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Labour Party Election Manifesto 2011 One Ireland - Jobs, Reform, Fairness

Summary Jobs Put jobs and growth first. That means renegotiating the EU-IMF deal to include a jobs strategy, to share the debt burden with bondholders, to reduce the interest rate, and to leave room for Ireland's economy to grow.

Build on our strengths. Labour has specific plans for job creation in Ireland's agri-food industry, tourism, renewable energy, creative industries, clean technology, and retail; for turning scientific research into jobs; and for developing new markets for Irish exports.

Invest in jobs and training. Labour's €500 million Jobs Fund will fund new ideas to grow jobs in strategic sectors of the economy, while our plan for a Strategic Investment Bank will provide credit to grow businesses and build vital infrastructure. The Jobs Fund will also provide 60,000 new education and training opportunities to help those out of work to get back into employment.

Make next generation broadband happen. Labour's plan brings together private sector funding in an innovative co-op to build a high-speed, next generation broadband network.

Reform Change politics. Labour’s job in government is to serve the best interests of the Irish people. Labour will abolish the Seanad, end cronyism on State boards, and make Ministers and public servants accountable for their decisions.

A new Constitution. Labour will ask a people’s convention to draw up a new Constitution setting out the aspirations, the values and the rules that Irish people want to live by now.

Open up government. Labour will extend the right to Freedom of Information, require political lobbyists to be publicly registered, and introduce legal protection for whistleblowers.

Reform public service. Labour has a plan to make the public service more flexible, work better, and to get better value for money.

Fairness Keep taxes fair and balanced. Under Labour in government, no one earning less than €100,000 will pay more income tax. Labour’s plan to close the gap in our public finances is split 50:50 between spending cuts and new revenue-raising measures.

A fairer, more affordable health system. Labour will reform the unfair two-tier health system to reduce the cost of delivering care, and use those savings to extend universal access to essential medical care. We will start by making access to primary care, such as GPs, more affordable.

Make literacy a national cause. No child should leave school unable to read and write. Labour has a plan to improve child literacy for the first time in a generation.