Fine Gael and Labour launch joint economic policy

[BarryW]

In a first for Irish politics, Fine Gael and Labour have today launched a detailed, fully-costed, five-year plan on tax and jobs.

Protecting the Progress

Among the key aims of the plan are:
1) A more family-friendly Income Tax Code
2) A fairer Stamp Duty regime
3) A supportive environment for Employers and Exports
4) A Greener tax system
5) A more efficient and equitable tax system
6) An end to the waste of taxpayers money

Here are some of the proposals: (just some I've picked, not an exhaustive list)

- 2% cut in the standard rate
- Equal tax breaks for couples in a Civil Union
- Home carers credit to be increased to the same level as PAYE credit
- Indexation of the standard rate bands
- A cap on benefits from tax breaks
- A Commission on Taxation, to examine schemes on an ongoing basis
- Enhanced Oireachtas scrutiny, and lines of accountability for Ministers and Civil Servants
- Support from the National Training Agency for part-time 3rd level education
- The creation of an open-access broadband "Next Generation Network" by 2012
- Allow universities to issue bonds to finance research and infrastructure
- A Critical Infrastructure Commission, to accelerate planning of key projects
- A Consumer Charter for Utilities, and stronger powers for regulators (to end Government-led rip offs)
- 25% of red tape on small business will be slashed
- A Centre of Excellence for ressearch on Alternative Energy
- Abolition of excise on biofuels; start-up grants for biofuel plants

[meriwether]

At last something to get our teeth into.
Il have a perusal of it forst, but the research grant for 3rd level instutions looks a great idea.

[FutureLabourLeader]

I have had a quick scan through it's looking good

[rover]

david cochrane has just started ANOTHER thread on this launch

just in case anyone wants a bit of variety!!!

[FutureLabourLeader]

At least BarryW provided a link to the document.

[David Cochrane]

david cochrane has just started ANOTHER thread on this launch

just in case anyone wants a bit of variety!!!

Rover, get a grip, i didn't see it - and i have the ability to put it on hte homepage. Relax, would you?

I've repeatedly said if people want something promoted to the homepage to let me know.

[rover]

Rover, get a grip, i didn't see it - and i have the ability to put it on hte homepage. Relax, would you?

I've repeatedly said if people want something promoted to the homepage to let me know.

but im still totally puzzled about why YOU started 2 seperate threads on the ff/€10k document..... in the space of a quarter of an hour

[David Cochrane]

At least BarryW provided a link to the document.

As did I!!! Anyways this has been promoted to the homepage and I've removed my thread on the subject.

[thegeneral]

See FG have bended over and accepted Labour's support for benchmarking. Thats interesting now were I a Blueshirt I'd probably be waving flip flops and screeching about u-turns about now. And some people still wonder who wears the trousers in this relationship. One of the few things Labour still stand for is support for the public sector unions.

I couldn't find their actual predictions for job creation and economic growth forecasts, they may be hidden somewhere, if they do exist how do they differ from the Department of Finance's projections?

[meriwether]

See FG have bended over and accepted Labour's support for benchmarking. Thats interesting now were I a Blueshirt I'd probably be waving flip flops and screeching about u-turns about now. And some people still wonder who wears the trousers in this relationship. One of the few things Labour still stand for is support for the public sector unions.

I couldn't find their actual predictions for job creation and economic growth forecasts, they may be hidden somewhere, if they do exist how do they differ from the Department of Finance's projections?

It took three years, bot finally, we have discovered who's running the Mullingar accord.
Initially, the line was that Labour were being subsumed by FG. Rabbitte was Kenny's bitch, or words to that effect.
But lo! for 'tis the other way around!
FG have been in Labour's pocket all this time.
That cute coinin.
Revolving Taoiseach? You heard it here first folks.