheRoadSafetyStrategy2007-2012.Inparticular,LaboursupportstheimplementationoftheGraduatedDriverLicensingSystemforthetraining,testingandlicensingofnewdrivers.Labourwillintroducethelegislationnecessarytoactivatetheseproposals.

LabourwilloverhaulandconsolidatetheRoadTrafficActstomaximisetheireffectiveness,andcarryoutanauditofthenationalroadnetworktoensurethatallroadsurfaces,signageandtrafficsignalscomplywiththehighestsafetystandards.

Labour will explore the development of the Bus Rapid Transit model in our cities

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The firsT sTeps

• ScaleupIreland’sagriculturalproductivitythroughthedevelopmentofthedairyandmeatsectors

• Reducetheageprofileoftheagri-foodsectorandincreasethesizeandproductivityoffarmsthroughencouragingfarmpartnerships

• ImplementtherecommendationsoftheFoodHarvest2020report

• FocusondevelopingnewbrandsforIrishfood,includinganecobrandandlocalbrands

• DevelopIrelandasaEuropeanhubforseafoodprocessing

Growing Jobs in Food, Agriculture and FisheriesTime for changeIrelandhasanopportunitytomakeaquantumleapinfoodproductionthroughtheexportoffoodproducts.Irishagricultureneedstopositionitselftotakeadvantageofnewmarkets,agrowingworldpopulationandamovetowardsmoremarket-drivenpoliciesatEUlevel,whichispushingupdemandforqualityfoodproducts.Theagri-foodsectorisoneofIreland’sbiggestemployers,itislargelyIrish-owned,anditisnationwide.Labour’splanistotransformoneofourtraditionalstrengthsintoa21stcenturydriverofeconomicgrowth.

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preparing for changeThisisaperiodofradicalchangeintheagriculturesector.ThereformoftheCommonAgriculturalPolicy(CAP)posessignificantchallengesfortheIrishagricultureandagri-foodsectors,whichwemustbereadytomeet.TheoverallimpactoftheCAPproposalswillresultinamoremarket-drivenindustry,withanemphasisontheneedforcostcompetitivenessforthosesectorsofthefoodindustryfocusingoncommoditymarkets.

Ingovernment,Labourwillworktoretainour€1.3billionCAPfundingenvelope.OurnegotiatingpositionatEUlevelispredicatedonretainingthisenvelope.

Labouralsoacceptstheneedforanextensivebi-lateralexchangewithothercountriestoensurethatanychangesinpolicyatEUlevelandattheWorldTradeOrganisationmustnotunderminetheprincipleofdirectpaymentstofoodproducers.

growing The dairy and meaT secTorsTheanticipatedCAPreformswillmeaneconomiesofscalewillbecomemoreimportant.Facilitatingconsolidationinthedairyandbeefsectorwillbeahighpriority.Increasingourfocusonscaleandcompetitivenesswillfurtheremphasisetheneedforproducersandprocessorstofocusoncommodityormainstreammarkets.

LabourwillfocusondevelopingthefullpotentialofIreland’sdairysector,byworkingwiththesectortoincrease

take-upofnewtechnologiesandevidence-basedpracticethatresultinhighermilkyieldsatlowercost.

Labouralsofavoursmoremarket-basedpricingtoreflectimprovedproductsandinnovationinthemeatanddairysectors,andthedevelopmentofmoreintegratedsupplychains.

improving farm producTiviTyIreland’sscaleatproducerlevellagsbehindourmajorcompetitors,andwithanageingfarmpopulationtheneedforstructuralchangewillcontinue.LabourfavoursamodelofSingleFarmPaymentsthatwillrewardinnovationandseefurtherinclusionofyoungerfarmers.

Theonlywaytocreatescaleistobuyorlease,thepotentialforwhichislimitedbythestructureofIreland’sfarmholdings.Wecangivefarmersapproachingretirement,thosewhonolongerwishtofarm,orbeneficiariesoffarms,theopportunitytoretainanincomefromtheirland,whilealsomaximisingtheoverallpotentialproductivityofIrishholdings.

Labourwilldevelopmechanismsforfarmers,nonruralresidentswithinheritedlandandoldersinglefarmerstovesttheirholdingsinalocalco-operativefarmpartnershipwheretheywouldretainownership,shareintheprofitsofsuchpartnershipsandareinformedregularlyofprogressandplans.

Theywouldbefreeatanystage,givenadequatenotice,towithdrawtheirholdingfromtheco-op.Thesefarmunitscouldbeapowerfulsourceoflocalemploymentandcouldhavethescaletodevelopandproducebrandedproduce.

SuchholdingsshouldbesupportedandincludedforDirectPaymentswherepossibleandespeciallyincaseswhereCommunitySupportedAgricultureModelsaredeveloped.

Labour will focus on developing the full potential of Ireland’s dairy sector

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growing our agri-food secTorAgrowingandmoreaffluentworldpopulationisanopportunityforIrelandtoexpanditsfoodexports.

LaboursupportstherecommendationsoftheHarvestFood2020Report.Inadditiontoimplementingtheserecommendations,ouragri-foodpolicywillfocusonthedevelopmentofthepremiumartisanfoodmarketandofIrelandasaworldclassfoodtourismdestination.

BrandingofIrishfoodwillbedeveloped,suchaseco-foodlabelling,enhancedorganicbranding,andthedevelopmentoflocalbrands.NewIrishfoodbusinesseswillbedevelopedthroughaseriesofcoordinatedeffortsacrossthefoodsectorandstateagencies.Forexample,thebuildingofpilotplantkitchenstoallowfoodproducerstodevelopandmanufactureproductsonasmallscale;thefurtherdevelopmentoffarmers’markets;andthedevelopmentbyEnterpriseIrelandofscaleablemanufacturingsolutionsforfoodbusinessesthathavethecapacitytoexpand.

LabourwillalsoseektoimplementtherecommendationsoftheEighthReportoftheJointCommitteeonEnterprise,TradeandInnovationrelatingtogrowingemploymentintheagri-foodsector.

Labourwillsupportevidence-baseddevelopmentoftheagri-foodsectorthroughcontinuedsupportforR&D,andmodernisededucationandtrainingoptionsforthoseseekingtowork,ortoupgradetheirskills,inthesector.Labourwillalsoexaminehowrelatedsubjectsatsecondlevelcouldbemodernisedtoreflectnewdemandsandopportunitiesintheagri-foodsector.

a fair deal for producersLabourwilladoptajoined-upapproachtofosteringasustainableagri-foodsectorinIrelandbyexaminingboththesupplyof,anddemandfor,Irishfoodproducts.Wewillworkwithlocal

authoritiestodevelopfarmers’markets,andfavourasustainableplanningmodelthatpromotesdiversityinthefoodretailsector.Wewillalsoputthecurrentvoluntarycodeprovidingforgreatertransparencyinthefoodsupplychainonastatutoryfooting.

open To new ideasLabourwillactivelywelcomeconstructiveengagementbyinterestedstakeholdersingrowingourindigenousfarming,foodandbiofuelindustries.LabouralsosupportstheproposalsbyIrishRuralLinkforthestrategicregionalisationofIrishagriculturepolicytomaximisethedevelopmentofthesector.

BiofuelsTheEURenewableEnergyDirectivesetsouttargetstoensurethatIreland’senergyisprovidedfromrenewablesby2020.LabourwantstoseeindigenousIrishindustrytakeupproductionofrenewablestoensurethosetargetsaremet.Wesupportalandusestrategywhichwouldswapaproportionofruminantgrazingtoperennialenergycrops,whichwillreduceIreland’sgreenhousegases.However,Irelandisandwillcontinuetobeapredominantlyfoodproducingandexportingcountry.

foresTryLabourrecognisestheimportanceofforestryasasourceofemployment,asasourceofrenewableenergy,asapublicamenity,andasameansofreducingournationalcarbonfootprint.LabouropposestheprivatisationofCoillteandthesaleofpubliclyownedforests.

Labourwillsetaplantingtargetof10,000hectaresperannum,andwillworkwithstakeholderstoagreeasustainablefundingmodeltoachievethisaim.

animal welfareLabourwillensurethatanimalwelfareisenhancedandprotected,andwillstrengthenlegislationonanimalcruelty.

coasTal communiTies, fisheries & marine environmenTThemarinesectorfacesmajorchallengesintheyearsahead,butitisalsoanareaofmajoreconomicpotential.

Labour’sprioritywillbetodevelopIrelandasaEuropeanhubforseafoodprocessing,whichwillcreatesustainable,value-addedjobsincoastalcommunities.

LabourwillalsodevelopanIrishseafoodstrategytogrowthemarketprofileanddemandforIrishseafoodproducts.Wewillsupportthedevelopmentofsustainableaquacultureandfishfarmsbystreamliningthelicensingprocessandreducing,asmuchaspossible,theassociatedbureaucracy.Tofurtherassistthedevelopmentofthesector,responsibilityformaritimepolicywill,asfarasispracticable,beconcentratedinonedepartment.

LabourwillestablishaSeaFisheriesSustainabilityImpactAssessmentbasedonconsultationwithallmajorstakeholders.ThisreportwillbebroughtbeforetheDáilonanannualbasisbeforeEUfisheriesnegotiationscommence,andwillensurethatthereisaregularevaluationofIrishfishstocksandtheeffectivenessofcurrentpolicyandquotas.

Labourisopentotheexperienceandexpertiseofthosewhoselivelihoodsdependonmaritimeactivity.TheDepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandFoodwillengageinanongoingstructuredconsultationwithindustryrepresentatives,themarinescientificcommunityandotherstakeholderstoenablethemtocontributetonationalmaritimepolicy.

Finally,safetyatseaanddecentworkingconditionsmustunderpinthedevelopmentofthefisheriessector.LabouringovernmentwillensurethattheIrishCoastGuardhasaccesstoanEmergencyTowingVessel.

The firsT sTeps

• Grownewmarkets,includinglong-haulmarketsandnichemarkets,suchasactivityholidays,ecotourism,foodtourismandculturaltourism

• MakeregainingmarketshareinIreland’stopoverseasmarketsapriority

• Extendfreeoff-peaktraveltoallover-66visitorsonallCIEservices

• Usethewebandsmartphoneappstoprovideinnovativeproductsfortourists

• Dealwithover-supplyinthehotelsectortonormalisethemarket

Growing Jobs in Tourism Time for changeIrelandhasastrongtourismproduct,butwehavelostourcompetitiveedgeinrecentyears.Tourismisasustainableindustry,capableofprovidingjobsateveryskilllevel,ineverycornerofthecountry.

Labour’splantogrowjobsintourismtakesafreshapproachtoprovidingtouristinfrastructure,newwaysofusingtechnologytoenhancevisitors’stayhere,andajoined-upapproachtofindingnewmarkets.

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focus on growing new markeTs LabourwillmaintaintheTourismMarketingFundasanessentialpillarofourtourismstrategy,andwillintroduceasystematicauditingsystemtoensurethebestreturnonExchequerspending.RevitalisingIreland’sbrandidentityabroadwillbeapriorityforLabouringovernment.

Growthinglobaltourisminthe21stcenturywillpredominatelycomefromnon-traditionalmarkets,especiallyAsia.MarketingcampaignswillbedevelopedinemerginglonghaulmarketssuchasChina,Russia,India,JapanandtheMiddleEast,usingtheTourismMarketingFund.Thiswillbecomplementedbyabroadertranslationpolicyandareformedtouristvisaprocess.

Nichemarketswillbedeveloped,includingactivityholidays,suchasgolfandsurftourism;ecotourism;andfoodtourism.Toexploitthepotentialofbusinesstourism,TourismIrelandwillbemandatedtodevelopadedicatedserviceorganisingandpromotingsightseeinginandbeyondconferencelocationsforconferencedelegates.

‘Eventtourism’willalsobeprioritised,withstrategicplanningandprioritisationoffundingtobringmajorinternationalfairsandeventstoIrelandsuchastheVolvoOceanRaceortheSolheimCup.

Aspartofaninitiativetoencouragedomesticeventtourism,LabourwillmaketheCultureNightInitiativeatwiceyearlyevent,andintroduceaNationalLotteryFundingAnniversaryDay,wherebyallfacilitieswhichhavereceivedfundingfromtheNationalLotterywillopentheirdoorstothepublicfreeofcharge.

regain markeT share in TradiTional markeTs70%ofIreland’soverseasvisitorscomefromBritain,theUS,GermanyandFrance.RecoveryofmarketshareinBritain,andincreasingpenetrationintheotherthreemarketswillbeakeypriorityinarevampedtourismstrategy.improve TourisT infrasTrucTureToencouragetouriststotravelaroundIreland,afreetravelschemeforeveryvisitorover66atoffpeaktimeswillbeintroducedonallCIEservices,fromwithinCIE’sexistingbudget.Coachtourisminfrastructurewillbefurtherdevelopedtoencourageorganisedtourism.Improvedferryconnectivity,withmorefrequencyandadditionalroutes,willbeencouragedasanalternativetoairtravel.

TheDepartmentofTourism,CultureandSportwillbemandatedtoconductanassessmentofthequalityandeffectivenessofexistingsignage,withaviewtoimprovingthetouristexperienceandincreasingvisitstoattractionsclosetomajorsites.

using Technology To improve our Tourism producTImprovingthee-capabilityofourtourismproductwillbeapriority.ThiswillbeginwiththeupgradingoftheDiscoverIrelandwebsite,toimproveonlineintegrationbetweenattractions,accommodation,

Revitalising Ireland’s brand identity abroad will be a priority for Labour in government

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andtransportproviders,toallowpotentialcustomersalltheinformationtheyrequireviaonesite.

Labourwillalsofocusexistingexpenditureontourismonotherweb-basedtoolswhichsupportthetourismindustry,andwillencourageinnovationinthisareabydigitalmediacompanies.Thisincludesdevelopinginformationplatformsontheinternetforvariousnicheaudiences,suchasaSurfIrelandoraGolfIrelandwebportal,ornewweb-basedtoolssuchasaninteractiveIrishtourismapplicationforsmartphones.

normalising The hoTel secTorThedisastrousimpactoftaxbreaksforthehotelsectorthatservedasataxavoidancemechanismwillneedtobeaddressed.LabourwillrequireNAMAtoconductanindependentreviewofthehotelsector,andusethisasabasisfordecisionsonwhichhotelsitshouldcontinuetosupport.Labourwillalsoconsiderallowingcertainhotelsthatwishtochangeusetoacommunityfacilitytoexitthehotelcapitaltaxreliefschemeandbeexemptfromtheclaw-backofthetaxreliefforegone.Theobjectivewillbetoachieve,inconsultationwiththeindustry,anorderlyreductioninthenumberofhotelbeds.

making change and JoBs happenAspartofourwiderComprehensiveSpendingReview,Labourwillconductacriticalassessmentofthefunctions,systemsandefficiencyofthesemistateagenciesinthetourismsectorwithaviewtoestablishingtheoptimumsupportrequiredbythetourismindustry,whichoffersthebestvalueformoneyforthetaxpayer.

Labouralsosupportstheestablishmentofanindustry-ledtourismrecoverytaskforcetodrivegrowthinthetourismsector,asrecommendedbytheIrishTourismIndustryConfederation.

Improving the e-capability of our tourism product will be a priority

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REFORM

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reform

09 The firsT sTeps

• Endpoliticalcronyismbyopeninguppositionsonstateboardstoallqualifiedcandidates,andrequireappointmentstobescrutinisedbytheDáil

• MakegoodcorporategovernancealegalconditionofbeinglistedontheIrishstockexchange

• Significantlyreducepoliticaldonationsandlowerthethresholdfordisclosureofdonations

• Regulatepoliticallobbying,includingex-Ministersandseniorcivilservantsworkingasprivatelobbyistsafterleavingpublicservice

• AWhistleblower’sLawtoprotectthoseinthepublicandprivatesectorwhoexposecorruptionormisconduct

Reforming Politics

Thatappliesbothtotheformalrulesofcorporategovernanceandtotherelationshipbetweenmoneyandpolitics.LabourwillridIrelandofits‘CronyCapitalism’image,andrestoretrustinourdemocracy.

Time for changeLabour’spledgeisthatIrelandwillneveragainbevulnerabletothekindsofabusesofcorporateandpoliticalpowerthathaveriskedourcountry’ssovereignty.Torestoreconfidenceathomeandabroadinpublicgovernance,Irelandmustmakesignificantchangesinthecultureandframeworkwithinwhichbusinessisconducted.

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ending poliTical cronyismLabourwillendthesystemwherebyappointmentstostateboardsareusedasaformofpoliticalpatronageandforrewardinginsiders.Infuture,appointmenttoboardsmustbebasedonademonstrablecapacitytodothejob.

Labourintendstostartthisprocessimmediately.Tothatend,theLabourPartywillreservetherighttoseektheresignationofallthoseappointedtoStateBoardssince22November2010.Labourwillpubliclyadvertiseallvacancies,andinviteapplicationsfromthepublic.Adatabaseofindividualswhoarewillingtoserve,togetherwiththeirqualifications,willbeestablished.

