Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011 - Jobs

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

JOBs

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01 The firsT sTeps

• RenegotiatetheEU/IMFDealtore-focusongrowthandjobcreation

• BankBondholdersshouldshareinbanklosses

• RenegotiatetheinterestrateontheEUloans

• Renegotiatethefiscalstrategytopromotegrowthandfairness

• EnsureanadequateflowofcredittotheIrisheconomy

Labour’s manifesto 2011

www.labour.ie/manifesto

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

Jobs

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LabourdoesnotacceptthattheEU/IMFdealprovidesaworkablebasisforrestoringtheIrisheconomy.LabouringovernmentwillengagewiththeEUandtheIMFtorenegotiatethedeal,soastoachievefairandrealistictermsforIrelandandfortheIrishpeople.

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

• Labourbelievesthatbankbondholdersshouldshareinbanklosses.Depositorsmustbefullyprotected.Labourwillseektoensurethatburdensharingwithbondholdersispartofarenegotiateddeal.

• Labourwillinsistthatanadequatepoolofcreditisavailabletofundsmallandmedium-sizedbusinessesintherealeconomyduringthere-structuringanddown-sizingprogramme.

• Labourwillensurethat,attheendoftheprocess,astrongandrobustbankingsystemexiststhatwillservetheneedsoftherealIrisheconomy.The

bankswillhavetoprovidedetailedplansonhowthiswillbeachieved,includingthenumberofSMElenderstobeinvolvedinachievingthetargets,howmanynewSMEclientswillabankachieve,andhowmuchwillbefocusedontoexistingclients.

• LabourwillseektoagreemoreeffectivealternativestothetransferoffurtherportfoliosofsmallerpropertyloanstoNAMA(NAMA2),giventhedifficultiesthiswillcreateinthemanagementofsuchloan-books.

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

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

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

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• Labourwillinsistonre-structuringofbankboards,toensurereplacementofdirectorswhopresidedoverfailedlendingpractices.Labourwillensurethattheregulatorhassufficientpowersofpre-approvalofbankdirectorsandseniorexecutives.

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

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

EffectiveoperationsanddecisionmakingbyNAMAarecriticaltothefutureoftheIrisheconomy,inrespectbothofcurtailinglossestotheState,andinensuringthatthepropertymarketinIrelandfunctionsnormally.ThepricesatwhichassetsaresoldbyNAMAiscritical.LabourwillalsoinsistonthehigheststandardsoftransparencyintheoperationofNAMA,andwillworktolimitthecostsassociatedwiththeagency

suchasinrespectofprofessionalfees.LabourwillinsistonthefullestrecoveryoflossesfromthedeveloperswhoseloanshavebeentransferredtoNAMAandwhodonotmeettheirobligations.

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

LabourwillrestorethesoundnessandcredibilityoftheIrishbankingsectorsothatitcanagainplayitsvaluablesocialandeconomicrole–asafehavenforsavings,afacilitatorofpayments,aresponsiblelenderforproductiveinvestmentandimportantfamilypurchases.

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

Oncethebanksareputonasoundfooting,effortsshouldbemadetoaccelerateamovetotheBaselIII

regimewithmoreonerouscapitalandreportingrequirements.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

inquiry inTo The BlankeT Bank guaranTeeTheblanketbankguaranteewasthemostdisastrouspolicydecisioninthehistoryofthestate.LabourwillinsistthatafullandproperinvestigationintothisdecisionandtheeventsleadinguptoitiscompletedandthattherearepublichearingsbytherelevantOireachtasCommittee.

addressing financial exclusionLabouriscommittedtotacklingtheproblemoffinancialexclusionthroughmeasuressuchastheintroductionofbasicbankaccounts.WealsobelievethatanewpartnershipshouldbesoughttoprovidebankingservicesthroughthePostOfficeNetwork.

The fuTure of The ifscLaboursupportsthefuturedevelopmentoftheIFSCasasourceoffuturegrowthinhighvalueemployment,subjecttoappropriateregulation,includingthedevelopmentofGreenfinancialservicesandIslamicbanking.

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

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Jobs

02 The firsT sTeps

• Extendthedeadlineforachievingthe3%ofGDPdeficittargetto2016

• Implementanetadjustmentof€7.1billionintheperiod2012-2014

• Afairandbalancedapproachtoachievingsavings

• Anewstrategicapproachtoachievebetterpublicspending

• EstablishaStrategicInvestmentBanktoinvestintheIrisheconomyusingresourcesintheNationalPensionReserveFund

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

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

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thereforeseektorenegotiatethefiscalstrategyintheIMF/EUdeal.

