Sinn Fein Policy and Promises
The policy platform on which Sinn Fein is campaigning in the South.
Tax
A comprehensive review of the tax regime, time limited to be finished within the first year of a new government taking office, to seek to establish a fairer and more equitable tax system. During this review period, income and Corporation Tax rates should remain unchanged, with the exception that those on the minimum wage should be taken out of the tax net.
An immediate end to the status of ‘Tax Exile'.
Address both legal avoidance and illegal tax evasion as a high priority.
Recognise the all-Ireland dimension in the tax system and propose that the incoming government must have tax harmonisation on the island for business and workers on the top of its tax reform agenda.
In the short term, returning the rate of employers PRSI to 12 per cent, the level at which it was before last December's budget.
Capital Gains Tax should be returned to its original rate of 40%.
Health
A new universal public health system for Ireland that provides care to all free at the point of delivery, on the basis of need alone, and funded from general fair and progressive taxation.
Fundamental re-orientation of the health system to adopt a central focus on prevention, health promotion and primary care (including mental health care), and on ultimately eliminating the underlying social and structural causes of ill-health and premature death, such as poverty and inequality.
Immediate establishment of a Health Funding Commission to report within a reasonable timeframe on the projected costs of the transition to an all-Ireland system of universal provision, taking into account all spending on health services under the current systems, including state funding and spending on private insurance, and make recommendations on how the state can best harness these resources in the interests of more equitable and efficient delivery.
Education
Funding a Return to Education. In some cases of job losses there is a need for retraining of workers who will then be better placed to find other employment or perhaps start their own businesses.
A guarantee that all schools are adequately funded and maintained so that they are in a position to actively tackle the literacy problems of nearly one quarter of Irish adults that effectively bars them from having any skills in the new technologies demanded in the modern workplace.
Children and Childcare
Establish a Childcare Agency, under public control, which will regulate the provision of funding and standards in this sector.
Paid parental leave for employees who pay PRSI.
Government-funded childcare facilities, the introduction of training schemes for child-minders in the informal sector, and after-school care funding.
Crime
Independent Garda Ombudsman, separate from Garda management functions, with legal powers to conduct investigations on own volition.
Civilian Policing Board, independent of Garda management, with representatives from cross-party candidates, statutory bodies and community/voluntary groups.
A Crime Prevention Strategy, with monies confiscated from criminals ringfenced for economic and social development in those communities most affected by crime.
Community Policing Partnerships at District Level, similar to those in the North.
Civilianise appropriate tasks.
Mandatory recording of suspect and witness interviews, right of access to lawyer at Garda stations.
Economy
More support for small businesses.
Matching funds for local business. The industrial development bodies should provide the same level of support and funding for indigenous business as is currently provided to inward investment projects;
Long-term stability. The IDA currently considers ten years to be the shelf-life of the companies it brings to Ireland. New local Irish companies should be given at least the same level of time to develop themselves.
The inclusion of penalty clauses in all agreements with companies receiving government grants, in the event of the company pulling out;
Support for enterprises in the Social Economy. Many communities have ideas and plans for socially valuable local businesses;
Trade Union Recognition. Sinn Féin will make grants to business conditional on acceptance of the right of employees to join and to be represented by a trade union of their choice.
Support for Agricultural Diversification. Funding should be made available to those farmers who wish to diversify their farm business. This will help to keep younger farmers on the land as well as create jobs in rural areas.
Transport and Infrastructure
Development and proper maintenance of road network as part of an integrated transport strategy. A balance must be struck between development of new and improved roads and the development of a more extensive public transport network.
More efficent and effective public transport is the solution to urban traffic congestion.
Non-national roads must continue to receive improved resources for upgrading and maintenance to make up for decades of under-funding.
Reverse the attempt by successive governments to fill as much road space with private cars as possible.
A joint Roads and Public Transport Authority, with an all-island strategy. Ireland requires an integrated transportation plan that puts the overall needs of the economy and society before sectional interests and profiteering;
A School Bus Authority, co-ordinated at local government level in both urban and rural areas;
An integrated ticketing policy be implemented as part of the public transport strategy.
