THE FIANNA Fáil election manifesto commits the party to a range of measures on job creation and political reform and pledges to implement the remaining elements of the National Recovery Plan.
“I have decided that our election manifesto should put aside the old approach of addressing every single policy,” party leader Micheál Martin writes in the introduction to Real Plan. Better Future.
The party launched the document yesterday in Dublin.
“In a broad range of areas which we have not included in this manifesto, we will be publishing policy statements in the days ahead,” the party leader’s statement adds.
The party’s policy on health, for example, is expected later this week.
Section 1 is entitled: “Reviving the Economy and Restoring the Public Finances”.
Under the heading of taxation, the document states: “The bulk of the income tax increases we have proposed under the National Recovery Plan have now been introduced.
“Any further tax increases over the next four years will largely be in the area of indirect taxation and by means of the closing of tax breaks and will be broadly based.”
On the issue of mortgage arrears, Fianna Fáil policy is that “homeowners who lose their jobs should be assisted to retain their homes during their period of unemployment”.
On the EU-IMF bailout it says: “It is nonsense to think that our colleagues in Europe will reward shirking from our budgetary commitments under the Programme with more favourable borrowing terms.
“We need to show that we can meet our targets and put our house in order.”
Under the heading “Reform of Politics Government”, the document proposes “a mixed system of single-seat constituencies elected through the system of single transferable vote and a top-up national list which will ensure proportional representation”.
Members of cabinet would not be members of the Oireachtas while they served as ministers. They would be replaced by alternatives from a list published at the time of the election, in a similar way to European parliamentary elections.
The ministers would continue to require approval by the Dáil, attend, answer questions and participate in debates but would not have votes.
“This system would allow them to devote significantly more time to their ministerial duties and increase the number of Dáil members participating in all parliamentary duties,” the document states.
In addition, persons who are not members of the Dáil would be allowed to be appointed to serve as ministers.
A confirmation process would be put in place which would include a presentation of priorities before the relevant committee.
In the Dáil, the ceann comhairle would be elected by secret ballot.
On the future of Seanad Éireann, the document states: “If our proposals for the reform of the electoral system and of government are enacted we will support the abolition of the Seanad.
“The savings in public expenditure will be used to resource the different elements which we are proposing to improve the workings of democracy and oversight of government.”
The minimum age for candidates in a presidential election would be reduced from 35 to 21 years and emigrants could vote in presidential elections.
Fianna Fáil supports the establishment of a citizens’ assembly to debate and recommend specific proposals for political reform.
In the first instance it would be focused on reforming the electoral system, the Oireachtas and membership of the government, with a mandate to report within six months.
“We would seek to constitute the Assembly so that it includes people from all sections of society – not representatives of organisations.”
In a section entitled “A Plan for Jobs”, Fianna Fáil pledges that enterprise agencies such as IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland would aim to create 150,000 new jobs.
In the area of tourism, the party wants to see an increase in overseas visitor numbers to eight million by 2015.
The party undertakes to complete the Metro North rail project and finish the Dart interconnector.
“Fianna Fáil strongly supports the establishment of a Green IFSC to target environmentally-related financial services as a means of generating high-value employment and revenue growth in Ireland,” the document states.
The document supports the concept of a review of the membership of all State boards.
“In particular we acknowledge that many are too large and do not include a sufficient diversity of skills.
“As a general rule we support the introduction of a limit of 10 ordinary members plus a chairman for the membership of boards which have core supervisory functions.
“Each minister should prepare and publish a statement of the skills and roles sought for each board,” the document states.
This will provide the framework within which appointed decisions can be made and reviewed.
“Each appointment to a public body should be reviewed by an independent board to work alongside the Judicial Appointments [Advisory] Board.
“They should be charged with certifying the suitability of potential appointees.
Government should be precluded from appointing a person who fails to be so certified,” the document states.
Fianna Fáil supports the introduction of a legal ban (by referendum if necessary) on all political donations except from persons entitled to vote in a general election.
“We will also support the halving of the donation limit to political parties and a new independent system for auditing compliance with spending and donation controls contained in the electoral acts,” the manifesto adds.