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

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

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

Labourbelievesthatthecompositionoftheadjustmentshouldbefairerandmorebalanced,includingfairertaxationandon-goinginvestmentineducationandothervitalservices,whichareessentialtosocialsolidarityandtolong-termeconomicgrowth.

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

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

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

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new prioriTies in capiTal expendiTureIrelandneedstotakeanewapproachtopublicandprivatecapitalinvestmentthatreflectsthenewrealitiesoftheeconomyandtheconstraintsonpublicresources,whilealsoincorporatingthenewfundingthatwillbeavailablethroughLabour’sStrategicInvestmentBank.

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

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

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

Labour’sstrategyistosupportthedevelopmentofaninvestmenteconomy,whilemaximisingthereturntothepublicfrommajorprogrammesofinvestment.

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

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

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

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

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

availabletopublicservicemanagersinhowtheydeploytheirbudgetstoachievemaximumefficiencyandservicequality.

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

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

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

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reductionsinthenumberofpaidchairsofOireachtasCommitteesandabolitionoftheOireachtasallowancepaidtoMinisterswhohaveconstituencyofficesstaffedbycivilservants.LabourisproposingreforminthetransportarrangementsforMinistersincludingareductioninthenumberofGardadrivers.

ThearrangementsforMinisterialpensionsandseverancepackageshaverightlybeenthecauseofpublicoutrage.Labourwillensurethatinfuturethesearrangementsaresetbyanindependentperson,suchastheComptrollerandAuditorGeneral.

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

LabourwillworktheCrokeParkAgreement.ItisessentialthattheagreementshouldresultinsavingstotheExchequerandthatthepaceofimplementationoftheAgreementbeaccelerated.

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

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

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

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

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

Labourwillprioritisetheeliminationofunnecessarytaxexpenditures,aswehavebeenproposingformanyyears.Theseincludethelegacypropertyreliefs,andphasingdownoftheamountofinterestthatcanbeoffsetagainstrentalincomefortaxpurposesto25%.

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

LabourfavourstheintroductionofnewprogressivestructuresforCapitalTaxes.InrespectofCapitalGainsTaxandCapitalAcquisitionsTax,thefirst€50,000overthe

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

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

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

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

Labourwillinsistonactionbeingtakentodealwiththescandaloftaxexiles,andwewillfurtherstrengthenrevenueactiontoreducetax-evasion.

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

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

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

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

TheStrategicInvestmentBankwillbeestablishedintwophases.ItwillbesetupinitiallyasavehicletoinvesttheremainingfundsintheNationalPensionReserveFundinprojectsthatwillenhanceinfrastructureandboostgrowthintheIrisheconomy.Itwillbefully

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

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independentandwillinvestonacommercialbasis.

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

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

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

WagePolicyLabourbelievesthatnegotiatedwagepoliciescanpotentiallybeanimportanttoolofmacroeconomicpolicyinasmallopeneconomy.Wewillexploreoptionsfordevelopingsuchanagreement,whichmayincludenationaland/orsectoralwagenorms.Labourbelievesthatinvestmentandjobcreationcanbeenhancedthroughstructuredmultiannualagreementsthatincorporatewagerestraint.

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

CompetitionPolicyLabourwillsupportrobustcompetitionpolicyandenforcement.Wesupportstructuralreformintheprofessionstodrivedownthecostbaseforthetradedsector.

UtilitiesRegulationLabourwillenhancethequalityandeffectivenessofutilitiesregulationinIreland.Wefavouraproperlyplannedconsolidationofthenumberofregulators,tomakemoreeffectiveuseofregulatoryskills.LabourwillretaintheCompetitionAuthorityasaseparateentity.

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

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Jobs

The firsT sTeps

• UseLabour’ss500millionjobsfundtogrowemploymentinsectorswhereIrelandalreadyhasacompetitiveadvantage

• MakethestrategicdecisiontotargetthedevelopmentofnewmarketsforIrelandintheemergingeconomies

• Appointatradeczartoco-ordinateactionacrossgovernmentinopeningthesefastgrowingmarkets

• Plugthegapinournationalsystemofinnovationbyinvestingtoturnnewscientificadvancesintojobs

• Createinnovationcentresfocusedoncommercialisationofresearch

03

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

Weneedagovernmentthatwillhelpthateconomytogrowbydrivingtrade,innovationandproductivitygrowth.

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

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

TosupportthedevelopmentofexportingSMEs,wewillseekreformofEUprocurementrulessothatagreaterportionofallpublicprocurementgoestosmallandmediumsizedenterprises.

WewillpromptlyimplementalltherecommendationsintheTradingandInvestingintheSmartEconomyReport.Inparticular,wewillestablishaTradeCounciltostrengthencooperationandcoordinationacrossallofthekeydepartmentsandStateagenciesinvolvedinthepromotionanddevelopmentoftradeandexports.MembershipoftheCouncil

willbedividedequallybetweengovernmentandprivatesectorrepresentativeswhohaveexperienceinestablishingandgrowingexport-orientedbusinessbothinIrelandandabroad.

