Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011 - Fairness

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FAIRnEss

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Labour’s manifesto 2011

www.labour.ie/manifesto

fairness

The firsT sTeps

• Improvechildliteracystandardsforthefirsttimeinageneration

• Reformhowschoolsaremanagedtofocusonimprovingeducationaloutcomes

• Transformthesecondlevelcurriculumtoequipyoungpeoplewithskillsforthe21stcentury

• PrioritiseschoolbuildingandrefurbishmentinLabour’srevisedNationalDevelopmentPlan

• Puthighstandardsofteachingandlearningattheheartofthirdlevelreform

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Documents

Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011 - Fairness