Oireachtascommitteeswillconsiderthesuitabilityofnominatedcandidates,includinghavingcandidatesappearbeforethecommittee,anditwillbeaconditionofappointmentthatboardmembersappearbeforecommitteesasrequired.

cleaning up corporaTe cronyismLabourwillmakegoodcorporategovernancethelaw,notanoptionalextra.FiannaFáilishappywithvoluntarycodesofregulation.Labourbelievesthisisablankchequeforcorporatemisconduct,anddonotnowprovidesufficientreassurancetoinvestors,whoneedtobeconvincedthatIrelandisafair,transparentplacetodobusiness.

Labourwillenactlegislationtoprovideforabindingcodeofpracticeforcorporategovernance,whichwillbeobligatoryforcompanieswishingtobelistedontheIrishstockexchange.

ending The link BeTween Big money and poliTicsLabourwillendthelinkbetweenbigmoneyandpolitics.ItisnotenoughtofolduptheGalwaytent.Wehavetoendtheculturethatcreatedit:aculturewheremoneycanbuyaccesstopower.Torestoreitscitizens’faithindemocracy,andourcountry’sreputationabroad,weneedtosendaclearmessagethatinfluenceinIrelandisnotforsale.

Labourwillintroducespendinglimitsforallelections,includingPresidentialelectionsandconstitutionalreferendumsandimposespendinglimitsonpoliticalpartiesforaperiodofsixmonthsinadvanceofscheduledLocal,European,GeneralandPresidentialElections.

Labour’slegislationwillsignificantlyreducethelimitonpoliticaldonationstopoliticalpartiesandcandidatesto€2,500and€1,000respectively,andrequiredisclosureofallaggregatesumsabove€1,500and€600respectively.

encouraging openness and TransparencyTransparencyisoneofthemostpowerfulweaponsagainstcorruption.LabourwillintroduceWhistleblower’sProtectionlegislationthatwillprotectanemployeewhoreportsmisconductfromlosingtheirjob,orbeingotherwisepenalised,toencouragegreatertransparency,bothinthepublicserviceandinprivateinstitutionssuchasbanks.

Labour will make good corporate governance the law, not an optional extra

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Itisinthepublic’sinteresttoknowwhoispaidtoseektoinfluencepublicpolicyanddecisionmaking,atnationalandlocallevel.Labourwill,forthefirsttimeinIreland,regulatethepracticeofpoliticallobbying.Labourwillintroduceastatutoryregisteroflobbyistsandastatutorycodegoverningthepracticeoflobbying.Thiscodewillmakeitillegalforanex-Ministerorseniorpublicservanttolobbyintheirprevioussphereofinfluencefortwoyearsafterleavingtheirpost.

LabourwillrestoretheFreedomofInformationActsothatitisascomprehensiveaswasoriginallyintended.ThefeestructureforFreedomofInformationrequestswillbereformedsothatcostdoesnotdiscourageindividualsandorganisationsfromseekinginformation,andtheremitoftheFreedomofInformationandtheOmbudsmanActswillbeextendedtotheGardaSíochána,theCentralBankandotherbodiessignificantlyfundedfromthepublicpurse,thatarecurrentlyexcluded.

TheOfficialSecretsActwillalsoberepealed,withcriminalsanctiononlyretainedforbreacheswhichinvolveaseriousthreattothevitalinterestsoftheState.

Labour will restore the Freedom of Information Act so that it is as comprehensive as was originally intended

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The firsT sTeps

• AConstitutionalConventiontodrawupanewConstitutionfortheIrelandofthe21stcentury

• AbolishtheSeanad,butmaketheDáilstronger,withalongerworkingday,alongerworkingweek,lessholidays,andwithmorepowerstoholdtheGovernmenttoaccount

• Ministersandseniorcivilservantstobemadelegallyaccountablefordecisionstheymake

• AnIndependentFiscalAdvisoryCounciltoadvisegovernmentontheeconomicimpactofitspolicydecisions

• Restoredemocraticaccountabilitytolocalgovernment,anddevolvemoredecision-makingpowerstolocalcommunities

Reforming governmentTime for changeThisisthesecondtimeinagenerationthatIrelandhasbeenconfrontedbyaprofoundeconomiccrisis,thatisadirectresultofbadgovernance.ItisnotenoughtoremoveFiannaFáil’sgripongovernment–wehavetochangegovernmentitself.

WeneedtoputpowerbackinthehandsoftheIrishpeople,andmakepracticalchangessothatourgovernment,ateverylevel,betterservesthepeople’sinterests.

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a fresh sTarT wiTh a new consTiTuTionItistimeforafundamentalreviewofourConstitution,bythepeopletowhomitbelongs.LabourproposesaConstitutionalConvention,acomingtogetherofallstrandsofIrishsocietytorewriteourConstitution.

TheConstitutionalConventionwouldhaveanopenmandate,andcomprise90members.ThirtyofitsmemberswouldbedrawnfromtheOireachtas,thirtywouldbemembersofcivilsocietyorganisationsandotherpeoplewithrelevantlegaloracademicexpertise,andthirtywouldbeordinarycitizens,chosenbylot.ThemandatewouldbetoreviewtheConstitutionanddraftareformedonewithinayear.

an independenT elecToral commissionLabourwillestablishanindependentElectoralandPublicOfficesCommissionthatwillsubsumetheStandardsinPublicOfficesCommission;thepowersofReferendumandConstituencyCommissions;andtheresponsibilitiesoflocalauthoritiesandtheDepartmentoftheEnvironmentinrelationtotheelectoralregisterandelections.Labourwillalsorevisethetermsofreferencefortherevisionofconstituenciestoensurethefairestandmostproportionatedistributionofseatspossible.

more efficienT, more effecTive, more democraTic governmenTLabourbelievesthatanationofoursize,scaleandcompositiononlyneedsonestrong,single-chamber,directlyelectedparliamentwithreallegislativeandoversightpowerstoeffectivelydothepeople’sbusinessinthe21stCentury.WewillbeproposingtotheConstitutionalConventionthattheSeanadbeabolished.

AspartofLabour’sComprehensiveSpendingReview,allquangosandbodiessignificantlyfundedbythetaxpayerwillhavetojustifytheirexistenceasaseparateentity.Anynewbodiesestablishedwillhaveasunsetclause,thatrequiresthemtoeitherjustifytheircontinuedexistence,orbefoldedup.

Labourwillalsointroduceapackageofchangesthatwillbringabouta50percentincreaseinDáilsittingdays.DáilÉireannwillinfuturemeetfourdaysaweek.TherewillbeasummerrecessofjustsixweeksandsignificantlyreducedbreaksatChristmasandEaster.Wewillabandonthepracticeofprovidinga“mid-termbreak”.

TheDáilwillbemademoreeffectiveandmoredemocraticthroughreformsthatgiveoppositionTDsandbackbenchgovernmentTDsmorepowertoproposeandscrutiniselaws.Electedrepresentativeswillhavestrongerpowerstoholdgovernment,andpublicly-fundedstatebodiestoaccount.

CitizenswillalsobeabletopetitiontheOireachtastolookintoissuesofnationalimportance,similartotheirrightstopetitiontheEuropeanParliament.

Labour proposes a Constitutional Convention, a coming together of all strands of Irish society to rewrite our Constitution

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holding minisTers and senior civil servanTs To accounTLabourwillintroducenewlegislationmakingMinistersandseniorcivilservantslegallyaccountablefortheirdecisions,andforthemanagementoftheirdepartmentsinthepublicinterest.Wherearesponsibilityisdelegatedthroughseveralcivilservicegrades,eachgradewillbeheldaccountablefortheirelementofit.

RestrictionsonthenatureandextentofevidencebycivilservantstoOireachtascommitteeswillbescrapped,andreplacedwithnewguidelinesforcivilservantsthatreflecttherealityofauthoritydelegatedtothem,andtheirpersonalaccountabilityforthewayitisexercised.LabourwillalsopublishtheAttorneyGeneral’sadvicetogovernmentwhenitisappropriatetodoso.

emBedding fiscal responsiBiliTy in governmenTLabourwillputanendtotheboomandbusteconomicsthatdefinedFiannaFáil’sapproachtogovernance.

LabourwillestablishanindependentFiscalAdvisoryCouncil,separatedfromfiscaldecision-makersingovernment,thatwouldundertakemacroeconomicandfiscalprojectionsandmonitoring.TheFiscalAdvisoryCouncilfunctionswouldincludeidentifyingandadvisingoncyclicalandcounter-cyclicalfiscalpoliciesandstructuraldeficits;thecyclicalortemporarynatureofparticularrevenues;andtheneedtomaintainanappropriateandeffectivetaxbase.Allofitsrecommendationswillbepublished.

LabouringovernmentwillalsobringforwardandreformtheannualEstimatescycle,sothatitbecomesmoretimely,transparentand

relevant.TheannualEstimateswillinfuturedistinguishbetweenmoniesbeingallocatedtomaintainingtheexistinglevelofserviceforexistingprogrammesandmoneytosupportnewprogrammesorpolicydecisions.

Proposalsfornewexpenditureprogrammeswillbeaccompaniedbyafive-yearprojectionofcostsandbenefits.TheBookofEstimateswillalsobeaccompaniedbyadetailedperformancereportonwhatthepreviousyear’sspendinghadachieved.Itwillalsogivedetailsofthelevelofperformanceachievedbyagenciesunderservicedeliveryagreementswithgovernment.

dáil invesTigaTions insTead of cosTly TriBunalsLabourwillestablishastrong,bi-partisanInvestigations,OversightandPetitionsCommitteeoftheOireachtaswiththepowertoinvestigatemattersofnationalconcern.

TheCommitteewouldreceiveparliamentarypetitionsfromindividualsandgroupsinthecommunityseekingtheredressofgrievancesconnectedwiththepublicservicesoftheStateandwiththepublicadministrationgenerally.

Whereparticularpetitionswarranteddetailedinvestigation,theCommitteewouldbeempoweredtoordersuchinvestigationsthroughaParliamentaryInvestigator,whowouldbeappointedfromwithinthepublicservice.Where

theInvestigatorwasunabletoestablishclearfacts,thereportofaparliamentaryinvestigatorwouldifnecessarybefollowedbyeitheraformalparliamentaryinquiryorotherstatutoryinvestigation,asappropriate.

reforming local governmenTLocalgovernmentneedssignificantreform.Itsapproachtodeliveringservicescanbefragmentedandcostly,anditispreventedfromadaptingtolocalneedsbyexcessivecontrolfromcentralgovernment.

Labourfundamentallybelievesindevolvingpowertolocalgovernment,andputtinglocalcommunitiesincontrol.ThatiswhyLabouriscommittedtoreforminglocalgovernmenttomakeitmoredemocratic,moreeffectiveinrespondingtolocalneeds,andbettervalueformoney.

puTTing local communiTies in conTrolLabourwillreturndemocraticaccountabilitytoelectedcouncillors.ThepositionofCountyManagerwillbeabolishedandreplacedwiththatofChiefExecutive,withalimitedrangeofexecutivefunctions.ThepurposeoftheChiefExecutivewillbetofacilitatetheimplementationofdemocraticallydecidedpolicy.Asresourcesallow,Labourfavourstheintroductionofdemocraticallyelectedmayors,beginningwithanelectedmayorforDublin.

Labour will introduce new legislation making Ministers and senior civil servants legally accountable for their decisions

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Ademocratically-decidedRegionalorCityPlanwillreplacethetop-downStrategicPlanningGuidelinemodel.

Labourwillgivecouncillorsthepowertoseekreportsfrom,andquestioninpublic,theprovidersofpublicservicesintheirarea.Councillorswillalsobeempoweredtoquestionprivatesectorserviceproviders,suchasinternetanddigitalTVproviders,localbanksorprivateschools,ontheirpublicserviceremit.

Thevotingageinlocalelectionswillbereducedto16,sothatteenagershavemoreofasayinlocalservices.

BeTTer value for money TheLocalGovernmentDirectorofAuditwillbedirectedtoproduceanannualreportcoveringallofhisfunctionstotheOireachtasCommitteeontheEnvironment.Thiswilldeterminewherelocalgovernmentcanproducegreaterefficiencies.

Labourwillalsoexaminewhatservicescouldbeconvergedbetweentwoormorelocalauthorities,suchastechnologysupport,humanresourcesandfireservices.Labourwillalsointroduceasinglenationalbuildinginspectorateservice.

Localauthoritiesthatdeliverefficiencies,eitheraloneorthroughsharingservices,overandabovethatwhichisrequiredwillbeabletore-

investaproportionofthatsavinginlocalinitiatives.

more efficienT delivery of local servicesInthelongerterm,Labourfavoursafundamentalreorganisationoflocalgovernancestructuresthatwillallowforthedevolutionofmuchgreaterdecision-makingpowersoverlocalservicestolocalpeople.Thisrestructuringcouldgivelocalcommunitiesmorecontrolovertransportandtraffic,economicdevelopment,educationalinfrastructure,andlocalresponsestocrimeandlocalhealthcareneeds.

Labour will give councillors the power to seek reports from, and question in public, the providers of public services in their area

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11The firsT sTeps

• AnOfficeofPublicSectorReform,headedbyaMinisteratCabinet,establishedforalimitedperiod,togetthejobofpublicservicereformdone

• Areductioninthenumberofquangosandduplicationofagenciesandgovernmentdepartments

• Governmentdepartmentsandagenciesaccountableformeetingjoined-upgovernmentobjectives

• Fewermanagementlayersinthecivilandpublicservice,butmorefreedomformanagerstomanagestaffandbudgets

• Onephonenumber,onewebsiteoronepublicofficeformultiplepublicservices,tomakeiteasierforcustomerstofindwhattheyneed

Reforming Public ServicesTime for changeTheLabourPartybelievesthatthemostimportantneedsofoursocietyshouldnotbeleftsolelytothemarkettoprovide.Thevaluesthatunderpinpublicservicesaredifferenttothoseoffor-profitprivatebusinesses,butthatdoesnotmeanpublicservicescannotbedeliveredefficiently,cost-effectively,andwhenandwhereusersneedthem.

Itistimetoreformandmoderniseourpublicservicesothatitisfitforpurposeinafairsociety,andarejuvenatedeconomy.

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driving reformLabourwillestablishanOfficeofPublicSectorReformwithresponsibilityforallmattersinrelationtothepublicserviceandheadedbyaMinisterwhositsatCabinet.ThisOfficewillhaveparticularresponsibilityforplanningandimplementingthechangeagendaandforensuringthatallaspectsofthatagendaarecommunicatedfullytothepublicandtopublicsectorstaff.

a comprehensive spending review of all puBlic spendingLabourwillundertakeaComprehensiveSpendingReviewofallgovernmentspendingtoassessitseffectivenessinachievingdesiredoutcomes,anditsvalueformoneyforthetaxpayer.

Aspartofthatreview,Labourwillexaminethenumber,rangeandactivitiesofbodiesfundedsignificantlyfromthepublicpurse,includingatlocalgovernmentlevel,andreducetheirnumberswhereappropriate.Infuture,whenproposinganewagency,therelevantgovernmentdepartmentwillhavetoprovethatitsfunctionscannotbecarriedoutwithinanexistingframework.

a more sTraTegic approach To governmenT spending.Fortenyearsingovernment,FiannaFáil’sfirstresponsetoanyproblemwastothrowmoneyatit.Thislackofcleargovernmentprioritiesmeantthatpublicspendingwaslesseffectivethanitcouldhavebeen.

Labouringovernmentwillprovideclearandunambiguouslong,mediumandshorttermstrategicpriorities,whichwillbeclearlycommunicatedtothepublicserviceandtocitizens.StrategicprioritieswillbetranslatedintohighlevelgoalsforallrelevantDepartments,ona‘wholeofgovernment’basis,andinconsultationwithMinisters.Performanceindicatorswillbeidentifiedtoallowprogressonthehighlevelprioritiestobemonitored.

Eachgovernmentdepartmentandpublicserviceagencywillbeexpectedtodemonstratehowitwilldeliveronstatedstrategicgovernmentobjectives.Annualreportsofgovernmentdepartmentsandstateagencieswillincludeoutputstatementsandauditedfinancialaccountspreparedongenerallyacceptedaccountingprinciples.Theperformanceinformationprovidedinoutputandoutcome-focusedmeasurementwillfeedintothedecisionmakingprocessforfutureplansatpoliticalandseniormanagementlevel.

devolving spending wiTh greaTer accounTaBiliTyLabourwillintroduceincreaseddelegationofbudgets,subjecttodetailedplans,relevantperformancereportingandauditedaccountscompiledinaccordancewithgenerallyacceptedaccountingprinciples,thatwillallowmanagersgreaterautonomyandincreasedflexibility,alignedwithgreateraccountability.

Labour will establish an Office of Public Sector Reform to drive change in the public service

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Departmentalandagencybudgetswillbepreparedforthemediumtermaswellasonanannualbasis.Detailedbusinesscaseswillberequiredformajorprojects,withreviewandreportingrequirementsbuiltintotheplan.Sanctionswillbeimposedatanearlystageforsignificantoverruns.