WewillappointahighprofileTradeandEnterpriseczartoworkwithintandemwiththeTradeCouncil,whowillbeabletodrawonfulldiplomaticandcivilserviceresourcesandwhowillreportdirectlytotheMinisterforEnterpriseandtheTaoiseach.

AkeypillarofLabour’snewenterprisestrategywillbetopositionIrelandtodevelopbettertraderelationshipswiththerisingeconomiesofBrazil,Russia,India,andChina.

LabourwillestablishalocaltradeandinvestmentteamreportingtothelocalIrishAmbassadororHeadofMissionandtheMinisterforEnterpriseineachofthetargetemergingcountriesandotherprioritymarkets.Theseteamswillexecuteadetailedlocalmarketplan,withprogressagainsttargetsreviewedannually.

Athome,LabouringovernmentwilldrawontheeconomicstrengthsandconnectionsofIreland’simmigrantcommunitiesbyappointingarepresentativefromeachoftheBRICSandotherstrategicmarketsresidentinIrelandastradechampionsfortheirrespectivecountries,reportingtoboththeTradeCouncilandtheMinisterforEnterprise.TradechampionswillhaveamissionofpromotingtradetoandfromIrelandandwillbesupportedbytheDepartmentofEnterprise.

Labourwilltakeinitiativestodeepeneducationalcooperationwiththeemergingeconomies,financedfromLabour’sJobsFund.

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

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

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

Labour’sInnovationStrategyAgencywillpromoteandsupportinvestmentintechnologyresearch,developmentandcommercialisationbeyondthebasicresearchsupportedbyScienceFoundationIreland,aswellasadvisinggovernmentonhowtoremovebarrierstoinnovationandacceleratetheexploitationofnewtechnologies.

ThemajorityofthemembersoftheboardoftheISAwillbedrawnfromindustryandfinancefrombothIrelandandabroadwithexperienceoftechnologychangeandinnovation.

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

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

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

Turning research inTo JoBsThereisacriticalgapbetweenthebasicresearchpromotedandfundedbyScienceFoundationIrelandandthirdlevelinstitutions,anditssubsequentdevelopmentintoacommercialopportunityforinvestors.Thisgapcanonlybeclosedbymakingnewtechnologiesinvestmentready.

TheInnovationStrategyAgencywillbetaskedwithclosingthisgapthroughtheestablishmentofanetworkofTechnologyResearchCentresfocusedonappliedtechnologicalresearchinspecificareas,tobelinkedtoappropriatehigher-educationinstitutions.Thecentreswillacceleratetheexploitationofnewtechnologiesbyprovidinginfrastructurethatbridgesthegapbetweenresearchandtechnologycommercialisation.

TheestablishmentofthesecentreswillbuildontheapproachalreadyadoptedwiththeTyndallCentreonICTandtheInternationalEnergyResearchCentre(IERC)inUCCwhere

government,industryandacademicspartnertofocusonappliedresearchthatwillleadtoconcreteresultsandcommercialapplications.

InordertopromoteIreland’sstronghistoricaltraditioninscienceandtechnologyforthenextgenerationofscientists,eachcentrewillbenamedafterarenownedIrishscientistsuchasRobertBoyle,ErnestWalton,JocelynBellBurnellorKathleenLonsdale.

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

TheISAwillinitiallyestablishthreeadditionalcentresbuildingonTyndallandtheIERCfocusingonbiotechnology,nanotechnologyandhighvaluemanufacturing.Furthercentresfromanumberofotherareaswillbeselectedsubsequently.

TheInnovationResearchCentreswillalsobeinapositiontoplayaroleasanchortenantsinmorebroadly-basedScienceandTechnologyParksthatwillattractprivatefirmsinthespecificresearcharea.

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

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Labour’splanforCreativeIndustries• EstablishcommonIP

agreementsacrossthedigitalmediasectorandthirdlevelinstitutions.

• SupportthedevelopmentofanInternationalContentServicesCentretomakeIrelandaworldleaderinthemanagementofintellectualproperty.

• MergethefunctionsofCultureIrelandandCulturalProjectsintotheArtsCouncil,whichwillbegivenanexpandedmandatetopromoteIrishartsabroad.

• ExtendtheR&DtaxcredittothegamesindustryinordertoattractgamedevelopersandgrowthegamesectorinIreland.

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

Labour’splanforInternetservices&CloudComputing• ContinuetomarketIreland

asanEMEAheadquarterslocationforinternetservicescompanies.

