Fine Gael launches plan to secure Ireland’s future

Taoiseach and Fine Gael Leader, Simon Harris has today (Sunday) launched the party’s General Election manifesto alongside Justice Minister and Deputy Leader, Helen McEntee & Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe, in County Tipperary.

The manifesto sets out Fine Gael’s vision to deliver a secure future for Ireland with commitments to give people more money back in their pockets to help with the cost of living, longer term investment in services and infrastructure, and keeping some funding in reserve to safeguard against potential future shocks.

The party has published a detailed set of policies to give children the best start in life; to build more homes and better communities; to invest in law and order and ensure efficient migration systems; and to support businesses and the economy.

Ten key propositions from the manifesto include:

• A €1 billion investment in increasing services and reducing waiting lists for children with disabilities and special educational needs, and reducing the cost of childcare.
• The recruitment of 6,000 additional Gardai with more powers to tackle anti-social behaviour and the roll-out body worn cameras and facial recognition technology.
• A new Acorn child savings account from birth to build a nest egg for the future with a State contribution of €1,000, or €1,500 for lower income families.
• A three-point package of supports for retail and hospitality businesses within 100 days and commitments to help indigenous Irish companies scale up and secure Foreign Direct Investment.
• A comprehensive package of measures for older people, carers and families to help with the cost of living.
• A new Department of Infrastructure, Climate & Transport for more efficient delivery of major projects and to support delivery of housing and climate targets.
• A blueprint for the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030 backed by a €40bn investment, more help for First Time Buyers and an increase in the rent tax credit to €1,500.
• A tax package to ensure workers keep more of their hard-earned income, ensuring that nobody on the average wage will pay the higher rate of tax and an increase in inheritance tax thresholds.
• A commitment to the retention of Ireland’s Nitrates Directive derogation and a meaningful succession policy for farming families.
• A permanent 20% reduction in public transport fares, work towards the removal of the Dublin Airport passenger cap and ongoing investment in roads.

Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael, Simon Harris said:

“It has been the honour of my life to be Taoiseach of this great country for the last seven months and I have travelled all over the country in that time. In every town and city, farms and main streets, shops and cafes, I have listened to people’s concerns and they have become my priorities.

“That is what is at the heart of the Fine Gael General Election manifesto. That is why we are setting out a vision for a more secure future. Where people can feel confident that we are getting the balance right between giving them back a bit more of their own money to make life a little easier, investing more in the services they need, and putting a little bit away in case of future shocks.

“This is a moment where international developments mean Ireland has to be prepared to respond and ready to play our role on the world stage to secure our country’s interests.

“It is a moment where we have to help the small businesses that keep our main streets alive to survive and thrive, and to secure the future of our farm families.  We want to give our children the best start in life, build more homes and better communities, enforce law and order on our streets and always maintain a strong economy above all.

“I am determined we can translate the benefits of a strong economy into tangible improvements to people’s lives – by investing in special education, in disability, in removing barriers to education and providing thousands more staff in health and across the public service.

“The Fine Gael manifesto is an honest commitment to build a secure future for our people and we are humbly asking for their support to make it a reality.”

Justice Minister and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael, Helen McEntee said:

“It was a great honour to be appointed as the Deputy Leader of Fine Gael by my colleague and friend Taoiseach Simon Harris.  Since then I have been canvassing with our candidates up and down the country and can see the huge energy they have to deliver for their communities and for our country.

“This is the most important election that has taken place in my lifetime.”

“We are humbly asking people to vote for experience coupled with a new energy in Government. To vote for a party that will prioritise not only economic stability but also the needs of small Irish businesses and farmers which are the backbone of our economy and our local communities.

“To vote for a party that will look after our elderly, increase the old age pension and ensure all our older people can a good quality of life. To vote for a party that will invest in our young people. A party that will continue to take climate action and ensure that we can over hand over our planet in better condition than when we found.

“And to vote for the party of law and order, that will invest in 6,000 Garda recruits, and will never apologise for taking action to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

“Fine Gael has the energy and experience to implement this manifesto- our plan to secure your future.”

Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe said:

“When I meet people in my constituency and across the country, they want to see progress, in healthcare, in housing, in access to supports for those in need. But they are also concerned about the uncertain world we live in and how we keep the ship steady, how we can keep moving forward.

The manifesto that we are launching here is about continuing to invest in our public services today while building the Ireland of tomorrow. It sets out our plan for taxation and public spending up to 2030 – a realistic approach that strikes a balance between what we need and what we can afford. That continues to run surpluses, invest in the two funds and not doing anything to undermine the finances of the country.”