Indemandingbetteraccountability,Labourwillchangethecurrentemphasisonperformancereportingtoperformancemanagement.Allmediumtolong-termprojectsthatinvolvesignificantpublicspendingwillbesubjecttoacostbenefitanalysis,andtoongoingevaluation.Resultsofprogrammeevaluationswillbepublishedonaprogrammeevaluationwebsite,andprogrammesnotmeetingtheirobjectiveswillbewounddown.

more modern managemenT and sTaffing sTrucTuresTheproliferationofmanagementgradesinthecivilservicecreateshugegapsbetweenthefrontlineandthedecisionmakers,andcreatesunnecessaryinternalbureaucracy.Labourwillreviewthegradingstructureofcivilservicedepartmentsandinthepublicservice,andreducethenumberofmanagementgrades,tomoveawayfrombureaucraticbox-ticking,andtowardsamanagementstructurethatallowsforinnovationandflexibility.

Publicservicemanagerswillbegivengreaterautonomyindecidinghowtheyusestaffingbudgetsandresourcestoachieveagreedoutcomes.Labourwillremovebarrierstomobilityacrossthepublicservice,sothatstaffcanbematchedtoareasofgreatestneedandtoareaswheretheirskillsaremostappropriate.

Thecapacityofmanagersinthepublicservicewillbeimprovedthroughmanagementskillstraining

withparticularfocusonstrategicmanagementandevaluation,projectmanagement,resourcemanagementandcommunications.Highlevelstrategicgoalswillbereflectedinindividualgoalsinanewperformancemanagementanddevelopmentsystemforstaff.

Staffrecognitionschemeswillbedevelopedanddevolved,withparticularemphasisonteamawards.Staffwillalsobeencouragedtoputforwardsuggestionsforimprovingservicedeliveryandorganisationefficiencyandeffectiveness.

Publicandcivilservicestaffwillbeencouragedtocontributetheirviewsandsuggestionsforreformthroughchannelssuchasstaffforumsandblogs.Incentiveswillbeputinplacetopromotegoodinternalcommunicationsandtoensurestaffarewidelyconsultedwithinpublicsectororganisationsandgiventheopportunitytoinfluencetheirworkandworkingenvironment.

more user-cenTred service deliveryLabourtakesa“citizen-centred”approachtopublicservicereform.Governmentserviceswebsites,publicoffices,telephoneservices,andhelplineswillbereconfiguredtofacilitateaccesstothebroadrangeofgovernmentservicesthroughasinglepointofcontact.

TheComprehensiveSpendingReviewwillalsoseektheinputofcivilandpublicservants,andthe

usersofpublicservices,toassesshowfrontlineservicescouldbemadebetterfromthepointofviewofthecustomer.Thesuccessoffrontlineservicedeliveryfromauser’spointofviewwillbecentraltoadepartmentoragency’sperformancereview.

TheOfficeofPublicServiceReformwillberesponsiblefordevelopingawhole-of-governmentapproachtoelectronicservicedelivery.Websiteswillbedevelopedtoprovidemaximuminformationtothepublicaboutprogressonnationalanddepartmentalgoalsandfacilitatingpubliccommentandsuggestions.

Labour will review the grading structure of civil service departments and in the public service

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reform

12 The firsT sTeps

• Rootandbranchefficiencyreformstoeliminatepovertytraps,speedupsocialprotectionclaims,andsavemoney

• Amajorcrackdownonwelfarefraud,sothatthesocialprotectionsystemisfairandtransparent

• ReducerelianceonRentSupplementinfavouroftheRentalAccommodationScheme,withrentsnegotiateddirectlywithlandlords

• Cutdownonbureaucracybyreplacingmultiplemeanstestswithasingleunifiedmeanstest

• Sharethecostofsocialprotectionwithinsurancecompanieswherepossible

Reforming Social ProtectionTime for changeLabour’splantoradicallyreformIreland’sfragmentedjob-seeking,trainingandwelfaresupportsintoasingleNationalEmploymentServicewillputworkandtrainingattheheartofsocialprotection.Butwealsoneedtotackletheunemploymenttrapsthatkeeppeopleinpoverty,andensurethatsocialprotectionisfair,transparent,andthatitworksforthosewhoneeditmost.

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• Providingforafarmoreextensiveandfrequentengagementwithjobseekersthroughinterviewsandconsultations.

• Changingoperationalguidelinesfordecidingofficers.

• ReformingeligibilityforBacktoEducationAllowance.

• Improvinginformationavailabletojobseekers

• Promotingexistingin-workbenefitschemes.

LabourwillissueclearnewguidelinestoensuretheHabitualResidenceruleisappliedconsistently,transparently,andfairly,withspecificguidelinestofacilitatereturningemigrants.TheHabitualResidencerulewillbeabolishedinthecaseoffamilycarers.LabourisalsocommittedtothecompletionandpublicationoftheCarersStrategy.

Thiseconomiccrisishasexposedtheparticularvulnerabilitiesofpeoplewhoareself-employed.Labourwillreviewthepositionoftheself-employedinthesocialprotectioncode.

LabouriscommittedtoreplacingtheOneParentFamilyPaymentwithaparentalallowancewhenresourcespermit.Wewillcaptheratesatwhichmoneylenderscanlend.

A zero tolerAnce ApproAch to welfAre frAudTheLabourPartybelievesthatfairnessmustbeattheheartofresolvingourfinancialcrisis.LabouriscommittedtotacklingIreland’sfinancialcrisissothattheburdendoesnot,asfarasispossible,fallonthosewhoaredependentonsocialwelfarefortheirincome.

However,itisimperativethateverycentofoursocialwelfarebillgoestothosewhoneeditmost.

tAckling povertyEliminatingpovertyfromIrishsocietyisoneofthecoreprinciplesoftheLabourParty.LabouriscommittedtotacklingIreland’sfiscalcrisisfairly,andwillendeavourtoprotectthosemostatriskofpoverty.Asafirststep,LabourwillreversethecutintheminimumwageimplementedbyFiannaFáilandtheGreenPartyingovernment.

Labourwillintroducenewanti-povertytargetswithaparticularemphasisoncarers,thoselivingaloneandonpeoplewithalong-termdisability.Wewillrevisehowpovertyismeasuredtogivegreaterweighttoreasonablehouseholdcostsasopposedtothecurrentnarrowfocusonincome.

Labourwillcompleteandpublishastrategytotacklefuel-poverty,andanewnationalanti-povertystrategy.

eliminAting poverty trApsTheLabourPartywilltacklepovertyandunemploymenttrapsinthesocialprotectionsystemby:

• Amendingthe30hourruleforRentSupplementandMortgageInterestSupplementforpeoplemovingfromwelfaretowork.

• Activatingpeopleonareducedweekwhorefuseextraday(s)employment

Labour will reverse the cut in the minimum wage implemented by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in government

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trafficcollisionsorothersuchaccidentsorpersonalinjuries,whereaninsurancepolicyexists,andwherethevalueofsocialwelfareentitlementsaredeductedfromthegrossclaimsettlement.

Labourwilldivertstafffromelsewhereinthepublicservicetoclearthesocialwelfareappealsbacklog,andintroduceaconsolidatedappealsprocess,tosaveonunsuccessfulappeals.

Theprocessofmultiplemeanstestsforthesameindividualorhouseholdwillbereplacedwithasingle,unifiedmeanstest,withasingle‘changeofcircumstances’adjustmentifrequired.

Infuture,householdbenefitspackageswillbeputouttotender,sothattheExchequerbenefitsfromreducedprices.

LabourwillraisetheissueofthepaymentofChildBenefitinrespectofnon-residentchildrenatEUlevel,andseektohavetheentitlementmodifiedtoreflectthecostoflivingwherethechildisresident.LabourwillexamineallpossibleflexibilitywithinexistingEuropeanlegislationtoreducethecostofthispayment.

sharing The cosT of social proTecTionLabourwillrequireprivateinstitutions,whichbenefitindirectlyfromsocialprotectionpaymentstotheirclients,tocooperateinreducingthetotalcostofsocialprotection.

InsurancecompanieswillberequiredtocompensatetheDepartmentofSocialProtectionforillnessordisabilitypaymentsarisingfrom

Labourwillimplementazerotolerancepolicyinrelationtowelfarefraud,underpinnedbyamajoranti-fraudenforcementdrive.

Theintegrationofsocialwelfaresupportsforpeopleofworkingageandemploymentserviceswillbeaccompaniedbymoreintensiveactivationofpeoplewhoarelong-termsocialwelfareclaimants.AswellasmoreregularinterviewswithadvisorsintheNationalEmploymentService,Labourwillundertakeotheranti-fraudmeasures,includingapublicservicescardwithphotoID,theautomaticregistrationoffathersonbirthcertificates,andbettersharingofdataacrossgovernmentdepartmentsandagencies.

geTTing BeTTer value for moneyLabourwillintroduceefficienciesinthesocialprotectionsystemthatwilldeliverabetterserviceforusers,andsavetheExchequermoney.

LabourwillprogressivelyreducerelianceonRentSupplement,witheligiblerecipientsmovingtotheRentalAccommodationScheme.Infuture,landlordswillbepaiddirectlybythestateorlocalauthorities,sothatrentscanbenegotiatedtoachievethebestvaluefortaxpayers,whileanewdepositretentionschemewillyieldfurthersavings.Rentwillonlybepaidtotax-compliantlandlordsofferingdecentqualityaccommodation,torootoutfraud.

Labour will implement a zero tolerance policy in relation to welfare fraud

reform

The firsT sTeps

• Victims’needsputattheheartofthecriminaljusticesystem

• Dealingfirmlywithoffendersthroughstrengthenedcriminaljusticelegislation

• TacklingbothdrugssupplyanddemandthrougharevitalisedNationalDrugsStrategy

• ReformingtheGardaítoprioritisecommunitypolicing

• Ensuringthatthepunishmentfitsthecrime,andbenefitsthecommunitywherepossible

Reforming Policing and JusticeTime for changeCrimehasincreasedsubstantiallywithinthelast25years,seriousdrugusehasspreadnationwide,andeventhoughmuchcrimegoesunreported,thedetectionrateisonthedecrease.Re-offendingratesarehighanditisthelaw-abidingcommunitythatsuffersasaresult.Thereisnosimplisticorquickfix,buttherearesolutions.Labourwilltacklecrimefocusingonfivekeyareas:protectingvictims,strengthenedlegislation;tacklingthedrugscrisis;reformingtheGardaíandamoreeffectivesentencingandprisonspolicy.

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proTecTing vicTimsDelaysinthebringingofcasestotrialmustbetackled.Suchdelayscanmeanthatopportunitiesaremissedtorespondtooffendingbehaviourbeforeitbecomesmoreserious.Thesedelayswillbereducedbyreformofthecourtsystem,anationwideimplementationofacasemanagementsystem,andtheappointmentofmorecriminaljudgeswhenresourcesallow.

Victimsofcrimearestilloftentreatedbythecriminaljusticesystemasnomorethanprosecutionwitnesses.Labourwillensurethatvictimsandtheirneedsareattheheartofthejusticeprocessandthattheirrightstoinformation,adviceandotherappropriateassistancearemeteffectivelyandefficiently.

Newsentencinglegislation,whichwillbeintroducedbytheLabourParty,willmakeputtingthevictiminfearofinjuryaseriousaggravatingfactorinanyoffenceagainsttheperson.

LabourwillobligeGardaítomaintainadequatecontact,throughidentifiedliaisonofficers,withvictimsofcrime,toreportprogresstovictimsontheinvestigationandtheprosecutionoftheircaseandtoensureadequateadvancenoticeisgivenastotheproposedreleaseofoffenders.

sTrengThening The criminal JusTice sysTem Labour’sobjectiveistohaveacriminaljusticesystemthatisfair,efficient,andthatputsvictimsofcrimefirst.Labourwillstrengthenthearmouryofcriminaljusticelegislationinordertoensurethattherightbalanceisarrivedatbetweenprotectingthecommunityandprovidingforappropriatesafeguards.Strongerlegislationisonlyapartofthesolution,butitisanecessarypartofthecommunity’sresponsetoanincreasingcrimeproblem.Labour’slegislativeprogrammewillincludethefollowing:

• AProceedsofCrime(Amendment)BilltoreducethetimeperiodCABhavetowaitbeforeforfeitureofProceedsofCrime,fromsevenyearstotwoyears.

• AWitnessProtectionProgrammeBilltoputtheWitnessProtectionProgrammeonastatutorybasis.

• Measurestohaltwhitecollarcriminalstransferringassetstospousesorothers–anysuchassetswillbeavailableforcourtfinesorcompensation.

• Civilordersagainstseriousoffendersfollowingconviction.Thiscouldinclude,forexample,post-convictionrestraintsonconsumptionofalcohol,curfews,orrestrictionsontheuseoftheInternetbythoseconvictedofchildsexoffences.

• Aregisterofviolentoffenderssothatpost-releasesupervisionandnotificationrequirementsareimposedonsuchoffenders,akintothoseonsexoffenders.

Labour will ensure that victims and their needs are at the heart of the justice process

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• Harmonisedandextendeddetentionperiodsforallviolentandseriouscrimetoavoidanomaliesthatnowexist.

• Statutoryprovisiontoenabletheprosecutiontomakeasubmissiononsentence,whichwouldincludedrawingattentiontonon-incarcerationoptions.

• GreaterpretrialcasemanagementsuchasU.K.stylepleaanddirectionshearing.

• Removalofanomaliesinlaws,rulesandprocedurethatrestrictthedueadministrationofjustice.

Tackling The drugs crisisDruguseisanescalatingsocialproblemandisoftencharacterisedbymultipledruguse,alcoholabuse,violenceandguncrime.LaboursupportstheprinciplesandobjectivesoftheNationalDrugsStrategy.IngovernmentwewillgiverenewedimpetustothefightagainstdrugsandwewillensurethattheStrategyonceagainbecomesrelevantandeffective.

Thiswillincludeexpandingrehabilitationservicesatlocallevelinlinewithneedandsubjecttoavailableresources;integratingdrugandalcoholabusestrategiesatlocallevel;strengtheningthesupplyreductioneffortandcriminalassetsseizures,particularlyatlocallevel;expandingthedrugscourt;developingcompulsoryaswellasvoluntaryrehabilitationprogrammes;andreducingtheflowofdrugstoourprisons.

making communiTy policing a prioriTyLabourwantstobuildamodernandeffectiveGardaforce,whereGardaíworkincommunitiestheyknow,

servingpeopletheyknow.LabourwillrequiretheGardaítogivegreaterprioritytocommunitypolicingthatwillseemoreGardaíonpatrolinthecommunitiesworstaffectedbyanti-socialbeahaviour.ThiswillbecomplementedbyLabour’sstrategytodealwithanti-socialbehaviourinlocalauthority-fundedaccommodation,asdetailedinourhousingpolicy.

LabourwillbuildontheexistingcommunitypolicingpartnershipsandforumstoenhancetrustbetweenlocalcommunitiesandtheirGardaí.ThecommunityGardaserviceshouldalsobesupportedbymembersoftheGardaReservedrawnfromthecommunity.

Bybuildingarelationshipwiththecommunitiestheyserve,communityGardaícanbettertackletheplagueoflowlevelcrimeandanti-socialbehaviourthatissodestructiveofcommunitylife.Labour’scommitmentistoensurethat,withinavailableresources,therearemoreGardaíonpatrolinlocalneighbourhoods,andtomakepolicingmoreresponsivetothosecommunities’needs.

making The punishmenT fiT The crimeLabouriscommittedtoensuringthatthepunishmentfitsthecrime,andprotectsandservesthecommunityifatallpossible.AkeyfoundationofthisapproachwillbetointroduceaSentencingBillwhichwillsetoutaggravatingandmitigatingcircumstancestobetakenintoaccountbytheCourts,andbringgreaterconsistency.

Informationonsentencingpracticewillbecollectedandmadeavailableonasystematicandtimelybasis.

a more effecTive prisons policyNoonecoulddescribeIreland’spresentpenalsystemaseffective,andleastofallcost-effective.Ireland’sprisonsareovercrowded,andourprisonsystemisamongthemostexpensiveintheworld.Aswellasthehumancost,itisclearthatwecannotaffordtocommitourselvestospendingever-increasingamountsofpublicmoneyonasystemthathaslittleornoimpactonre-offendingrates.TheLabourPartywillbringinmajorreformstoensurethatthecriminaljusticesystemprovidesforasafersocietyatalowercosttothetaxpayer,byswitchingawayfromcostlyprison-basedsentencesandtowardslesscostlynon-custodialoptionsandgreateruseofopenprisonsforappropriateprisoners.Labour’sproposalstoreformpenalpolicyinclude:• Reducingthenumberof

prisonersinourjailswhenalternativesanctionswouldservethesamecorrectivepurposebyspecifyinginlawacorerulethatimprisonmentisapenaltyoflastresortfornon-violentoffenders.

• ReformingsentencingpracticeatDistrictCourtleveltoreducethenumberofveryshortprisonsentenceshandeddownforminor,non-violentcrimes.

Labour will require the Gardaí to give greater priority to community policing

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• ProgressivelyimplementingtheChildrenAct2001andtheNationalYouthJusticeStrategytotackleyouthcrime,andcontinuingtoresourcepolicieswhichdivertyoungpeoplefromcriminality,andprovideforalternativesanctions.

• RollingouttheDrugsCourtinitiative.