• PursueanaggressivepolicyofattractinginternationaldatacentrestoIreland,leveragingtheappropriatenessofourclimateandenergyandcommunicationsinfrastructure.

• Establishanexpertgrouptoaddressnewsecurityandprivacyissuesarisingfromtheuseofcloudcomputingandreviewtheadequacyofcurrentlegislationandidentifywhatstepsneedtobetakentoensureasupportiveregulatoryenvironment.

• Introduceapolicythatallgovernmentdepartmentsandagencieswilladoptcloudbasedservicesiftheydemonstratevalueformoneyandareadequatelysecure.

• Activelyencouragenewbusinessesthatarecloud-focused.

• Reviewbroadbandpricingandpoliciesofcommercialandotherproviderstoensurethatanyobstaclestotheadoptionofcloudcomputingareremoved.

• InnovationStrategyAgencytocreateandfundaprogrammetoactivelyencouragetheuseofcloudcomputingthroughoutallsectors.

Labour’splantosustaintheretailsector

• EnacttheLabourParty’slegislationtoabolishupward-onlyrentreviewsforallcommercialleases,asamatterofurgentpriorityfortheDáil.

• Intheinterim,appointaCommercialRentsOmbudsmanwithsomepowerscurrentlyonlygrantedtoanExaminer.ThisOmbudsmanwouldhavethepowertoadjudicateonrentsthathavethepotentialtocauseabusinesstofail,withoutundertakingacostlycourtprocess.

• ReformtheJointLabourCommitteestructure,beginningwiththeappointmentofindependentchairpersonstotheJLCs.

• RetaintheexistingRetailPlanningGuidelinesandmaintaintheretailplanningcap.

• Encouragelocalauthoritiestointroducedifferentiated,time-limitedratestofacilitatenewbusinessstart-ups.

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

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

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

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

Labouringovernmentwillworktopromoteagreaterappreciationoftheco-operativemodelasadistinctformoforganisation,ensurealevelplayingfieldbetweenco-operativesandtheotherlegaloptionsforstructuringenterpriseactivities,andprovideaconduciveframeworkforthefullpotentialoftheco-operative

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

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

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

Jobs



The firsT sTeps

• AnewNationalEmploymentServicetoreplaceFÁS

• Amajorworkexperienceschemefor30,000recentgraduatesandapprentices

• 30,000neweducationandtrainingplacesforpeoplewhoareunemployed

• ReducedqualifyingperiodsforBacktoEducationAllowanceandBacktoWorkEnterpriseAllowancefortheperiodofthiseconomicemergency

• An18monthPRSIholidayforemployershiringnewemployeesofftheliveregister

04

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

Weneedtoreformoursocialprotectionsystemsothatitisthefirststeponapathbacktowork,educationortraining,notapovertytrap.

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laBour’s plan for an inTegraTed naTional employmenT serviceLabourwillreplaceFÁSwithanewNationalEmploymentServicetomeettheneedsofa21stcenturyworkforce.

Allemploymentandbenefitsupportservicesforpeopleofworkingagewillbeintegratedinasingledeliveryunit,aNationalEmploymentService,managedbytheDepartmentofSocialProtection.

Thisnewemploymentandbenefitsupportservicewouldabsorb:

• ThefunctionsoftheDepartmentofSocialProtectionrelatingtoassessmentanddeliveryofbenefitsforpeopleofworkingage.

• ThefunctionsoftheDepartmentofSocialProtectionrelatingtoCommunityEmploymentparticipants.

• TheadministrationoftheSupplementaryWelfareAllowance,currentlycarriedoutbytheHSE.

• TheEmploymentServicesunitofFÁS,whichprovidessupporttojobseekers.

• TheLocalEmploymentServiceNetwork.

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

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

Aspartofthesereforms,Labourwillalsodevelopaflagshipweb-basedadultcareerguidanceportal,whichwillprovideadultswithfreeadviceonhowtodeveloptheirskillsforwork.Thiswillbefundedthroughefficiencysavingsarisingfromthereformprocess.

Helpingpeoplemoveintoemployment,orintotrainingthatleadstosustainableemployment,willbetheprimaryfunctionoftheNationalEmploymentService.Itsperformancewillbemeasuredonthisbasis,andtheresultspublishedannually.

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

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

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

• An‘EarnandLearn’schemethatenablespeopleon‘shorttime’tocombineashorterworkingweekwithtrainingoreducation.

• AreducedqualifyingperiodofthreemonthsfortheBacktoEducationandBacktoWorkEnterpriseAllowancetomakeiteasierforpeopletocomeoffthedoleandintoeducation,andgreateraccesstopostgraduatecoursesundertheBacktoEducationAllowance,fortheperiodofthiseconomicemergency.