All telephone exchanges should be ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) enabled;
An enhanced cable infrastructure throughout the State, enabling the deployment of new technologies to all communities and especially to schools;
A guarantee that all schools are adequately funded and maintained so that they are in a position to actively tackle the literacy problems of nearly one quarter of Irish adults that effectively bars them from having any skills in the new technologies demanded in the modern workplace
Housing (Stamp Duty)
A National Housing Strategy and a National Housing Agency to co-ordinate all aspects of housing provision.
Enshrining the Right to Housing in the Constitution in the 26 Counties and as a right enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the Six Counties.
State-led initiatives in partnership with progressive financial institutions such as credit unions to allow lower-income earners to purchase their own homes.
Increased and sustained funding of local authorities in the 26 counties to provide housing with a target of supplying suitable accommodation within two years for 70 per cent of applicants on the waiting lists.
Development of a properly funded social housing programme in the Six Counties
An increase in Capital Gains Tax on speculative owners of multiple dwellings, introduced on a phased basis over two years.
A statutory ceiling on the price of land zoned for housing to stop speculation and reduce soaring house prices. Compulsory Purchase Orders on landowners sitting on land banks and derelict property.
Direct community involvement in planning for housing. Legislation to ensure that social needs are incorporated in all housing schemes from the earliest stage.
A single streamlined funding scheme for voluntary and community housing.
Rent control in the private rented sector and enforcement of enhanced legislative protection for tenants.
The establishment of a Housing Ombudsman's Office.
Full implementation of an integrated strategy for homelessness with a target of 70 per cent reduction within two years.
A Government fund to provide capital loans for universities and third-level institutions to facilitate the development of purpose-built student accommodation.
Suitably tailored housing provision for those with special needs such as people with disabilities, women at risk, asylum seekers, Travellers, elderly people and the homeless.
Environment and Energy
The establishment of an all-Ireland state-owned gas and oil exploration industry to keep benefits and profits in Ireland.
That gas is made available to as many people as possible by continuing to support an all-Ireland gas distribution network.
That full environmental impact assessments are carried out and that their findings are at the core of all major oil and gas exploration, extraction and distribution plans.
To ensure that major infra-strucutural developments reflect a combined strategy between the Assembly and the Dublin Government to develop all-Ireland electricity generation plans along with gas distribution proposal
Poverty
Redistribute resources in a positive way, to invest in those parts of society suffering economic marginalisation and social exclusion, to redress inequality.
The creation of an All-Ireland equality body
The harmonising of equality legislation in Ireland and the drafting and implementation of an All-
Ireland Single Equality Act
The harmonisation of the actionable human rights frameworks in Ireland and the drafting and
implementation of an All-Ireland Bill of Rights
The creation of an All Ireland-Social Economy Agency which should replace the role of the current SEUPB after the ending of the current European funding period. It should be funded centrally by both Governments and administer a new Social Economy fund to mainstream funding to local sustainable community development projects throughout the island.
Children and Childcare
Establish a Childcare Agency, under public control, which will regulate the provision of funding and standards in this sector.
Paid parental leave for employees who pay PRSI.
Government-funded childcare facilities, the introduction of training schemes for child-minders in the informal sector, and after-school care funding.
Immigration
Ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
The establishment of a National Task Force on Immigration and Emigration to develop a national policy and a new Immigration Act.
Recruitment of immigrant workers should be done in conjunction with the Minister responsible for Overseas Development to ensure equality.
All asylum seekers who arrived in Ireland before January 1st 2001 should be granted an amnesty.
There should be an immediate end to forced dispersal and of issuing vouchers ("direct provision") to asylum seekers.
A special healthcare centre for the treatment of torture victims should be established in Ireland.
An immediate end to the practice of detaining asylum seekers in prison.
The powers of the Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act should be strengthened.
Public Finances and Waste
End the use of Public Private Partneships, and regulation of the ones already underway.