• Makingmuchmoreeffectiveuseofalternativesanctions,suchastheCommunityServiceOrderscheme.

• AddressingtheissueofmajorovercrowdinginIreland’sprisons.

Judicial reformLabourwilllegislatetoestablishaJudicialCouncil,withlayrepresentation,thatwillprovideaneffectivemechanismfordealingwithcomplaintsagainstjudges.

a fair immigraTion sysTemAcomprehensivestatutetoregulateimmigrationandsetouttherightsanddutiesofmigrantsinIrelandisoverduebyalmosttenyears.Failuretolegislateforafair,transparentimmigrationprocesshasresultedinanadhocsystemthatcanbeconfusing,inconsistentandanomalous.Processingofapplicationsanddecision-makingissubjecttolongdelays,whiletheabsenceoflegislationmeansthereisfrequentresorttotheCourtsforjudicialreview.

Everycountryhastherighttodeterminewhomayandwhomaynotcometolivewithinitsjurisdiction.Labouringovernmentwillenactcomprehensiveandtransparentlegislationonimmigrationwithin12months,settingouttherightsandobligationsinvolved.Theadministrativeprocesswillbestreamlinedandspeededupand,an

independentappealsmechanismforthereviewofimmigration-relateddecisionswillalsobeintroduced.

TheLabourPartywillpromotepolicieswhichintegrateminorityethnicgroupsinIreland,andwhichpromotesocialinclusion,equality,diversity,andtheparticipationofimmigrantsintheeconomic,social,politicalandculturallifeoftheircommunities.

Labour will enact comprehensive and transparent legislation on immigration within 12 months

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FAIRnEss

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fairness

The firsT sTeps

• Improvechildliteracystandardsforthefirsttimeinageneration

• Reformhowschoolsaremanagedtofocusonimprovingeducationaloutcomes

• Transformthesecondlevelcurriculumtoequipyoungpeoplewithskillsforthe21stcentury

• PrioritiseschoolbuildingandrefurbishmentinLabour’srevisedNationalDevelopmentPlan

• Puthighstandardsofteachingandlearningattheheartofthirdlevelreform

Fairness In Education

Eveninthiscrisis,wecanmakeprogress.Labourwillputimprovingeducationaloutcomes,fromliteracytothirdlevel,attheheartofoureducationreforms.

Time for changeLabour’sambitionistobuildnotjustaknowledgeeconomy,butaknowledgesociety.Educationisattheheartofamorecohesive,moreequalandmoresuccessfulsociety,anditwillbetheengineofsustainableeconomicgrowth.Labouriscommittedtoprotectingchildren’seducation,becausewebelievetheydeservethebeststarttheircountrycangivethem.

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local educaTion Boards for local educaTion needsLabourwillbuildonexistingVocationalEducationalCommittees,andprogressivelytransformthemintoLocalEducationBoards.

LocalEducationBoardswillabsorbtheexistingeducationalfunctionsofVocationalEducationalCommittees,includingthepatronageoftheirexistingschoolsatprimaryandsecondarylevel,andinadulteducation.TheirmembershipwillcontinuetobeelectedinamannersimilartothepresentVECs.

NewfunctionsforLocalEducationBoardswillincludecoordinatingsupportservicesforschoolstogetbettervalueformoney,forexampleclusteredsecretarialservices,co-ordinationofsupplyteachersandtenderingforelectricityandheating.Theboardswillberesponsibleforrepairsandmaintenance,andwillalsoactasprojectmanagerforallmajorschoolbuildingprojectsandrefurbishmentswithintheirareas.

BeTTer school leadershipGoodschoolsrequireonethingincommon:goodschoolleadership.Labourwillreformschoolleadershiptogiveprincipalstheskills,supportandfreedomtheyneedforthisincreasinglycomplexjob.Principalswillbegivensubstantialautonomytomanagetheirschool’sresources,includingstaff,andtoenableallschoolstoreachtheirpotential.

Manyadministrativeduties,relatingtomaintenance,schoolbuildingprojectsandhumanresources,currentlycarriedoutbyprincipalscouldbehandedovertoLocalEducationBoards.Ontopofthis,Labourwillimplementanumberofreformstogiveprincipalsmorefreedomandresponsibilitytoraisetheeducationalstandardsintheirschools.

Principalswill,withthesupportoftheInspectorate,drawupfiveyeardevelopmentplansfortheirschoolsandindividualteachers.Theywillbeenabledtoallocateandmanagestaffwithrequiredflexibility,withmanagementresponsibilitiesdelegatedtoteachersasschoolprioritiesrequire.

Allnewprincipalappointmentswillbefortenyearsonly,andnewprincipalswillberequiredtocompleteaMaster’sdegreeineducationalmanagementwithinanagreedtimeframe.

make primary school paTronage fiT for purpose in The 21sT cenTuryLabourwantstoreformoureducationsystemsothatitismoredemocratic,andrecognisesthediversityofethoswithinmodernIrishsociety.

Labourwillinitiateatime-limitedForumonPatronageandPluralisminthePrimarySector.ThisnationalForumwouldbeopentoparticipationfromallthestakeholdersintheeducationsector.TheForumwillhaveconcisetermsofreferenceandsitforamaximumof12months.

TherecommendationsoftheForumwillbedrawnupintoaWhitePaperforconsiderationandimplementationbytheGovernmenttoensurethatoureducationsystemcanprovideasufficientlydiversenumberofschoolswhichcaterforallreligionsandnone.Aspartofthisprocess,parentsandthelocal

Labour will give principals more freedom and responsibility to raise the educational standards in their schools

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communityshouldalsohaveasayinthepatronageofexistingandfutureschools,forexamplebydirectballot.

LabouringovernmentwillensureEducateTogetherisrecognisedasapatronatsecondlevelbytheDepartmentofEducationandSkills.

learning for The 21sT cenTury and improving ouTcomesIrishsecondlevelpupilsarelearninga20thcenturycurriculumbasedonrotelearning,whilecompetingina21stcenturylabourmarketthatrewardsproblemsolving,flexibility,innovationandcreativity.

LabouringovernmentwillprogressivelyimplementthereformoftheJuniorandSeniorcycle,asenvisionedbytheNationalCouncilforCurriculumandAssessment.Inparticular,Labourwillprioritisethereformofmathsandscienceteachingatsecondlevel,includingmakingscienceacompulsoryJuniorCertsubjectby2014.

Thecostsofexpandingthecurriculumandofferingawiderangeofsubjectstopupilswillbereducedbyenablingschoolsto‘share’teachersvialivewebcastsandothertechnologicalinnovations.

Labourwillprogressivelyupgradetheinformationcommunicationstechnology(ICT)infrastructureofschoolsoverthecourseofnewschoolbuildingandrefurbishment.FutureinvestmentinICTwillencompassmandatoryprofessionaldevelopmentforteacherstoincorporatenewtechnologiesintotheirteachingpractice.LabourwillalsomaximiseinvestmentthroughpoolingofICTprocurement.

making liTeracy a naTional causeLiteracyisthefoundationstoneonwhichalllearningisbuilt.Labour

ingovernmentwillmakeliteracyanationalcause,withamedium-termgoalofensuringthatnochildleavesanIrishschoolunabletoreadandwrite.

Labour’sapproachisthree-fold:puttingliteracypolicyattheheartofouragendaingovernment;embeddingliteracyinourcommunities;andfocusingontheteachingofliteracyinourclassrooms.Labourwilldevelopanationalliteracystrategy,withschool-leveltargets.Everyschoolwillberequiredtohavealiteracyactionplan,withdemonstrableoutcomes.

DEISprimaryschoolswillbemandatedtoteachliteracyfor120minutesperday;non-DEISschoolswillbemandatedtoteachliteracyfor90minutesperday.Thistimeincludesincorporatingstructuredliteracytuitionintotheteachingofothersubjects.

Teachersareourmostimportantresourceintacklingpoorliteracy.Labourwillimprovepre-serviceandin-servicetrainingintheteachingofliteracyforallprimaryandsecondaryschoolteachers,andprovidededicatedliteracymentorstoworkintensivelywithteachersinthemostdisadvantagedprimaryschools.

LabourwillalsoworkwithlocalauthoritiestodevelopLabour’sRighttoReadcampaignandtodevelopcommunitysupportsforliteracy,suchasmorespacioussocialhousing,longeropeninghoursforlibraries,homeworkclubsandsummercampsthatimproveliteracythroughsportandgames.

Labour’sliteracystrategywillinvolverefocusingsomeexistingspending

onliteracygoals,andwillcostanadditional€14millionperannum.

improving equiTy in educaTionAspartoftheComprehensiveSpendingReview,Labourwillexaminehowwecanmakeexistingexpenditureoneducationaldisadvantagemoreeffective.

Labourwillalsolookatinnovativewaysinwhichteenagersatriskofleavingtheschoolsystemcanstayconnected,forexamplethroughtheuseofICT-baseddistancelearningandprojectssuchasiScoil.

LabouriscommittedtoreversingthecuttothenumberofpsychologistsintheNationalEducationalPsychologicalServiceinBudget2011atacostofz3million.Labourwillsupportschools,parentsandchildrenwithspecialeducationalneedsbyensuringthatnecessarysupportsfollowachildfromprimarytosecondlevel,andachievinggreaterintegrationofspecialneeds-relatedservices.

prioriTise The school Building programmeLabourwillprioritiseschoolbuildingprojectsinourrevisednationaldevelopmentplan.Incaseswhereschoolsspendhundredsofthousandsofeurorentingprefabs,Labourwillenableschoolstobuildpermanentschoolaccommodationinstead.

Schoolplanning,buildingandmaintenancewillbemanagedanddeliveredmuchmoreefficientlyandcost-effectivelybynewLocalEducationalBoards.

Labour will make literacy a national cause

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Infuture,localauthoritieswillberequiredtocompleteanEducationalImpactAssessmentonresidentialzoning,toidentifypotentialneedforschools.ThecreationofSharedEducationalCampuseswillbeacoreprincipleforfuturedevelopmentofoureducationalinfrastructure.Schoolsofdifferentethosandpatronagecouldbelocatedonasharedcampusandutilisecommoneducationalfacilities,secretarialsupports,playingfieldsandsportsfacilities.

Newschoolswillbebuilttogrowwiththeircommunities,andtoprovideforamoreinteractive,child-friendlymodelofeducation.Labourwilldevelopexistingstandardiseddesignsfornewschools,whichwillbetheblueprintforfuturegreenfielddevelopments.

Labouringovernmentwillnegotiatethetransferofschoolinfrastructurecurrentlyownedbythe18religiousorderscitedintheRyanReport,atnoextracost,totheState.Theexistingpatronageandactivitiesoftheseschoolswillremainunchanged.Wewillalsoensurethatschoolbuildingsandlandarezonedforeducationaluse,sothattheycannoteasilybesoldandlosttothesystem.

reforming Third level educaTionLabourabolishedthird-levelfeesin1995,andweareopposedtotheirre-introduction.Werefusetogobacktothedayswhenonlytherelativelywealthycouldcountongoingtothirdlevel,orwhenafamilycouldonlyaffordtosendoneoftheirchildrentocollege.

However,Labourwillexpectradicalreforminthirdlevelinstitutionstomaximisetheirexistingfunding,inparticularthereformofacademiccontracts.

Ingovernment,LabourwillreviewtherecommendationsoftheHuntreportonhighereducation.Laboursupportsavibrant,pluralistthirdlevelsectorthatoffersbothhighqualityresearchandhighqualityundergraduateteaching.Reformofthirdlevelshouldbedrivenbytheneedtoimprovethelearningoutcomesofundergraduatedegreestudents,aswellasprovidehighqualityresearch,anditisthisprinciplewhichwillinformLabour’spolicyonthefutureofthethirdlevelsystem.Labourwillinitiateatime-limitedauditoflevel8qualificationsonofferinIrishthirdlevelinstitutionsandthelearningoutcomesforgraduatesofthesecourses.

Inordertoensurethatstudents’interestsareprotectedinthedeliveryofthirdleveleducation,LabourwillextendtheremitoftheOmbudsmantothirdlevelinstitutions.

Toreducethebureaucracyassociatedwithstudentsupport,LabourwilltransferresponsibilityfortheadministrationofstudentgrantstotheDepartmentofSocialProtection.Wewillalsoreformthemeanstestforthestudentgranttoensurethatitisequitableandtargetedatthosemostinneedofassistance.

LabouriscommittedtotherelocationoftheDublinInstituteofTechnologytothenewcampusinGrangegorman.

develop ireland’s Third level secTor as a cenTre for inTernaTional excellenceLabourwilldeviseaNationalStrategyforInternationalEducationwhichwillseektoattractstudentsfromaselectnumberofcountriestostudyinIreland,inlinewiththeemployment,academicandskillrequirementsofouroveralleconomyandeducationsector.

Thestrategywilldevelopan‘EducationIreland’brand,andcombinetheambitionsandinterestsofgovernmentpolicywiththoseofthehighereducationsectorforafiveyearperiod.ThepolicywilltargetinparticularstudentsfromIndia,ChinaandtheMiddleEast,withadvertising,visapoliciesandqualityassurancemanagedaccordingly.Thiswillformpartofwiderrelationship-buildingwithBRICcountriesthroughdevelopingeducationallinks.

PostgraduatestudentsshouldbeallowedworkinIrelandforuptoayearaftertheycompletetheirstudies.High-valueresearchstudentsshouldbeallowedbringtheirfamiliestoIrelandiftheyarestayingformorethantwoyears.

Labourwillprioritisethedevelopmentofaone-stopshopwebsitewhichcanenableinternationalstudentstolearnaboutIreland,pickacourseandapplyfortheirvisa.

lifelong learningLabourwilltransferresponsibilityforvocationaleducationandtraining,includinganexpandedapprenticeshipprogramme,fromFÁStofurthereducationcollegesandtheInstitutesofTechnology.ToqualifyforthistransferoffundingfromFÁS,furthereducationcollegesandInstitutesofTechnologywillbemandatedtodevelopflexible,high-qualityvocationaltrainingopportunitiesforjobseekers,inlinewiththerecommendationsoftheExpertGrouponFutureSkillsNeeds.

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fairness

15 The firsT sTeps

• AccesstoGPscoveredbyprimarycareinsuranceforallby2014

• UniversalHospitalCareInsurancethatguaranteeseverycitizenequalaccesstohospitalcarewhentheyneedit,phasedinoversixyears

• Privatehospitalsopenedtouninsuredpatientsfordiagnosticproceduresfromyearone,reducingwaitinglists

• Hospitalsfundedaccordingtothenumberofpatientstheytreat,sothatitpaystotreatpeopleefficiently

• Afocusontreatingmentalhealthinthecommunity,withparticularprovisionforyoungpeople

Labour’s Plan for Fair Health CareTime for changeIreland’shealthcaresystemisbroken,andforthirteenyears,FiannaFáilhaschosennottofixit.Instead,theyfocusedonprivatisingthehealthservice,givinghugetax-payerfundedwindfallstodevelopersbuildingsuper-privateclinics.LabouringovernmentwillintroduceUniversalHealthInsuranceasawayofdeliveringbetter,moreeffectivecareforeverypatient,andreducingthecostofourhealthsystem.Fromourfirstdayinoffice,LabourwillbeginthephasedintroductionofaUniversalHealthInsurancesystem,startingwithGPcare.

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exTending access To primary careMeetingmorepeople’shealthcareneedsthroughtheprimarycaresystemiskeytoreducingtheoverallcostoftheIrishhealthsystem.Thisrequiresmoreservicestobedeliveredatlocallevel,insteadofinhospitals,andmorepeoplebeingabletoaffordthem.

UnderLabour’splan,GPfeeswillbecoveredbyuniversalprimarycareinsurance.Thisuniversalprimarycareinsurancewillbeextendedtotheportionofthepopulationwhodonothaveamedicalcardonaphasedbasis,sothatby2014,everypersonregisteredwithaGPwillbeinsuredforprimarycare.ThismeanspatientswillnolongerpayupfrontfeeswhentheyvisittheirGP.Labourwillbeginthisprocessinourfirstyearingovernment,byextendingprimarycareinsuranceforGPvisitstopeopleontheLong-termIllnessScheme.

ThisreformwillbepaidforoutofexistingExchequerfunding,andsavingsinthehealthbudget,whichwillgointoaPrimaryCareInsuranceFund.Fromthisfund,GPswillbepaidacapitationfeeperpersonregisteredwiththeirpractice,similartotheexistingmedicalcardsystem,butatalowercosttotheExchequer.

BuildingupsupplyIntheshortterm,thesupplyofGPscanbeincreasedbydeferringtheretirementofexistingGPs;byrecruitingmorepracticenurses,whocouldtakeonuptohalftheaverageworkloadofaGP;andbyrecruitingdoctorsfromabroad,includingIrishdoctorswhohaveemigrated.Thesemeasureswill

ensurethatthereisenoughsupplytomeetdemandinphaseoneofLabour’shealthcarereforms.

Inthemediumtolongerterm,thenumberofGPsbeingtrainedinIrelandwillneedtoincrease.