• Atax-backschemetohelppeoplenoteligibleforothermeans-testedsupportsto

claimuptotwoyearsoftheirincometaxbacktofundfull-timestudyinanauthorisedinstitution.

• Literacyandbasicworkplaceskillstobeanationalpriority,withliteracytrainingincorporatedintoawidervarietyoffurthereducationandtraining.

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

• 30,000additionaltrainingplacesacrosstheentireeducationandtrainingsystem,distributedinlinewiththerecommendationsoftheExpertGrouponFutureSkillsNeedsontheskillrequirementsoftheIrishlabourforce.

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

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

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

InordertoretaintheelementofflexibilityintheoldFÁSsystemthatallowedittorespondtoemergingskillsshortages,aproportionofthefundingwouldgotocreateafundthatallproviders(publicandprivate)willbeabletotenderforinordertodelivertrainingindesignatedskillsshortages.Thoseskillsshortageswouldbeidentifiedinannuallabourmarketsurveys.

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

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Jobs

• PassLabour’sClimateChangeBilltosetlegallybindingcarbonreductiontargetsinlinewithEUtargets

• IntroduceaNationalRetrofitSchemetomakeourhousingstockmoreenergyefficient

• ClearobstaclestobringingIreland’srichrenewableenergysourcesonstream

• PositionIrelandasaleadingplayerintheglobalcarbonmarket,andacentreofexcellenceinthemanagementofcarbon

• Reformhowweregulatethewastesectortokick-startinvestmentandinnovation,andreducecostsforconsumers

05

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

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

Irelandalsoneedsacoordinatedapproachtothetwo-prongedchallengeofreducingourcarbonoutputandgrowingourenergyindependence,withresponsibilityatthehighestlevelofgovernment.TheDepartmentoftheTaoiseachwillcoordinatebothourdomesticandinternationalpolicyonclimatechange.

WealsoneedtoanticipatechangestoIreland’sclimatethatarealreadyinevitable,byurgentlydevelopinganationalclimatechangeadaptationplan.

creaTing a low carBon socieTyOneoftheeasiest,fastestandcheapestwaystoreduceourcarbonemissionsistouselessfossilfuels.

LabourwillimprovetheenergyefficiencyofourexistinghousingstockbyinitiatingamajorNationalRetrofitScheme.Thereareupto1.2milliondwellingsinIrelandinneedofanenergyefficiencyretrofit,creatingatleast30,000directconstructionsectorjobswith

additionalindirectandinducedjobs.

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

LabourwantstoendpoorqualityhousinginIreland.Toaddresstheproblemofexisting,inefficientbuildingstock,allhousingwillhavetomeetaminimumstandardofenergyefficiencyatthepointofsaleorrent.

Labourwillalsofurtherimproveenergyefficiencyfornewbuildings,withaviewtomovingtowardszerocarbonhomesinthelongerterm.Allnewcommercialbuildingswillalsoberequiredtosignificantlyreducetheircarbonfootprint.

Intandemwiththedevelopmentofasmartpublictransportsystem,Labourwilltargethaving350,000electriccarsonIrishroadsby2020.

Labourisalsocommittedtoaninitialtargetof50%greenpublicprocurement,andwillprogressivelyraiseenergyefficiencyandcarbonstandardsforfutureprocurementcommitments.

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

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

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Todate,thetransitiontoalow-carbonenergyfutureinIrelandhasbeendefinedbyalackofpolicyandinstitutionalcoordination.Thislackofclarityintheframeworkthatsupportsthedevelopmentanddeploymentoflow-carbontechnologieshasdelayedprogressintheenergysector.

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

Labourwillfacilitatethedevelopmentofenergyco-operativestomakeiteasierforsmall-scalerenewableenergyproviderstocontributetoourrenewablestarget.

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

LabourwillscraptheplanbytheEnergyRegulatortoinsistontheunnecessarycostofre-brandingofBordGáisandESB.

Labourwillnotestablishanynuclearfacilityinthestate.WewillcontinuetoopposetheSellafieldplantandotherinstallationsintheUKwhichposearisktoourpeople.

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

LabourwillalsodirecttheCommissionforEnergyRegulationtoimplementafairerdisconnectionpolicythroughtheuseofpre-paymentmeters,andtodevelopafairpolicyinrelationtodisconnectionfees.

a susTainaBle wasTe policyIrelandneedsanationalwastemanagementstrategythatisenvironmentallysustainable,thatreducescostsforbusinessesandconsumers,andthatcreatesjobs.

Labour’swastepolicywilladheretotheEUwastehierarchy.Labourfavoursacoherentapproachtowastemanagementthatminimisesthewastegoingtolandfill,andthatmaximisestheresourcesthatcanberecoveredfromit.

