Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011 - Fairness
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Transcript of 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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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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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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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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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
20
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