CareinthecommunityInordertofreeupmoreacutehospitalbeds,morestep-downbedsandhomecarepackagesneedtobeavailabletopeoplewhocannotbedischargedwithoutsomepost-hospitalcare.Tofacilitatethis,Labourwillinvestadditionalfundsincommunityand‘stepdown’care.

phase Two: universal hospiTal care insuranceHospitalcarereformLabourwillintroduceasystemofmandatoryUniversalHospitalCareInsurance.Hospitalcarewillbepaidforinmuchthesamewaywepayforitnow–throughExchequerresourcesandinsurancepremiums–exceptthatmoneywillbepaidintoaHospitalInsuranceFund,whichwillregulatetheflowoffundstohospitalsandinsurancecompanies.

Premiumswillbesubsidisedaccordingtoincome,rangingfroma100percentsubsidyforpeoplecurrentlyeligibleformedicalcards,tonosubsidyforthosewhocanaffordtopayfortheirownpremium.Public,not-for-profit,andprivateinsurerswillbeobligedtoofferaguaranteed‘basket’ofinsuredhospitalservices.

ThecostofinsurancepremiumsunderaUniversalHospitalCareInsurancesystemshouldnotchangefromwhattheyareatpresent.Implementationofthesereformswillresultinthecostofdeliveringhealthcarebeingreduced,whichmeansthatmorepeoplecanbetreatedforasimilarleveloffunding.

TheNationalTreatmentPurchaseFund(NTPF)andthepurchasingarmoftheHSEwillcometogetherto

By 2014, every person registered with a GP will be insured for primary care

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provideanewnon-profitinsurer,whichwillautomaticallyenrolpeoplewithamedicalcardandtheuninsured.However,likeallinsurancecustomers,theywillhavethechoiceofwhethertoswitchinsurer.

Initially,halfofacutehospitalbudgetswillbepaidviatheHospitalInsuranceFund,whichwillmanageriskequalisationbetweeninsurers,andfundA&Eservices,ambulanceservices,teachingandcertainveryexpensiveandrareprocedures,suchastransplants.Thebalanceofacutehospitalbudgetswillbepaidviainsurancepaymentsbasedonthenumberofprocedurestheycarryout.

Insteadofeverypatientbeinga‘drain’onafixedhospitalbudget,everypatientwillrepresenta‘gain’,givinghospitalsanincentivetotreatasmanypatientsasefficientlyaspossible.Thisisthe‘moneyfollowsthepatient’modelofhospitalfundingthatisdrivenbyuniversalhealthinsurance.

Reforminthemanagementofhospitals,establishmentofthenewpublicinsurerforacutehospitalcare,anddevelopmentofsystemsofregulationandfinancingwilltaketime,whichiswhyintroducingthissystemwilltakesixyears.However,aphasedintroductionofuniversalhospitalinsurancewillstartfromyearonewithanexpansionoftheroleoftheNTPFtopurchasecertaindiagnostictestsforpeoplewhodonothaveinsurance.

CostswillbecontrolledthroughcentralisednegotiationofthepriceofdrugsandprofessionalfeesbytheHospitalInsuranceFund,inconsultationwithinsurancecompanies.Thiscentralisednegotiationofkeycosts,intandemwithcompetinginsurers,issimilartotheGermanmodelofhealthinsurance,andiscriticaltocontrollingthecostofdeliveringhealthcare.

TheroleofhospitalsUnderUniversalHospitalCareInsurance,publichospitalswillbegivenmuchmoreindependence.TheywillnolongerbemanagedbytheHSE.Theywilloperateasindependent,not-for-profitfoundationsortrusts,withmanagersaccountabletotheirboards.Boardswillincluderepresentativesoflocalcommunities.Forsomesmallerhospitalsitwillmakesenseforthemtocombineinalocalhospitalnetwork,withasharedmanagementandboard.Hospitalsandhospitalgroupswillbeabletocompetetosupplycaretoprivateorpublicinsurers.

Thisfreeingofpublichospitalswillnotbeafreemarketincare.Afreemarketisnotcompatiblewithsocialsolidarityandgoodplanningforcommunityhealthcareneeds.Anunregulatedmarketwouldjeopardisethesurvivalofsmallerhospitalsinareaswherethepopulationisdispersed,andwouldruncountertothedevelopmentofcentresofexcellenceforcertainkindsofcare.

UnderUniversalHospitalCareInsurance,theMinisterforHealthansweringtotheGovernmentandDáilEireannwillberesponsibleforhealthpolicy,includinghospitalspolicy.

Whereahospitalplaysanimportantroleinsupplyingcareinanareathatcannotbefulfilledbyprimarycareservices,itwillnotbeallowedtoclose.If,underthesystemofUniversalHospitalCareInsurance,thathospital

isfailingduetoinefficiency,itsmanagementwillbereplaced.Ifitisfailingbecauseitneedstoofferadifferingpackageofcare,itwillbeassistedbytheHospitalInsuranceFundinachievingthatchange.

Inthepresentfiscalcrisis,Labouringovernmentwillprioritisecapitalspendinginhealth.Evenwithsignificantreformsinhowwepayforhealthcare,Ireland’ssystemneedsmoreacutehospitalbedsandmorestep-downbedsinthecommunity.

Labourwillprioritiseinvestmentinnew,modernhospitals,includingtheNationalChildren’sHospital,anewhospitalfortheNorth-East,andsupportsthepolicyobjectiveofrelocatingmaternityhospitalstoacutehospitalcampusesinLimerickandDublin.Labouringovernmentwillalsoexplorethescopeforprovidinghealthcarefacilitiesthroughnon-traditionalfinancingviatheStrategicInvestmentBank.

resToring accounTaBiliTy for The qualiTy of ireland’s healTh serviceTheMinisterforHealthwillbeclearlyinchargeofthehealthcaresystemandanswerabletotheGovernmentandDáilEireann.TheMinisterwillintroducelegislationtoenactUniversalPrimaryCareInsuranceandUniversalHospitalCareInsurance.

Labour‘splandoesnotabolishtheHSEoutright.Instead,Labour’splantransformswhatwehavealready,sothatthefunctionsoftheHSEaresplitbetweenpurchasing

Labour in government will prioritise capital spending in health

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hospitalcareontheonehand,andacontinuationofitsmanagementofmentalhealth,communitycareandsocialcareontheother.

menTal healThLabour’sproposalstoreformhealthcareandintroduceuniversalhealthinsurancewillincorporatementalhealthcare,boththroughastrengthenedroleforGPs,andthroughtheongoingdevelopmentofCommunityMentalHealthTeamsandChildandAdolescentMentalHealthTeams,asresourcesallow.Giventhecentralroleofprimarycareinourreforms,wewilltakeactiontoensurethatGPsandotherprofessionalsatprimarylevelhavetheskillsandup-to-dateknowledgetoidentifyandtreatmentalhealthproblems,ortoreferpatientsontothemostappropriatecareprovider.

Labourwillworkwithhealthprovidersandcharitableorganisationstoexplorehowanationwideearlyintervention‘walk-in’serviceforyoungpeopleexperiencingmentalhealthdifficulties,basedonthe‘Jigsaw’serviceoperatinginGalway,mightbedevelopedfromwithinexistingresources.Labourwillalsoendeavourtoendthepracticeofplacingchildrenandadolescentsinadultpsychiatricwards.

LabourwillcomprehensivelyreviewtheMentalHealthAct(2001)inconsultationwithservice-users,carersandotherstakeholders,informedbyhumanrightsstandards,andintroduceaMentalCapacityBillthataccordswithArticle12oftheConventionontheRightsofPeoplewithDisabilities.

Toensureajoined-upapproachtomentalhealthinthecommunity,wewillestablishcross-departmentalgrouptoensurethatgoodmentalhealthisapolicygoalacrosstherangeofpeople’slifeexperienceincludinghousing,educationandemployment.

Labourwilladdressthehighrateofsuicide,includingareviewofthecurrentpracticewherebycaringfamilymembersarefrequentlygivenlittleornoinformationtoassistthemintheon-goingcareofloved-oneswhohavebeendischargedfromhospitalfollowingasuicideattempt,apsychoticepisodeorotherseriousmentalillness.

prevenTaTive care and care of chronic illnessesLabour’skeyreformsofprimarycarewillenablemorecomprehensivepreventativecare,andthemanagementofchronicconditionsinacommunitysetting.Wewilldevelopstrategiestoaddresscommonandchronicillnessesincludingheartandstroke,diabetes,respiratoryillnesses,rarediseasesandAlzheimer’sDisease.

Inlightoftheirparticularneeds,LabourwillcommittoenterintodiscussionswithsurvivorsofThalidomidetoensurethattheyreceivefairandequitablecompensationandastatutoryrighttothehealthcaretheyneedfortherestoftheirlives.

Labourwillalsomaintainprogressonthecancerstrategy,andprogresstherecommendationsoftheTaskForceonObesity.Labourwillconsidertheintroductionof‘traffic-light’labellingoffoodanddrinkproductsand,inconsultationwithstakeholders,arequirementtoclearlydisplaythecaloriecontentoffoodinrestaurantsandcafés.

Labour’s key reforms of primary care will enable more comprehensive preventative care

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fairness

16 The firsT sTeps

• Atwoyearmoratoriumonhouserepossessions

• DevelopMABSintoapersonaldebtmanagementagency

• Providedistressedmortgage-holdersprotectionfromtheircreditors

• Developacoherentplantodealwithghostestates

• Introducea‘housingfirst’policywhenitcomestoaccommodatinghomelesspeople

Making Homes MatterTime for changeFiannaFáil’spolicyofputtingtheinterestsofbigdevelopersandthebanksaheadofpeoplelookingtopurchaseamodesthomewasadirectcauseofIreland’sdisastrouspropertyboomandbust.TheLabourPartywillreformhousingpolicyinIreland,sothatthehousingmarketisneveragaintreatedlikeaprivatecasino.WearecommittedtoundoingthedamagecausedbyFiannaFáil’srecklessness,beginningwithhelpinghomeownersindistresstoweatherthisrecession.Labour’svisionforhousingpolicyputspeople,andliveablecommunities,first.

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helping homeowners weaTher This recessionLabourbelievesthatthebestwaytodealwithdistressedmortgagesistomakekeepingpeopleintheirhomestheabsolutepriority.Norepossessionsshouldbepermittedforatleasttwoyears,whereapersonmakesagenuineattempttopaytheirmortgageonahomeofmodestsize.Wewillprovidestrongersupportforpeopleindifficultieswiththeirmortgage,byconvertingtheMoneyAdviceandBudgetingServiceintoastrengthenedPersonalDebtManagementAgencywithstronglegalpowers.Theagencywillsupportfamilieswhomakeanhonestefforttodealwiththeirdebts,includingnon-mortgagedebt,providingprotectionfromtheircreditorswhereappropriate,sothattheyhavetimetosortouttheiraffairs.

Inordertodoso,thePersonalDebtManagementAgencywillhavequasi-judicialstatus.LabourwillalsoreformIreland’spenalbankruptcylawsforthosewhohavetotakethatroute.

LabourwillmakegreateruseofMortgageInterestSupplementtosupportfamilieswhocannotmeettheirmortgagepayments,whichisabetterandcheaperoptionthanpayingrentsupplementafterafamilylosestheirhome.

Inthelongerterm,LabourwillestablishanewSustainableHome-ownershipInsuranceProgramme,whichwillbeaimedatnewresidentialmortgageholdersandexistinghomeownerswhoswitchmortgageproviders.normalising The markeT for homesFortheLabourPartya‘normal’homemarketisoneinwhichmortgagelendingpracticesareprudent,housepriceinflationdoesnotsky-rocket,andwherethevastmajorityofpeoplecanaffordafamilyhome.Ingovernment,LabourwillensurethattheCentralBankandFinancialRegulatorsupervisecreditinstitutions’mortgagelendingpracticescomprehensivelyandintensively.Wherecreditinstitutionsfailtoadequatelycontrolmortgagelendingrisks,theCentralBankwillimposeloan-to-valueceilingsonmortgages,capsonloan-to-incomemultiples,limitsonthetermofnewmortgages,andmorerigorousproceduresforverifyingborrowers’incomes.

Awell-functioninghousingmarketrequiresthatbothbuyersandsellershaveaccesstoreliableinformationonpricetrendsintheirneighbourhood,andfordifferentdwellingtypes.LabourwillimprovethequalityofinformationavailableontheIrishhousingmarketbyrequiringthatthesellingpriceofalldwellingsisrecordedinapubliclyavailable,nationalhousingpricedatabase.

The best way to deal with distressed mortgages is to make keeping people in their homes the absolute priority

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dealing wiTh ghosT esTaTesGhostestatesareabitterreminderoftheplanningfailuresofthepast.Theyareaheadacheforresidentsoftheseestates,andforthewidercommunity.TheMinsterfortheEnvironmentwillbringforward,asamatterofurgency,acoherentplantoresolvetheproblemsassociatedwithghostestates.ThisplanwillbedevelopedincooperationwithNAMAandlocalauthorities,andwillinclude,whereappropriate,thedemolitionorcompletionofpartbuiltdwellings;theacquisitionofpropertiesbysociallandlords;orthesaleofpropertiesontheopenmarketwherethisispossible,andwhereitisnot,thedisposalofdwellingsbyinnovativemeanssuchasrenttobuyandco-operativehomeownershipprogrammes.

looking To The fuTure: planning for communiTiesLabourwillreformhowweplanforresidentialdevelopment,toprioritiseliveablecommunities,andahealthier,saferenvironment.

Labourwilllinkplanningpermissionforresidentialdevelopmentstotheprovisionofpublictransport,healthcare,recreationalareas,shopsandfacilities.Aspartofthis,localauthoritieswillberequiredtocarryoutan‘EducationalImpactAssessment’forallnewzoningsforresidentialdevelopmenttoensureanadequatesupplyofschoolplaces.

Tomaketheplanningprocessmoredemocratic,LabourwillamendtherecentPlanningandDevelopmentAct(2010)toallowfordetailedpublicsubmissionsonzoning,andtorebalancepowertowardselectedrepresentatives.LocalauthoritieswillberequiredtocarryoutafloodriskreportinthepreparationoftheirCityandCountyDevelopmentPlans,andwillalsobelegallyrequiredtomanagefloodriskthroughsustainableplanninganddevelopment.

Labourwillpasslegislationtoallowlocalauthoritiestakehousingestates‘incharge’afterthreeyears,andsubstantiallyincreaseexistingpenaltiesforthosewhobreakplanninglaws.

high qualiTy, accessiBle social housingWorkingwithinexistingresources,Labourwillintroduceastagedpurchaseschemetoincreasethestockofsocialhousing,whileachievingthebestpossiblevalueforpublicinvestment.Underthetermsofthisscheme,leaseddwellingswillreverttotheownershipoflocalauthoritiesandhousingassociationsattheendoftheleaseholdperiod.

Labourwillalsoenablelargerhousingassociationsandlocalauthoritiestoaccessprivatesectorfundingforsocialhousingbyissuing‘socialhousingbonds’,securedonthevalueoftheirexistinghousingstockwhenmarketconditionsallow.

WewilldirecttheHousingFinanceAgencytodesignandoverseetheimplementationofthisfundingmechanism,drawingonbestpracticeinthemanyothercountrieswherebondsareusedtofundsocialhousingprojects.

Ingovernment,LabourwillextendtheremitofthePrivateResidentialTenanciesBoardtoregulatesocialtenancies,aswellastheprivate

rentedsector.Thiswillbringmuchneededregulationtosocialhousingtenancies,whichcurrentlyunderminetenants’rightsandforcelandlordstoengageinexpensivecourtproceduresiftheywishtoterminateatenancy.

Inaddition,wewillamendtheHousing(MiscellaneousProvisions)Act(1992)torequirealllocalauthoritiesandhousingassociationstoregisterwiththeDepartmentoftheEnvironmentiftheywishtoaccessgovernmentsubsidiesorothersupportsforsocialhousingprovision.SociallandlordswillberequiredtomakeannualreturnstotheDepartmenttodemonstratetheircompliancewithspecificfinancial,housingmanagementandgovernancestandards.LandlordsthatfailtomeetthesestandardswillnotbeeligibleforanyExchequersupport.

Inrecentyearsthestandardofsocialhousingmanagementhasimprovedsignificantlybutunfortunatelyanti-socialbehaviourremainsaproblemformany.Ingovernmentwewilladdresstheissueofanti-socialbehaviourbyintroducingatwelvemonthprobationarytenancyforallnewtenantsinsocialhousingestates.Iftenantsormembersoftheirhouseholdsengageinanti-socialbehaviourduringthisperiodthetenancywillbeterminated.

Labour will reform how we plan for residential development, to prioritise liveable communities, and a healthier, safer environment

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supporTing privaTe renTing TenanTsLabourwillestablishatenancydepositprotectionschemetoputanendtodisputesregardingthereturnofdeposits,andensurethatchangestorentarelinkedtolocalmarketaverages.

Thenumberofpeopleinreceiptofrentsupplement,anditscost,havemorethandoubledinthepastdecade.

Labourwillreduceexpenditureonrentsupplementbymakingrecipients’contributiontotheirrentaproportionoftheirincomeratherthanaflatamountasiscurrentlythecase.Thisreformwillincentiviserecipientstonegotiatelowerrentswithparticipatinglandlords.