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

InordertoaddressIreland’sobligationsundertheEUlandfilldirective,Labourwillexploretheintroductionofa‘capandtrade’schemethatwouldphaseintheauctioningofpermitsforlandfill.

Labourwillalsodriveawastereductionprogrammethroughtheextensionofproducerresponsibilityinitiatives,andalevyonpackaging.Labourwillconsiderplacingaproductlevyonhard-to-recycleobjects.

Specificproducerresponsibilityrequirementswillbeintroducedforconstructionanddemolitionprojectsoveracertainthreshold,withrecyclingandwastemanagementrequirementsenforcedthroughmandatorycompliancebondsthatcanberefundedattheendoftheproject.

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

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

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

ensuring access To safe waTerSecurityofaccesstocleandrinkingwaterisessentialforpublichealth.Thishasbeenunderminedbyrecentscandalsofpollutedwatersupplies,anddroughtcausedbyextremeweather.

Labourdoesnotfavourwatercharges,whichdonotaddresstheimmediateneedsofthosewhocurrentlyreceiveintermittentorpoorwatersupplies.Labourwillcontinuetoinvestinthewaterservicesprogrammeaspartofthecapitalbudget,focusingonminimisingtreatedwaterlostthroughleakage.

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

Labourwillensurerelevantgovernmentdepartmentsintegratebiodiversityintotheirplans,policyandactions,andlegislatetobetterprotectourcoastalzones.Ourcountrysideandcoastlinesarepositiveamenitiesfortourism,andLabourwillworkinpartnershipwithlocalstakeholderstoensurereasonableandsafeaccesstothem.

LabourwillcontinuetheimplementationofnationalandEuropeanlegislationtoenhancebiodiversityandimproveconservation.LabourwillalsocompletetheratificationoftheAarhusConventiononaccesstoinformation,publicparticipationindecision-makingandaccesstojusticeinenvironmentalmatters.

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

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Jobs

The firsT sTeps

• Facilitatetheestablishmentofanewcompany,NetCo,whichwouldbegintheroll-outofnextgenerationbroadband

• Empowertheregulator,ComReg,toensureallbroadbandsuppliersprovideregulardataonspeeds,andendinaccurateadvertisingofbroadbandspeeds

• Addressthegrowingproblemofdigitalliteracy

• ProtectlocalpostalservicesbylegislatingforacomprehensiveUniversalServiceObligation

• RevisetheNationalDevelopmentPlantoprioritisepublictransportprojectsthatdeliverthebestvalueformoney,reduceroadcongestion,andreducegreenhousegases

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

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

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

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

ThiscooperativeapproachtoinvestingprivatefundsinthefibrenetworkhasbeensuccessfullyexploitedinSwitzerland,andthroughapublic-privateventureintheNetherlands.

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

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

LabourwillalsoworktowardsthedevelopmentofEU-widestandardsfordigitisationandarchiving,inordertomaketheEUaworldleaderindigitalcontentmanagement.

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

Labourwillexaminetherole,andthecollectionof,theTVlicensefee

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

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inlightofexistingandprojectedconvergenceofbroadcastingtechnologies.

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

Thisnewpan-regulatorybodywillalsohaveresponsibilityforprotectingconsumersfrom‘ripoff’chargesandforQualityAssurance.

ensuring The survival of prinT media in irelandGiventheintensepressuresthatnewspaperandbroadcastmediacurrentlyface,adetailedandinformedpolicydiscussionisrequiredtoensurethefuturesurvivalofastrongindigenousmediapresenceinIreland.

TheDepartmentofCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResourceswillengageinastructureddialogueonthefuturechallengesfacedbytheprintandbroadcastmediainIreland,withbroadinputfromindustry,politics,andconsumerandcivicgroups.

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

ofthepostalmarket.LabourwillensurethatthePostalServicesBillprovidesforaclearcommitmenttotheuniversalserviceobligation.

Labourwillimplementtherecommendationsoftheall-partyagreedOireachtasCommitteePostcodesReport.

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

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

Inlightofthedamagecausedtoroadsbyrecentextremeweather,Labourwillallocate,onaonce-offbasis,aportionoftheexistingroadsbudgettoprioritiserepairofthosesecondaryroadsmostaffected.

Cyclingandwalkingwillbeattheheartofanyfuturesustainabletransportnetwork.Labourwillprovideforcontiguouscyclingroutesforcommuters,andsafeschoolcycleroutes.Thesafety

needsofcyclistswillbetakenintoaccountinenhancedroadjunctiondesign,improvedsignageandroadmaintenance.Labourwillalsointroducelegislationtostrengthentheneedsofpedestrians,cyclistsandpublictransportcommutersintheplanningprocessandthetransportsystem.

Inordertoprovideforapublictransportinfrastructurethatgrowswithourpopulation,wewillintroducelegislationtoensurethatalllargenewresidentialandcommercialdevelopmentswillhaveintegratedtransportservicesaspartoftheirplanningpermission.

TheDublinTransportAuthorityActandthePublicTransportRegulationActwillalsobeamendedtorequireDevelopmentPlans,LocalAreaPlansandrezoningapplicationstomakeprovisionforpublictransportservicesifthepopulationoftheareasaffectedreachesorisplannedtoreachaspecifiedthreshold.

more efficienT puBlic TransporTBusserviceswillcontinuetobethemostcosteffectiveandmostflexiblewayofdeliveringpublictransportbothincitiesandinruralareas.InvestmentinpublictransportwillfocusonthefurtherdevelopmentofQualityBusNetworks,andParkandRidefacilities.LabourwillalsoexplorethedevelopmentoftheBus

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

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RapidTransitmodelinourcities,whichcanreplicatethespeedandcomfortoflightrailatafractionofthecost.

Labourwillcompletetheroll-outoftheIntegratedTicketingSystemonallmodesoftransport.LabourwillalsocompletetheplannedimplementationofRealTimePassengerInformationatbusstopsinDublinandCork,withaviewtoextendingthisservicetootherregionsasresourcesallow.

Ruraltransportisessentialtopreventsocialexclusion,helpruralbusinessandreducegreenhousegasemissions.LabourwillseektomaintaintheRuralTransportProgrammeandmakeintegratedruraltransportakeyresponsibilityfortheNationalTransportAuthority.

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

thecurrentandprojectedneedsofoceanenergyproviders.

AirtransportisofvitalnationalstrategicimportancetoIreland.Maintainingstrongcompetitiveness,andregionalconnectivity,intheairlinemarketwillbeapriority.

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

LabourwilloverhaulandconsolidatetheRoadTrafficActstomaximisetheireffectiveness,andcarryoutanauditofthenationalroadnetworktoensurethatallroadsurfaces,signageandtrafficsignalscomplywiththehighestsafetystandards.

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

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Jobs

The firsT sTeps

• ScaleupIreland’sagriculturalproductivitythroughthedevelopmentofthedairyandmeatsectors

• Reducetheageprofileoftheagri-foodsectorandincreasethesizeandproductivityoffarmsthroughencouragingfarmpartnerships

• ImplementtherecommendationsoftheFoodHarvest2020report

• FocusondevelopingnewbrandsforIrishfood,includinganecobrandandlocalbrands

• DevelopIrelandasaEuropeanhubforseafoodprocessing

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

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

Ingovernment,Labourwillworktoretainour€1.3billionCAPfundingenvelope.OurnegotiatingpositionatEUlevelispredicatedonretainingthisenvelope.

Labouralsoacceptstheneedforanextensivebi-lateralexchangewithothercountriestoensurethatanychangesinpolicyatEUlevelandattheWorldTradeOrganisationmustnotunderminetheprincipleofdirectpaymentstofoodproducers.

growing The dairy and meaT secTorsTheanticipatedCAPreformswillmeaneconomiesofscalewillbecomemoreimportant.Facilitatingconsolidationinthedairyandbeefsectorwillbeahighpriority.Increasingourfocusonscaleandcompetitivenesswillfurtheremphasisetheneedforproducersandprocessorstofocusoncommodityormainstreammarkets.

LabourwillfocusondevelopingthefullpotentialofIreland’sdairysector,byworkingwiththesectortoincrease

take-upofnewtechnologiesandevidence-basedpracticethatresultinhighermilkyieldsatlowercost.

Labouralsofavoursmoremarket-basedpricingtoreflectimprovedproductsandinnovationinthemeatanddairysectors,andthedevelopmentofmoreintegratedsupplychains.

improving farm producTiviTyIreland’sscaleatproducerlevellagsbehindourmajorcompetitors,andwithanageingfarmpopulationtheneedforstructuralchangewillcontinue.LabourfavoursamodelofSingleFarmPaymentsthatwillrewardinnovationandseefurtherinclusionofyoungerfarmers.

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

Labourwilldevelopmechanismsforfarmers,nonruralresidentswithinheritedlandandoldersinglefarmerstovesttheirholdingsinalocalco-operativefarmpartnershipwheretheywouldretainownership,shareintheprofitsofsuchpartnershipsandareinformedregularlyofprogressandplans.

Theywouldbefreeatanystage,givenadequatenotice,towithdrawtheirholdingfromtheco-op.Thesefarmunitscouldbeapowerfulsourceoflocalemploymentandcouldhavethescaletodevelopandproducebrandedproduce.