Tofurtherreinforcerecipients’negotiatingpowerthemaximumamountsofrentsupplementpayableindifferentlocalitieswillnolongerbemadepubliclyavailableontheHealthServiceExecutivewebsite.LabourwillalsoinstructtheHSEtodeductwithholdingtaxfromallrentsupplementpaymentstopromotetaxcomplianceamonglandlords.

LabourwillalsoreformtheRentalAccommodationSchemesothatclaimants’payanincreasingproportionoftheirrentastheirincomeincreases,andsetthemaximumcontributionwithreferencetothetotalrentpaidtothelandlord.

homelessnessDespiteimprovementsinpolicymaking,servicedevelopment,andverysubstantialpublicinvestment,thenumbersofhomelesspeopleremainedhighthroughouttheeconomicboomandhaverecentlybeguntoriseastheeconomyhasdeclined.

InlinewithourComprehensiveSpendingReview,Labourwillalleviatetheproblemoflong-termhomelessnessbyintroducinga‘housingfirst’approachtoaccommodatinghomelesspeople.Labourwilllease-purchaseorenablesociallandlordstobuildadequatenumbersoflongtermdwellingsforhomelesspeopleandfundsupportstafftoenablethemtosuccessfullymaintainthesetenanciesoverthelongterm.Inthiswaywewillbeabletoofferhomelesspeoplesuitable,longtermhousinginthefirstinstanceandradicallyreducetheuseofhostelaccommodationandtheassociatedcostsfortheExchequer.

Labour will establish a tenancy deposit protection scheme to put an end to disputes regarding the return of deposits

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fairness

The firsT sTeps

• Aconstitutionalamendmentonchildren’srights

• Aradical,area-basedapproachtotacklingchildpovertyinIreland’smostdisadvantagedcommunities

• Newcommunity-basedsolutionstobuildingage-friendlyneighbourhoodsandtowns

• Removethebarrierstoolderpeoplewhowanttoremainactiveintheworkforce,anduseretirees’expertisetohelpnewstart-ups

• Regulationtoensuresafe,qualityhomehelpservicesforolderpeople

One Ireland For Children, Families & Older PeopleTime for changeIrelandshouldbethebestplaceintheworldtogrowup,andtogrowold.Itisascandalthat,despiteadecadeofprosperity,vulnerablechildrenhavebeenallowedtodieforwantofpropercare;andthattheprivilegingofprofitinhealthcarehasputolderpeopleatriskofabusebyunscrupulousbusinesses.TheLabourPartybelievesthatitistimetoputasidethe‘mefirst’philosophyofFiannaFáil,andtoworktogethertobuildanIrelandthatisasafeplaceforchildren,asupportiveplaceforfamilies,andwhichrecognisesthevalueandthepotentialofourseniorcitizens.

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proTecTing childrenThedelayinproceedingwiththereferendumonchildren’srightsisunacceptable.Labourwillensurethatachildren’srightsreferendumisurgentlyprogressed.

Labourwilllegislate,asapriority,toallowfortheexchangeof‘softinformation’onsuspectedabuseofchildren,andtosignificantlyraisethelevelofproofwhichanaccusedpersonmustreachwhentheyareclaiming‘mistakeastoage’inaprosecutionforsexualoffencesagainstachild.

TheRyanandMurphyreportsidentifiedsignificantinadequaciesinhowallegationsofchildabusearedealtwithinIreland.TheRyanReportImplementationPlansetout99actionsandpolicyobjectiveswhichifdeliveredwillradicallychangethechildprotectionservice.Labouringovernmentwillexpeditetheimplementationprogramme.

LabourwillalsoupdatetheChildrenFirstguidelinestorestoretheimportanceoffamilysupport,preventionandearlyinterventionaskeyobjectivesofchildprotection;toclarifythe‘thresholdofconcern’requiringareporttobemadetotheHSE;andtoensurecompliancewiththeHIQAGuidancereportof2010,whichdealswithcrisisinterventionforparticularlyvulnerablechildren.

Finally,ingovernmentwewillensurethatthepromised270newsocialworkersarebroughtintothesystem,andthatemergencycareisconsistentlyavailableoutside

ofstandardworkinghours.Theparticularproblemsfacedbyseparatedchildren,i.e.childrenwhoareoutsidetheircountryoforigin,willbetakenintoaccount.

childcare and pre-school educaTionTheLabourPartywasthefirstpartytoproposeafree,universalyearofpre-schoolasavitalfirststepinachild’seducation.Labourwillbuildonthe2010EarlyChildhoodEducationandCarescheme,whenresourcespermit,todevelopacomprehensive,nationalpre-schoolservicethatisfocussedonearlychildhooddevelopment.

Inthemeantime,LabourwillfocusontheimprovementofqualityintheearlychildhoodeducationandcaresectorthroughtheimplementationofSioltastandards;byensuringthesufficientavailabilityoftrainingoptionsforstaff.Labourisalsocommittedtoensuringthatallchildrenhavetheopportunitytoavailofauniversalpre-schoolyear,wherevertheirlocation,andwillreviewtheagestructureoftheschemetoensurethatanyrigiditiesdonotworktothedisadvantageoffamilies.

Breaking The cycle of child poverTyChildpovertyinIrelandhasremainedstubbornlyhigh,eventhroughtheboomyears.Thisshowsthatsimplyaddingmoremoneyisnotenoughtobreakthecycleofchildpovertywhereitismostdeeplyentrenched.Labourwilladoptaradicalnewarea-basedapproachtotacklingchildpoverty,basedontheyoungballymunprojectinDublin,whichinvolvesalloftheexistingstateservices,suchaspublichealthnurses,schools,childcareprofessionals,andsocialworkerscoordinatingtheirefforts,withexpertIrishandinternationalsupport,totackleeveryaspectof

Labour will ensure that a children’s rights referendum is urgently progressed

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childpovertywithinIreland’smostdisadvantagedcommunities.

Labourwillseekphilanthropicpartnerstoco-fundandmanagetherolloutofthismodeltouptotenofIreland’smostdisadvantagedcommunities,atacostofupto€15million.

children’s healTh and well-BeingLabourwilltakeactiontotacklethepublichealthtimebombthatischildhoodobesity.Ingovernment,wewillpublishaNationalNutritionPolicy,andwillbringtogethergovernmentdepartments,agenciesandeducatorsinamajorandsustainedcampaigntoaddressthisvitalaspectofchildhoodhealthandwell-being.Thiswilladdressadvertisingstandards,thenutritionalcontentoffoodsoldinretailoutletsand,mostimportantlyofall,astrongeducationalcampaignpitcheddirectlyatchildrenandyoungpeoplethemselves.

Thehugeincreaseinthenumberofoutletssupplyingalcoholwasaseriousmistake,whilethemorerecentrestrictionsonopeninghourshavehadlittlediscernibleimpactonteendrinking.Labourwilltakeactiontofurtherrestrictsalestounder-agepersons,notablyinoff-licenceoutlets.WewillalsoworkatEUleveltodevelopaEuropean-wideagreementtophaseout,orsubstantiallyreduce,alcohol-relatedsponsorshipofsportingevents.

supporTing modern irish familiesIrishfamilylifehaschangedenormouslyoverthepasttwodecades,butchangesinemploymentandlegalrightshavenotkeptpace.

Labourfavoursmovingtoapaternityleavemodel,whereparentscansharepaidleavewhenanewbabyisborn,asresourcesallow.Moreimmediately,Labourwillintroducealegalrighttoacareerbreak,subjecttoreasonableconditions,whichwouldallowparentstotaketimeoutoftheworkplacewithoutriskingfuturebenefitsorjobsecurity.Thiswouldhavetheaddedbenefitofcreatingmobilityinthelabourforce.Wewillalsoexploretheoptionofintroducingarighttopart-timework,subjectalsotoreasonableconditions.

LabourwilllegislatetoguaranteethattheStaterespectsfamilylife,whetherbasedonmarriageornot,bypassingourGuardianshipofChildrenBill(2010).

Building an age-friendly socieTyIrelandneedstheexperience,theenergyandthepatriotismofitsoldercitizens,justasolderpeoplethemselvescanbenefitfromhelpintheircommunities.

Labourwillestablish‘Give n Take’, acommunityresponsetotheeverydayneedsofpeopleinalocalcommunity.Inthisexchange,peopleofallagesvolunteertheirtime,whichislodgedina‘timebank’.Thisexchange,whichwouldbeweightedinfavourofolderpeople,wouldbeawayofbrokeringvolunteeringgoodwillinacommunity.

Thiswillbeawayofconnectingpeoplewhowanttohelpoutintheircommunities,withthosewhoneedthathelp.Itwillbealocalorganisation,administeredlocallythroughthenetworkoflocaldevelopment/partnershipcompanieswithassistancefromVolunteeringIrelandandnewtechnologies.Itwouldnotrequireadditionalresources.

Labourwillalsoinitiateanationalannualcompetition– ‘A Shining Community’–tofindthemostage-friendlycommunityinIreland.StructuredalongthelinesoftheTidyTownscompetition,communitieswouldresearchanddevelopablueprintforhowtheircommunitycanbecomeamodel,age-friendlycommunityaccountingforthehealth,recreational,educational,participatory,builtenvironment,emotionalandsecurityneedsofolderpeople.

LabouringovernmentiscommittedtoprogressingtheimplementationofaNationalPositiveAgeingStrategy.

making sure The voices of older people are heardLabourwantsolderpeopletobeheardintheircommunities.LocalauthoritieswillberequiredtoestablishlocalOlderPeoplecouncils,wheremembersofthecommunitycanraiselocalconcernsorissuesofimportance.ThesecouncilswillbechairedbyarepresentativeoftheLocalAuthority,whowillberequired

Labour will legislate to guarantee that the State respects family life, whether based on marriage or not

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toreporttobothlocalelectedrepresentatives,andtheOfficeforOlderPeople.

BeTTer care for older peopleLabour’sreformofprimarycareservices,anduniversalhealthinsurance,willparticularlybenefitolderpeople,whowillbeassuredofaccesstocarewhentheyneedit.Labour’splantoexpandthecommunitycaresector,toenableolderpeopletobedischargedfromhospitalandcaredforintheircommunities,isdetailedinourproposalsonUniversalHealthInsurance.

Labourwillreviewtheroleandoperationsofthepublicnetworkofgeriatrichospitalsandlongtermcareunitsaspartofacoherentstrategyforresidentialcareforolderpeople.

Labourwillregulatehomehelpservicessothatolderpeopleandtheirfamiliescanhaveconfidenceinthem.

Labouriscommittedtointroducingacomprehensivestatutoryframeworkonmentalcapacity,includingprovisionfortheappointmentofanindependentadvocateforthosewhoneedsomeonetoadvocateontheirbehalf.

helping older people who wanT To workOlderpeoplewhowishtoremaineconomicallyactiveshouldbeabletodoso.Phasedretirementfrom

full-timeworkwillbefacilitatedforthosewhowishtocontinuetoworkpart-timeonacontractualbasis,underpinnedbylegislationandsubjecttocommonsenseexceptionsandconditions.

Theexperienceandskillsofolderpeopleshouldnotbelosttotheeconomywhentheyretire.Labourwillinitiateacampaign, ‘Flyin’ at 60’, toencourageandsupportolderpeoplefinalisingonecareertomaketheirwisdomavailabletoanewenterprise.RetiredpeoplewithenterprisedevelopmentandmentoringskillscanalsoplayavoluntaryroleintheservicesprovidedbytheLocalDevelopment-PartnershiporCountyEnterpriseBoards.

CountyEnterpriseBoardswillalsobemandatedtodevelopaspecificsupportpackagefor‘start-up’SocialEntrepreneurs.

BeTTer, safer communiTies for older peopleIrelandneedstoplannowforhomesandcommunitiesthatmakeiteasierforolderpeopletoliveindependently.PartMoftheBuildingRegulationswillberevisedanddevelopmentscomplyingwithUniversalDesignprincipleswillbefavouredintheplanningprocess.

AspartofLabour’sbroaderhousingpolicy,wewillseektopromoteshelteredhousingthatmeetsahighstandardofdesignandspecification.Simplehomemaintenancecanbeoneofthebiggestchallengesforpeopleastheygrowolder.Through

theGiven’TakeaSocialExchangeNetwork,thelocaldevelopmentandpartnershipcompanieswillholdaregisterofskilledcraftspeoplewillingtovolunteeralittleoftheirtime,andwhocanundertakeminoralterationsandrepairs.

Labourwillallowforthedevelopmentof‘NoColdCalling’Zonesinareaswithhighconcentrationsofolderpeople.Thiswillprohibitthepracticeofcoldcallingandsellingdoortodoorinthoseareas.

Anopt-inOlder People Community Registerwillbeestablished,incooperationwithCommunityGardaí,theHSE,andlocally-managedsocialcarenetworkstomaximiseacommunity-wideresponseintheeventofnaturalemergencies.

Labour will allow for the development of ‘No Cold Calling’ Zones

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fairness

The firsT sTeps

• Bringmorewomenintopoliticsbytyingfundingforpoliticalpartiestotheparticipationofwomenrepresentatives

• Reformthelawonmentalcapacity

• Strongerlawsagainstunfairdiscrimination

• Areferendumonsame-sexmarriage

• Legislationtoregulatescientificstemcellresearch

A Fairer and More Equal IrelandTime for changeEqualityisnotaluxuryforthegoodtimesorabuzzword:itisattheheartofwhatitmeanstobeacitizeninourdemocracy,anditisattheheartoftheLabourParty’sviewoftheworld.Labourbelievesthateveryonehastherighttoreachtheirfullpotential,freefromdiscrimination,andthatweallbenefitfromlivinginamoreequalsociety.FiannaFáilpresidedoveraveryunequalanddividedIreland.LabouriscommittedtoforgingOneIreland,builtonfairnessandequalcitizenship.

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fairness and equaliTy for womenWomencontinuetobeunder-represented–iftheyarethereatall–inthedecision-makingarenasatalllevelsofpolitics,andonstateboards.Labourwillmakeitalegalrequirementthat40percentofeithergenderisrepresentedonstateboardsandcommittees,andwewillensurethatothernominatingbodiesareboundbythesametarget.

Publicfundingforpoliticalpartieswillbetiedtothelevelofparticipationbywomenaspublicrepresentativesthosepartiesachieve.Demandingtargetsforallpoliticalpartieswillbesetoutinlegislation.

Labouriscommittedtotacklinganderadicatingdomesticviolence.Wewillprotectfundingforfrontlineservices,suchasfamilyrefuges,anddrawonbestinternationalpracticetoreformthewaythecourtssystemdealswithdomesticabusecases.Mosturgently,wewilltacklethedelayinhearingdomesticabusecasesinthecourts,andprovidenationalconsistencyofaccesstothecourtsforurgentapplications.

LaboursupportsupdatingtheConstitutiontoreflecttheroleofwomenin21stcenturyIreland,whichwewillberecommendingtoourproposedConstitutionalConvention.

a fair deal for people wiTh disaBiliTiesLabourremainscommittedtoanapproachtodisabilityinIrelandbasedonrights,equalityandparticipation.Wewillcontinuetoworktovindicatetherightsofpeoplewithdisabilitiestoeducation,health,housingandworkandtoparticipateinaninclusivemannerintheeconomic,socialandculturallifeofthecommunity,andwillworktoadvanceimplementationoftheNationalDisabilityStrategy.

Labourwillprotect,asapriority,thosepeoplewithdisabilitieswhoaremostvulnerabletocutsinpublicservices.However,itisalsoessentialthatwegetthebestpossiblevalueformoneyfortheinvestmentwemakeinserviceswithpeoplefordisabilities,andthatthoseservicesmeettheneedsofusers.

Labour’sproposedComprehensiveExpenditureReviewwillexamineallprovisionforpeoplewithdisabilities,withaviewtodetermininghowuserscangetthebestservices,forthepublicinvestmentmade.Aspartofthisreview,Labourwillconsidermovingaproportionofpublicspendingondisabilityservicestoapersonalbudgetingmodel,sothatpeoplewithdisabilitiesortheirfamilieshavegreaterflexibilitytomakethechoicesthatsuittheirneedsbest.

Labourisalsocommittedtoreformingthelawonmentalcapacity,soastoensurethegreatestdegreeofautonomyforpeoplewithintellectualdisabilitiesorsufferingfromamentalillness,andtoreducetheneedforexpensivecourtproceedings.

Labour will make it a legal requirement that 40 per cent of either gender is represented on state boards and committees

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lgBT righTsLabouriscommittedtoholdingareferendumtoprovideforconstitutionalrecognitionofsame-sexmarriage.Labouralsosupportsentitlingallpartiestoamarriageorcivilpartnershiptoapplytoadoptachild,whileensuringthatalladoptiondecisionsmustbemadeinthebestlong-terminterestsofthechild.Intheimmediateterm,Labourwillenactprovisionstoextendthetaxbenefitsofmarriagetosamesexcouplesincivilpartnerships.

LabouriscommittedtoensuringallpubliclyfundedcollegesoperateinaccordancewiththeconstitutionalrighttoFreedomofConscience.LabourwillensurethefiveteachingcollegesintroduceaFreedomofConscienceclausesothattraineeteachersnolongerareobligedtoundergocompulsoryreligiouseducation.

LabourwillamendSection37oftheEmploymentEqualityActs(1998)and(2004)toenddiscriminationagainstLGBTteachersandtraineeteachers,andtoensurethatthereisnoobstacletoschoolstacklinghomophobicbullying.

LabourwillcontinuetofundGayHIVStrategies.

Labourwilladvanceequalityfortrans-genderpeoplebyenactinggenderrecognitionlegislation,andbyextendingtothemprotectionsaffordedbyexistingequalitylegislation.

fair employmenT righTsLabouringovernmentwilladdressthefactthatsomeunscrupulousemployershavesoughttounderminetherighttocollectivebargaining.Labourwillintroducelegislationtostrengthentherightsofworkerstoengageincollectivebargaining,asenshrinedintheEUCharterofFundamentalRights.Thelegislationwillalsomakeitillegal

todiscriminateinanywayagainstanemployeebecausetheyareamemberofatradeunionorinvolvedintradeunionactivity.

LabourwillalsoamendtheEmploymentEqualityActtocombatagediscriminationbyshiftingtheburdenofprooftotheemployerastowhyanindividualmustretireonagegrounds.

fosTering a healThy civil socieTyArobustcivilsocietyisessentialtobuildingafairIreland,wherepowerissharedanddissentanddebatearevalued.

LaboursupportstheaimsoftheConversationonDemocracyinIrelandproject.

Labour’sComprehensiveSpendingReviewwillexamineallareasofgovernmentspending,toestablishwhatisthebestandmostcost-effectivewaytoachievethepositiveoutcomeswewantforourcountry.ThisreviewwillprovidethebasisforacoherentpolicyframeworkgoverningtheState’spartnershipwithcommunityandvoluntaryorganisations.

LabouriscommittedtocontinuingtheworkoftheForumonPhilanthropyunderthechairmanshipoftheDepartmentoftheTaoiseach,andtoactivelysupportingthedevelopmentofastrategytopromotephilanthropyatalllevelsofsociety

puTTing equaliTy Back inTo governmenT decision-makingFiannaFáilsystematicallyfilletedstatebodieswhichcriticiseditsrecordonequality,humanrightsandpoverty.TheLabourPartywillputfairnessandequalitybackattheheartofgovernmentdecision-making.AnewEqualityandSocialInclusionAuthoritywithamandatetopromotesocialinclusionandequality,andcombatpovertyanddiscrimination,willreplacetheEqualityAuthorityandtheNationalDisabilityAuthority.ItwillincorporatethepolicyandresearchfunctionsoftheCombatPovertyAgency,whichwasdismantledbyFiannaFáil.

LabourwillestablishanOireachtasCommitteeonEquality,WomenandHumanRights,chargedwithprogressinglegislationintheseareas.

BioeThics and oTher law reformsLabourwilllegislateinaccordancewithexistingconstitutionalprovisionsandcourtjudgementstoclarifythelaw–includingthelawrelatingtoguardianshipresponsibilities–surroundingassistedhumanreproduction.Labourwillalsolegislatetoregulatestemcellresearch,withregardtotherecommendationsoftheIrishCouncilforBioethics.

Labour will enact provisions to extend the tax benefits of marriage to same sex couples in civil partnerships

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Labourwilllegislateforpost-mortemproceduresandorganretentionpracticesasrecommendedbytheMaddenreport,andchangetheOrganDonationsystemtoan‘optout’systemfororgantransplantationratherthanan‘optin’system,soastoimprovetheavailabilityoforgansforpatientsindesperateneed.

LabouringovernmentwilllegislateinaccordancewiththeSupremeCourtjudgmentintheXCase,andtherecentrulingbytheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights.

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fairness

The firsT sTeps

• VestoverallresponsibilityfordevelopingtheIrishlanguageintheOfficeoftheTaoiseach

• Developlocalsportspartnershipsnationwideusingfundingfromanincreasedbettinglevy

• Prioritisemulti-usefacilitieswheninvestinginsportsinfrastructure

• EstablishaNationalEndowmentFundtoleverageprivatefundingforthearts

• Focuspublicspendingontheartsonmakingthebestuseofourexistingartsvenues,andonextendingaccesstothearts

Excellenceintheartsandinsportwillbesupported,butthethrustofLabour’spolicywillbetowidenaccesstothearts,togrowIrishasaspokenlanguage,andtobuildparticipationinsportfromthegroundup.

Culture, Sport and the ArtsTime for changeLabourbelievesthateverycitizenshouldhavetheopportunitytoenjoyoursharedcultural,artisticandsportinglife,andtoparticipateinit.

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The irish language in The 21sT cenTuryTheLabourPartyrecognisesthattheIrishlanguageisanimportantpartofournationalandculturalidentity.ItsstandingasoneoftheoldestspokenandliterarylanguagesstillinusegivesitawidersignificancenotonlyinIrelandbutacrossEurope.Itsimportancegoesbeyondculturalheritage.LabourbelievesthattheIrishlanguagecanandshouldcontributetooureconomicrecoverythroughitscontinueduseintourism,theartsandinbroadcasting.

AsafoundationfortheLabourParty’spositionontheIrishlanguage,wesupportthe20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.LabourbelievesthattheOfficeoftheTaoiseachshouldberesponsibleforcoordinatinganddrivingthestrategy,andthattheTaoiseachshouldbeanswerabletotheDáilforitsimplementation.

reviTalising The irish language in educaTionLabourwillmaintainIrishasoneofthethreecorecompulsoryLeavingCertificatesubjects.Atthesametime,werecognisethattheteachingoftheIrishlanguageneedssignificantreform.IrishstudentsshouldleaveschoolabletoholdaconversationinIrishwiththeirpeers.

LabourwillundertakeathoroughreformoftheIrishcurriculuminkeepingwiththeaimsofthe20YearStrategy.Labourwantstocreatea

virtuouscirclewhereteachersandstudentsareimprovingtheirspokenIrishonanongoingbasis.Thiscanbedoneinpartbyreformingthecurriculumsomoreemphasisisputonoralandauralskills.Ourteacherswillalsoneedtobesupportedinthisprocess.Opportunitieswillbeprovided,withintheexistingcontinuousprofessionaldevelopmentbudget,toprimaryandsecondaryschoolteacherstoattendcoursesintheGaeltachtduringthesummertomaintainandimprovetheirIrishthroughouttheircareers.

LaboursupportsthelongertermgoalofintroducingasecondsubjectatprimarylevelthatistaughtthroughIrish.Workinginconsultationwithallstakeholderswewillexplorehowthiscanbestbeachieved.ThegoalofnormalisingtheuseofIrishthroughteachingart,musicordramaisonepossiblewayofencouragingtheuseofspokenIrish.

Ingovernment,Labourwillimplementitsstrategyforimprovingliteracyinschools.ThisstrategywillincludetheimprovementofIrishlanguageliteracyingaelscoileannaandinGaeltachtschools,withappropriateadaptationsofthestrategydevelopedinconsultationwitheducationalstakeholders.

creaTing living gaelTachTaíTheLabourpartyrecognisestheimportantplacetheGaeltachtaíhaveinourcountry.ThesurvivalandenhancementoftheGaeltachtaídependsonpeoplebeingabletomakealivinginthesecommunities.ÚdarásnaGaeltachta,alongwithotherenterpriseagencies,willbeabletodrawdownadditionalfundingfromLabour’sdedicatedJobsFund,iftheycandemonstratethatthisadditionalfundingwilldirectlycontributetogeneratingadditionaljobsinstrategicareassuchasfoodproduction,tourism,

Labour supports the longer term goal of introducing a second subject at primary level that is taught through Irish

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renewableenergy,digitalmediaorcleantechnology.

irish language BroadcasTing and The arTsWhenlastingovernment,theLabourPartyestablishedTG4.WewillcontinuetosupporttheIrishlanguagebroadcastingsector.TheIrishlanguageisakeypartofourartistictradition,andthiswillalsobesupportedbyLabouringovernment.

an ghaeilgeAithníonnPáirtíanLuchtOibregurbíanGhaeilgecuidthábhachtachdárbhféiniúlachtnáisiúntaaguschultúir.Cuirtearsuntasníosleithneinaleith,níinÉirinnamháinacharfudnahEorpachomhmaith,margheallaranstádasatáaicimarcheanndenateangachalabharthaaguslitearthaissineatáinúsáidfós.Táibhfadníosmónáoidhreachtchultúirigceistleisantábhachtabhaineannléi.CreidimidgurféidirleisannGaeilgeagusgurchóirdicurlenárdtéarnamheacnamaíochtatríúsáidabhaintaistigoleanúnachsaturasóireacht,snahealaíonaagusigcúrsaícraolacháin.

LeagtarbonnsíosileithstaidPháirtíanLuchtOibremaidirleisannGaeilgetrídantacaíochtathugaimiddonStraitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, 2010-2030.CreideannPáirtíanLuchtOibregurchóird’OifiganTaoisighfreagrachtaghlacadhasanstraitéisachomhordúagusachurchuncinnagusgurchóirdonTaoiseachabheithfreagrachdonDáilmaidirlenacuringníomh.

an ghaeilge agus oideachas CoinneoidhPáirtíanLuchtOibreanGhaeilgemarcheanndenatríchroí-ábharéigeantachadonArdteistiméireacht.Aganamcéannaaithnímidgobhfuilgálehathchóiriúsuntasachadhéanamh

armhúineadhnaGaeilge.BachóirgombeadhdaltaínahÉireanninanncomhráabheithacuasGaeilgelenagcomhpháirtitheagusiadagfágáilnascoile.

TabharfaidhPáirtíanLuchtOibrefaoiathchóiriúcríochnúilarchuraclamnahÉireannathiocfaidhlehaidhmeannanaStraitéise20Bliain.TáimidagiarraidhfáinneóirachruthúinabhfeabhsóidhmúinteoiríagusdaltaíanGaeilgelabharthaarbhonnleanúnach.Isféidirésinadhéanamhgopáirteachtrídangcuraclamaathchóiriúionasgoleagfartuilleadhbéimearscileannalabharthaaguséisteachta.Beidhtacaíochtagteastáilómhúinteoiríchomhmaithmarchuiddenphróiseasseo.Cuirfeardeiseannaarfáil,laistighdenbhuiséadforbarthagairmiúlaleanúnaíreatha,domhúinteoiríbunscoileagusmeánscoilechunfreastaladhéanamharchúrsaísaGhaeltachtirithantsamhraidharmhaithelenanGaeilgeachothabháilagusafheabhsúlelinnangairme.

TacaíonnPáirtíanLuchtOibreleisanspriocníosfadtéarmaímaidirledarahábharamhúinfeartríGhaeilgeathabhairtisteachaganleibhéalbunscoile.Déanfaimidscrúdúarconasisfearrisféidirésinabhaintamachagusmuidagobairigcomhairleleisnapáirtitheleasmharagoléir.Bealachamháinad’fheadfaíspreagadhathabhairt

d’úsáidnaGhaeilgelabharthaiseaanspriocabhaineannlehúsáidabhaintasannGaeilgeingnáthchúinsítríealaín,ceolnódrámaíochtamhúineadh.CuirfidhPáirtíanLuchtOibreastraitéismaidirlelitearthachtafheabhsúiscoileannaingníomhagusiadsaRialtas.Áireofarmarchuiddenstraitéissin,litearthachtnaGaeilgeafheabhsúingaelscoileannaagusiscoileannanaGaeltachta,agusoiriúnuithecuídenstraitéisábhforbairtigcomhairlelepáirtitheleasmharaoideachais.

gaelTachTaí Beo a chruThúAithníonnPáirtíanLuchtOibreanstaidthábhachtachatáagnaGaeltachtaísatíragainne.BraitheannmaireachtáilagusfeabhsúnanGaeltachtaíarchumasnandaoinechunslíbheathaadhéanamhsnapobailsin.BeidhÚdarásnaGaeltachta,idteanntalegníomhaireachtaífiontraíochta,inannmaoiniúbreiseaíostarraingtóChistetiomnaitheFostaíochtaPháirtíanLuchtOibre,másféidirleoaléiriúgogcabhróidhanmaoiniúbreisesingodíreachletuilleadhpostaghiniúintiréimsístraitéiseachacosúilletáirgeadhbia,turasóireacht,fuinneamhin-athnuaite,nameáindhigiteachanóanteicneolaíochtghlan.

Coinneoidh Páirtí an Lucht Oibre an Ghaeilge mar cheann de na trí chroí-ábhar éigeantacha don Ardteistiméireacht

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craolachán gaeilge agus na healaíona ChuirPáirtíanLuchtOibrean-chuiddenastruchtúiragusanreachtaíochtarbunaraibhcruthúTG4marthoradhorthulelinndóibhabheithsaRialtasanuairdheireanach.LeanfaimidaraghaidhagtacúlehearnáilanchraolacháinGhaeilge.IscuidlárnachdárdtraidisiúnealaíneíanGhaeilgeagustacóidhPáirtíanLuchtOibreleissinfreisinagusiadsaRialtas.

a fresh direcTion for arTs policyIntheinterestsofvalueformoney,achievinggreaterefficienciesandamorecoherentpolicy,LabourwillmakestrategicpolicyformulationtheprimaryfunctionoftheDepartment,withitslineagenciesandbodiesbeingresponsibleforpolicyimplementation.

LabouringovernmentwillinitiateafullreviewoftheareasthatreceivestatefundingthroughtheArtsCouncil.Fundingwillbetargetedinareaswhereitcanbemosteffectiveinextendingtheavailabilityofartsandculturalactivities,whilebalancingthisagainstinnovationandendeavour.Wewillalsoensurethatadequatesupportisextendedtothosesectorsoftheartsthatareparticularlypopularwithyoungerpeople.Inthelongerterm,LabourfavoursputtingaproportionofArtsCouncilfundingonamulti-annualbasis,toallowforlonger-termartsplanning.

LabourbelievesthatthepromotionofIrishartsabroadisimportant.However,thisdoesnotneedtobedonebyaseparateagency,withaseparateboard.LabourwilltransferthefunctionsofCultureIrelandtotheArtsCouncil,andgivetheArtsCouncilanexpandedmandatetopromoteIrishculturalprojectsabroad.

LabourwillalsopilotaLocalArtsPartnership,basedonthesuccessfullocalsportspartnerships,inordertoincreaseparticipationinthearts.Thiswillbefundedfromwithintheexistingdepartmentalbudget.

geTTing The mosT from our culTural venuesLabourwillseektocapturesomepublicgoodfromNAMAbyidentifyingbuildingsthathavenocommercialpotential,andwhichmightbesuitableaslocalfacilitiesforartandculture.WewillalsoundertakeaNationalAuditofArtsandCulturalFacilitiestoascertainourcurrentnationalartsinfrastructure.However,Labour’sfocusofinvestmentintheartswillbeonensuringourexistingvenuesarefullyutilised.

Labourwillalsoreviewtheopeningtimesofournationalculturalinstitutions,suchasmuseums,toallowforlateropeningatleastonceaweek,andmakeCultureNightatwice-yearly,nationwideevent.Thiscanbedonefromwithintheexistingartsdepartmentalbudget.

supporTing arTisTs and culTural employmenTLabourwillestablishaNationalEndowmentFundfortheArtstoleverageprivatefundingtothearts.

WewillmaintaintheArtistsTaxExemptionat€40,000peryear,butwillpermitafacilitythatenablesartiststospreadincomeoveraperiodofyears.

ThereisawealthofartistictalentinIrelandthatmustnotbeallowedtogotowasteorbelosttoemigration.Labour’sBridgetheGAPapprenticeshipandworkplacementschemecanbeusedtoemployrecentfineartsgraduatesinschoolstofacilitatetheteachingofart.Theexistingapprenticeshipschemecouldalsobeexpandedtoincludeapprenticeshiptoartisticandculturalenterprises.

making sporT accessiBle To allEveryone,regardlessofgender,ageorbackground,shouldhavetheopportunitytoparticipateinsport.Labour’ssportsstrategywillbuildonsuccessfullocalschemestodevelopprogrammes,facilitiesandactivities,toincreaseparticipationforall.LocalSportsPartnershipshavethepotentialtobuildparticipationfromthebottomup.Labourwillmainstreamsuccessfulsportspartnershippilotprojectsthathaveproventheireffectivenessinbroadeningparticipation,usingfundingfromareconstitutedbettinglevy.

LabourwillalsosupporttheworkofSpecialOlympicsIrelandinbuildingaprogrammeofsportanddevelopmentinlocalcommunitiesforpeoplewithspecialneeds.

a coherenT approach To developing sporTs faciliTiesTheNationalSportsFacilitiesStrategywillbecometheblueprintforthefuturedevelopmentofallsportsfacilitiesinthecountry.

Labour will pilot a Local Arts Partnership to increase participation in the arts

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Infuture,capitalinvestmentinmulti-usesportingfacilitieswillbeprioritised.Overall,LabourbelievesthatfundingofIrishsportshouldbereallocatedawayfromcapitalprojectsandmovedtowardsemploymentandpromotionofsportonalocalandnationallevel.