SuchholdingsshouldbesupportedandincludedforDirectPaymentswherepossibleandespeciallyincaseswhereCommunitySupportedAgricultureModelsaredeveloped.

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

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growing our agri-food secTorAgrowingandmoreaffluentworldpopulationisanopportunityforIrelandtoexpanditsfoodexports.

LaboursupportstherecommendationsoftheHarvestFood2020Report.Inadditiontoimplementingtheserecommendations,ouragri-foodpolicywillfocusonthedevelopmentofthepremiumartisanfoodmarketandofIrelandasaworldclassfoodtourismdestination.

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

LabourwillalsoseektoimplementtherecommendationsoftheEighthReportoftheJointCommitteeonEnterprise,TradeandInnovationrelatingtogrowingemploymentintheagri-foodsector.

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

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

authoritiestodevelopfarmers’markets,andfavourasustainableplanningmodelthatpromotesdiversityinthefoodretailsector.Wewillalsoputthecurrentvoluntarycodeprovidingforgreatertransparencyinthefoodsupplychainonastatutoryfooting.

open To new ideasLabourwillactivelywelcomeconstructiveengagementbyinterestedstakeholdersingrowingourindigenousfarming,foodandbiofuelindustries.LabouralsosupportstheproposalsbyIrishRuralLinkforthestrategicregionalisationofIrishagriculturepolicytomaximisethedevelopmentofthesector.

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

foresTryLabourrecognisestheimportanceofforestryasasourceofemployment,asasourceofrenewableenergy,asapublicamenity,andasameansofreducingournationalcarbonfootprint.LabouropposestheprivatisationofCoillteandthesaleofpubliclyownedforests.

Labourwillsetaplantingtargetof10,000hectaresperannum,andwillworkwithstakeholderstoagreeasustainablefundingmodeltoachievethisaim.

animal welfareLabourwillensurethatanimalwelfareisenhancedandprotected,andwillstrengthenlegislationonanimalcruelty.

coasTal communiTies, fisheries & marine environmenTThemarinesectorfacesmajorchallengesintheyearsahead,butitisalsoanareaofmajoreconomicpotential.

Labour’sprioritywillbetodevelopIrelandasaEuropeanhubforseafoodprocessing,whichwillcreatesustainable,value-addedjobsincoastalcommunities.

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

LabourwillestablishaSeaFisheriesSustainabilityImpactAssessmentbasedonconsultationwithallmajorstakeholders.ThisreportwillbebroughtbeforetheDáilonanannualbasisbeforeEUfisheriesnegotiationscommence,andwillensurethatthereisaregularevaluationofIrishfishstocksandtheeffectivenessofcurrentpolicyandquotas.

Labourisopentotheexperienceandexpertiseofthosewhoselivelihoodsdependonmaritimeactivity.TheDepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandFoodwillengageinanongoingstructuredconsultationwithindustryrepresentatives,themarinescientificcommunityandotherstakeholderstoenablethemtocontributetonationalmaritimepolicy.

Finally,safetyatseaanddecentworkingconditionsmustunderpinthedevelopmentofthefisheriessector.LabouringovernmentwillensurethattheIrishCoastGuardhasaccesstoanEmergencyTowingVessel.

Jobs



The firsT sTeps

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

• MakeregainingmarketshareinIreland’stopoverseasmarketsapriority

• Extendfreeoff-peaktraveltoallover-66visitorsonallCIEservices

• Usethewebandsmartphoneappstoprovideinnovativeproductsfortourists

• Dealwithover-supplyinthehotelsectortonormalisethemarket

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

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

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

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

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

‘Eventtourism’willalsobeprioritised,withstrategicplanningandprioritisationoffundingtobringmajorinternationalfairsandeventstoIrelandsuchastheVolvoOceanRaceortheSolheimCup.

Aspartofaninitiativetoencouragedomesticeventtourism,LabourwillmaketheCultureNightInitiativeatwiceyearlyevent,andintroduceaNationalLotteryFundingAnniversaryDay,wherebyallfacilitieswhichhavereceivedfundingfromtheNationalLotterywillopentheirdoorstothepublicfreeofcharge.

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

TheDepartmentofTourism,CultureandSportwillbemandatedtoconductanassessmentofthequalityandeffectivenessofexistingsignage,withaviewtoimprovingthetouristexperienceandincreasingvisitstoattractionsclosetomajorsites.

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

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

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andtransportproviders,toallowpotentialcustomersalltheinformationtheyrequireviaonesite.

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

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

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

Labouralsosupportstheestablishmentofanindustry-ledtourismrecoverytaskforcetodrivegrowthinthetourismsector,asrecommendedbytheIrishTourismIndustryConfederation.

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

Documents

Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011 - Jobs