AnyfuturegrantsallocatedundertheLocalAuthoritySwimmingPoolProgrammewillbecognizantoftheNationalAuditofSportsFacilitiesandtheamountofprivatefacilitiesinthearea.Itwillplacemostemphasisontherefurbishmentofderelictpools;onensuringprovisioninareaswhichhaveexperiencedrapidpopulationgrowth;andareasthatdemonstrateaclearneed.

supporTing our eliTe aThleTesWewillcontinuetosupportoureliteathletesthroughtheInternationalCardingschemewhichwewillreviewafterLondon2012.ThroughtheDepartmentofTourism,CultureandSportwewillreviewthecurrentstructuresandstrategicplansofsportingbodies,examiningtheimplementationofHighPerformancePlansandlong-termcoachingplanswithinthebodies.

a more Joined-up, sTraTegic approach To sporT in irelandItisintheinterestsofallstakeholdersthatnationalpolicyforsportshouldbeeffectiveandfundingtransparentandstrategic.Responsibilityforpolicy-makingwillreverttothedepartment,whileagencieswillbeaccountableforimplementingpolicy,assessingoutcomesandvalueformoney.

Fundingforstateagenciesandgoverningbodieswillbemademoretransparentandstructured,withtheMinisterholdingultimateresponsibilityforfundingdecisions.However,allstatefundingwillbe

subjecttothebeneficiariessigninguptoadisputeresolutionservices,suchastheJustSportIrelandinitiative,andtheadherencetonewmandatorycodesofconductregardingchildprotectioninsport.

TheIrishSportsCouncilwillberenamedSportandRecreationIreland,withanexpandedremit.SportandRecreationIrelandwillpartnerlocalauthorities,OPW,WaterwaysIrelandandCoilltetoidentifyappropriateoutdoorfacilitiessuchastreks,walksandcycleways,campingandwatersports.Itwillalsoworkwiththelocalauthoritiestoimproverecreationfacilities.AnumberofpositionsontheSportsCouncil’sgoverningboardwillbemadedirectlyelectable.

Labourwillalsoencourage,wherefeasible,partnershipsbetweenschoolsandlocalclubstobuildordevelopsharedsportsfacilities,whichcanbeself-financing.

changing how we finance The horse and greyhound fund ThehorseandgreyhoundracingindustriesarepartofIrishculture,andimportantemployers.LabourwillmaintaintheHorseandGreyhoundFund,thoughwithoutdirectsubventionfromtheExchequer.Instead,Labourwillintroduceabettinglevyof1.5%,extendedacrossallmedia

andon-coursetransactions.PartoftherevenueraisedfromthislevywillgotowardstheHorseandGreyhoundFund.WealsofavourthebenchmarkingofHorseRacingprizemoneytoalevelabovethatofourcompetitornationsinEurope.

Howareconstitutedfundwillberaisedandadministeredwillbedecidedinconsultationwithallstakeholders.

Labour will also encourage, where feasible, partnerships between schools and local clubs to build or develop shared sports facilities

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fairness

The firsT sTeps

• MakerestoringIreland’sinternationalreputationakeyobjectiveofeverygovernmentminister

• MaintainIreland’soverseasdevelopmentaidbudget,andprogresstoatargetof0.7percentofGNPdedicatedtoODAby2015

• MakeIrelandaninternationalemergencyhubforhumanitarianaidandpersonnel

• WorkwithourEUpartnerstoreforminternationalfinancialregulation,andgrowtheEuropeaneconomy

• Publishawhitepapersettingoutastrategyforthefutureofourdefenceforcesto2020

Foreign Affairs, the EU and Northern IrelandTime for changeIreland’sinternationalreputationhasbeendamagedbythedisastrousmishandlingofoureconomybyFiannaFáil,andbytherecklessnessofthoseatthetopofthebanks.WeneedtorebuildourrelationshipsandregainourlostinfluencewithintheEuropeanUnion,andreachouttoforgenewrelationshipswithemergingworldpowers.Irelandhasalwayswieldedinfluencegreaterthanoursizeontheinternationalstage.

TheLabourPartyiscommittedtorestoringIreland’sgoodname,andtoensuringthatIrishsolidaritywiththeworld’spoorestpeopleismaintained.

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resToring ireland’s inTernaTional repuTaTionIreland’sstandingwithintheEuropeanUnionandinthewiderworldhasbeencompromisedbythedisastrousmishandlingofoureconomybyFiannaFáil.ThislossofreputationisarealthreattoIreland’sprospectsofrecovery.

LabourwillmakerestoringIreland’sinternationalreputationasagood,transparentplacetodobusiness,andasaresponsiblememberoftheinternationalcommunity,akeypolicyobjectiveforourdiplomaticcorps,andforeveryministeringovernment.

LabourwillensurethatIrelandisfullyprepared,withastrategicplanofaction,forbothitschairmanshipoftheOrganisationforSecurityandCooperationinEuropein2012,andthepresidencyoftheEUCouncilin2013.

a commiTmenT To developmenTLabourisopposedtoanyfurthercutsinoverseasdevelopmentaid.Labouriscommittedtoincreasingoverseasdevelopmentaidto0.7%ofGNP,whichwewillseektoachieveby2015.Wewillintroducelegislationby2013toensurethattheODAbudgetisprovidedforfromtheCentralFund,ratherthanbeingatthemercyoftheannualestimatesprocess,atwhichpointwewillpublishapathwaytoachievingthegoal.Thelegislationwillalsogivelegalexpressiontothe

valuesandprinciplesunderpinningtheaidprogramme,andwillprovideaframeworktoenhancethepredictability,accountabilityandimpactofIrishAid.

Labourwillundertakeareviewoftheimplementationofthe2006WhitePaperonIrishAid,inordertolearnfrompastsuccessesandmistakes,andformulateclearobjectivesforIreland’saidprogrammeto2020.

LabourwillworkatEUleveltoensurethatEUaidistransparentandclearlytargetedatachievingtheUNMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs).WithintheUN,wewillpressfortheestablishmentoftheprincipleofaccesstocleanwaterandsanitationasahumanrightintheupcomingreviewoftheMDGs,andfortheestablishmentofaRapidResponseAgencyfornaturalandhumandisasterswhichwouldworktoanticipate,respondandpreventnaturalandhumandisasters.

LabourwillalsobackeffortsatUNleveltoestablishaformofTobinTaxatoninternationalfinancialtransactionstohelpgeneratefundstomeettheMDGs.

making ireland a huB for humaniTarian aidOneofthemajorcurrentweaknessesoftheinternationalresponsetohumanitariancrisesorconflictsistheabsenceofacoordinatingcentretoassembleresourcesandpersonnel.Ingovernment,LabourwillpositionIrelandtobecomeaninternationalhubforthestorageanddistributionofemergencyhumanitariansupplies,andfortheassemblyofmilitaryandcivilianpersonnelforEUorUNpeacekeepingmissions.TheShannonairportarea,witheasyaccesstoports,extensivespace,longrunwaysandlargedepotswouldbeanideallocationforsuchahub.

Labour is committed to increasing overseas development aid to 0.7% of GNP

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fairer TradeInternationaltraderelationsmustbedevelopedonthebasisofequitybetweendevelopedanddevelopingcountries.Wewillsupporteffortstoensureequityintaxationandtraderegimesandindealingwiththeburdenofinternationaldebt.

Labourisalsocommittedtostrengtheningpolicycoherenceinrelationtodevelopmentissuesacrossarangeofothergovernmentpolicyareas,includingtradeandclimatechange.

reform for a more eThical foreign policyTheprotectionofhumanrightsmustbeattheheartofanyethicalforeignpolicy.Throughourparticipationininternationalinsititutions,wewillworktowardstheinternationalrecognitionoftheuniversalityandindivisibiltyofhumanrights.

LabourstronglysupportstheUnitedNationsbutrecognisestheneedforsignificantreform.Thestructure,andprocedures,oftheSecurityCouncilmustbeadaptedtoreflecttheglobalpoliticsofthe21stcentury,includingtheinternationalstandingoftheEuropeanUnion.ChangesintheUNrelatedmultilateralinstitutionsareneededtofavourintegratedapproachestoaid,tradeanddebt.

TheimportanceofUNConventionsinawiderangeofpolicyareasmustberecognised.Labourwillseektospeeduptheirratificationandimplementation,forexampleofthecrucialUNConventionAgainstCorruption,whichisofmajorimportanceinthefieldofdevelopmentaidandassistance.

Labouringovernmentwillpursueapolicyofpositiveneutrality,andweareopposedtoIrelandparticipatingininternationalmutualdefencealliances.Inlinewithourpolicyofpositiveneutrality,Labourwill

implementmeasurestorestricttheuseofIrishairspace,airportsandrelatedfacilitiesforpurposesnotinlinewiththedictatesofinternationallaw,withpermissionformilitaryuseofsuchfacilitiesallowableonlyforinternationalmissionswithexplicitUNSecurityCouncilapproval.

Labouriscommittedtoretainingthe‘triplelock’,underwhichIrishdefenceforcescanonlyparticipateinmissionsabroadwithgovernmentapproval,Dáilapproval,andunderaUNmandate.

LabourwillgiveprioritytoachievingprogresswithintheUNontherangeoftreatiesandnegotiationsinthefieldofweaponsofmassdestruction,includingtheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreatyandtheeffortstoridtheworldoflandmines,clustermunitionsandbiologicalweapons.

securiTy and defenceTheIrishDefenceForceshaveaproudtraditionofparticipatinginpeacekeepingmissionsabroad,andareanimportantpillarofIrishdiplomacy.

LabourwillensurethattheDefenceForcesareappropriatelyequippedandstaffedtomeetIreland’sobligationstoUnitedNationsandEUpeacekeepingmissions.Inparticular,LabourwillensurethattheMedicalCorpsisfitforpurpose,andabletoattractsufficientpersonnel,andwilldevelopanappropriatetimescalefortherenewalofthenavalfleet.

TheReserveDefenceForceisavaluableresource,whichwillbeoptimisedinoverseasmissions

withtheDefenceForces.LabouralsosupportsgreatercoordinationbetweenRDFandCivilDefenceathome.AstrongerrolefortheRDFwillbefacilitatedbytheappointmentofaBrigadierGeneraltotheRDF.

LabourwillreformthegovernancestructuresoftheIrishRedCrosstoenableittodischargeitsdutiesmoreeffectivelyandtransparently.

Acknowledgingthecurrentbudgetaryrestraints,Irelandneverthelessneedstoplanaheadtoensurethatourdefenceforcesarefitforpurposeoverthecomingdecade.LabourwillpublishaWhitePaperontheDefenceForcessettingoutourvisionfortheDefenceForcesto2020.ThiswillincludeastrategytorestorethestrengthoftheDefenceForcesto10,500members.SuchapaperwillalsoconsiderwhattheappropriateroleforPDFORRAmightbewithinthewiderTradeUnionmovement.Finally,itshouldalsomapouthowIrelandwilldealwithfuture,unorthodoxattacks,suchascyberwarfare.

ireland in europeTheLabourPartybelievesthatrecoverydependsonsavingsandgrowth.WhiletheEUhasplayedacrucialrole,moremustbedonetosimultaneouslyreformfinancialmarkets,counteracttherecessionandre-launchtheeconomytocreatenewgrowthandjobs.ByactingtogetherinEuropeandworldwide,wecanforgeastrongerpathtorecoveryforusall.

Labour is committed to retaining Ireland’s ‘triple lock’

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JoBs and growThThenumberonepriorityforLabourinEuropeistosafeguardjobs,createnewonesandpromotesmart,environmentallysustainablegrowth.Europe’sstrengthsareitseconomicdiversityandhighskillbase.LabourfavoursaEuropeancompetitivenessstrategybasedonhighskills,effectiveness,genderequality,productivityandinnovationinaknowledge-driveneconomy.

LabourwillcontinuetosupportreformoffinancialmarketsandbankingregulationataEuropeanlevel.

LabouriscommittedtomaintainingIreland’s12.5%corporationtax,andwillopposeanymovetowardamandatoryCommonConsolidatedCorporateTaxBase.

LabourwillworkatEuropeanleveltoprogressthedevelopmentofanEU-widesmartgridthatwouldenableIrelandtoscaleupitsrenewableenergyproductionforexport.

LabourwillalsoseektodrawdownIreland’sentitlementtoEuropeanStructuralFundsandtheEuropeanSocialFundtopromoteemploymentinareassuchasresearch,developmentanddeploymentofrenewableenergiesandforretrofittingthehousingsector.

LaboursupportstheEU2020developmentstrategy,andwillworktoensurethatithasastrongeremphasisonemployment,andagenuineintegrationofthesocialdimensionintoEUstrategicthinking.

Building a social europeTheEuropeanUnionisfarmorethananeconomicunion:itisapoliticalunionandcommunityofvalues.InaSocialEurope,theeconomic,social,culturalandpoliticalrightsofallcitizenswillbesafeguarded.WithoursisterpartiesineverymemberstateandthePartyofEuropeanSocialists,

Labourwillworktomakesuretheserightsarerecognisedandrespected.

LabourwillalsoseektoestablishaEuropeanEmploymentandSocialProgressPactguaranteeingamoreequalsocietyandlifeofdignityforallcitizens,whetheremployedorunemployed.Thiscrisishasunderlinedtheimportanceofstrong,sustainablesocialprotectionsystems.ThroughthesocialprogressclauseagreedintheLisbonTreaty,wewillensuretherealsocialandenvironmentalcostofEUlawsisfullyassessedbeforetheyareagreed.

fulfilling The lisBon pledgesTheLisbonTreatyhasstrengthenedtheroleoftheEUparliamentintheEUlegislativesystem.LabourPartyMEPs,withtheircolleaguesintheGroupofSocialistsandDemocrats,willworkfortheimplementationoftheLisbonTreatyreforms,forthegreatertransparencyandaccountabilityintheworkoftheEUinstitutionsandfortheprioritisationofeconomicstability,jobcreationandsocialdevelopment.TheLisbonTreatyalsomandatesamuchgreaterrolefornationalparliamentsinthescrutinyofEUlegislation,whichLabourwillenforcethroughtheDáilcommitteesystem.

IrelandhasplayedaconstructiveroleinthedevelopmentandoperationoftheEUCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy.Labouriscommittedtocontinuingthisengagement,inthecontextofourpolicyofpositiveneutrality,andthereaffirmationofthatneutralitybyourEUpartnersintheLisbonTreaty.

WithoursisterpartiesacrossEuropeandtheSocialistInternational,LabourwillworktosupportgradualandconsideredfurtherenlargementoftheUniontobringpeace,highlivingstandardsandstablegrowthacrossthecontinent.

cooperaTion on climaTe changeLaboursupportsameaningfulandequitableinternationalagreementtoavoidrunawayglobalwarming,andwillworkatEuropeanleveltoensurethattheEUtakesaleadinthesenegotiations.Suchanagreementmustbeimplementedandmonitoredbyademocraticsupervisoryauthority.

LabouralsosupportsamorecoherentapproachtoreducinggreenhousegasesacrosstheEU,includingtheintroductionofbindingenergyefficiencytargetsby2020,andreformoftheEmissionsTradingSystem.

eu reformLabourwilldemandthehigheststandardsoftransparencyandaccountabilityfromEUinstitutionssuchastheCommissionandParliament;includingregulationoflobbying.

LaboursupportsthenominationofcandidatesfortheofficeofPresidentoftheEuropeanCommissioninadvanceofthe2014EuropeanelectionsfromthevariouspoliticalgroupingsintheEuropeanParliament.ThisstepwillhelpgivevotersrealchoicesinthefuturedirectionofEurope.

Labour will work at EU level to ensure the EU takes a lead in climate change negotiations

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norThern irelandLabourisproudofourcontributiontocreatingamorepeaceful,lawful,anddemocraticsocietyinNorthernIreland.WebelievethatthereisconsiderablymorepotentialforNorth/Southcooperationthanhasbeenthecasetodate,andthatthiscooperationcouldbeofmutualbenefittoallofthepeoplenorthandsouthoftheborder.ThroughtheNorth/SouthMinisterialCouncil,LabourwillseektheimmediatepublicationofthePhaseOneReviewofNorth/Southco-operationthatwasincludedaspartoftheStAndrewsAgreementof2006.LabourwillalsopressfortheearliestpossiblecompletionoftheSecondPhase,identifyingnewareasofco-operationandimplementationbetweenthetwopartsoftheisland.

Labourwillcommenceadditionalworkbythetwoadministrationsinidentifyingpotentialareaswherebysavingsandefficienciescouldbeachieved,servicesimprovedanddeveloped,andjobscreatedthroughgreaterNorth-Southco-operation.

WecannotforgetthatthereareelementsNorthandSouththatwishtodestabiliseandunderminetheprogressthathasbeenmade.Inordertoconfrontthisthreat,Labouringovernmentwillmaintainandencouragetheclear,close,andsuccessfulco-operationbetweenAnGardaSíochánaandthePoliceServiceofNorthernIrelandtodealwiththethreatofalldissidentparamilitarygroups.

Labour in government will maintain and encourage the clear, close, and successful co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland

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Manifesto2011

r’s man

ifesto 2011

Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011

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