PDF (Fine Gael Manifesto 2020)
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A future to Look Forward to Taoiseach’s Foreword Our economy has never been stronger. There are more people at work than ever before, incomes are rising, poverty is falling and the public finances are back in order. We have a deal on Brexit that ensures no hard border, citizens’ rights will be protected and the Common Travel Area will remain in place. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive have reconvened. However, it’s not enough. Brexit is not done yet. It’s only half-time. The next step is to negotiate a free trade agreement between the EU, including Ireland, and the United Kingdom that protects our jobs, our businesses, our rural and coastal communities, and our economy. Progress on health and housing is gathering momentum. I meet people every day and I know the worry, frustration and concerns around the pace of progress in health and housing. In this manifesto we lay out our plans to build on what has been done, with a particular focus on home ownership and universal healthcare. An improving economy and the careful management of our public finances, along with the sensitive stewardship of the upcoming Brexit trade negotiations, will enable us to drive that momentum and provide more houses, more hospital beds, more nurses and Gardaí, deliver climate action, and drive tax reform. We’ve been able to make good progress, but I know it’s not enough. I want us to do much more. I want people to start feeling the growing strength of our economy in their pockets – I want people to see it in their payslips and in their towns and parishes. In this manifesto we set out our plan for fairer taxes – for future jobs and for rural Ireland - to put that right. This manifesto outlines what Fine Gael stands for: • The Best Team for Brexit • A Better Deal for Families • Fairer Taxes • Real Climate Action • More Frontline Gardaí • Backing for First Time Buyers • Reform of our Health Service It has been a privilege to lead this country as your Taoiseach for the last two-and-a-half years. Thank you for that honour and for your trust in me. On Saturday 8th of February I seek a fresh mandate so we can continue to build a better future. A future we can all look forward to. We have the team. We have the track record. We have the plans. Leo Varadkar Leader Fine Gael Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 1 Réamhrá Ó Cheannaire Fhine Gael, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Ní raibh ár ngeilleagar riamh níos láidre. Tá níos mó daoine ag obair ná riamh roimhe, tá teacht isteach ag ardú, tá an bochtanas ag dul i léig agus tá cúrsaí airgid poiblí in ord arís. Tá beart againn maidir le Brexit, a chinntíonn nach mbeidh teorainn chrua ann, go gcosnófar cearta saoránach agus go mbeidh an Comhlimistéar Taistil ann fós. Tá Tionól agus Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann tagtha ar ais le chéile. Ach ní leor sin. Níl Brexit déanta fós. Níl ann ach leath ama. Is é an chéad chéim eile comhaontú saorthrádála a idirbheartú idir an tAontas Eorpach, Éire san áireamh, agus an Ríocht Aontaithe, comhaontú a chosnóidh ár bpostanna, ár ngnólachtaí, ar bpobail faoi tuath agus ar an gcósta, agus ár ngeilleagar. Tá an dul chun cinn maidir le sláinte agus tithíocht ag bailiú nirt. Buailim le daoine gach lá agus tá a fhios agam faoin mbuairt, frustrachas agus ábhair imní atá ann faoi luas an dul chun cinn maidir le sláinte agus tithíocht. San fhorógra seo leagaimid amach ár bpleananna chun tógáil ar a bhfuil déanta, le béim faoi leith ar úinéireacht tí agus cúram sláinte uilíoch. Le geilleagar atá ag feabhsú, agus cúrsaí airgid á mbainistiú go cúramach againn, chomh maith le maoirseacht íogair ar an idirbheartaíocht trádála Brexit a bheidh ar siúl go luath, cuirfidh sin ar ár gcumas dúinn an neart sin a bhrú chun cinn agus níos mó tithe, níos mó leapacha ospidéil, níos mó altraí agus Gardaí a chur ar fáil, gníomhaíocht aeráide a chur i gcrích, agus athchóiriú cánach a bhrú chun cinn. Bhíomar in ann dul chun cinn maith a dhéanamh, ach tá a fhios agam nach leor é. Táim ag iarraidh go ndéanfaimid i bhfad níos mó. Táim ag iarraidh go dtosóidh daoine ag brath ina bpócaí neart fásmhar ár ngeilleagair – táim ag iarraidh go bhfeicfidh siad é ina nduillíní pá agus ina mbailte agus ina bparóistí. San fhorógra seo leagaimid amach ár bplean le haghaidh cánacha níos cothroime – le haghaidh postanna amach anseo agus d’Éirinn faoin tuath – chun sin a chur i gceart. Tugann an forógra seo breac-chuntas ar an méid a seasann Fine Gael ar a shon: • An Fhoireann is Fearr le haghaidh Brexit • Beart Níos Fearr do Theaghlaigh • Cánacha Níos Cothroime • Gníomhaíocht Cheart Aeráide • Níos Mó Gardaí sa Líne Thosaigh • Tacaíocht do Cheannaitheoirí Céaduaire • Athchóiriú ár Seirbhíse Sláinte Pribhléid a bhí ann a bheith i gceannas ar an tír seo i mo Thaoiseach agaibh le dhá bhliain go leith. Gabhaim buíochas libh as an onóir sin agus as bhur muinín ionam. Dé Sathairn an 8 Feabhra táim ag lorg mandáid úr ionas gur féidir linn leanúint ar aghaidh ag tógáil todhchaí níos fearr. Todhchaí lenar féidir a bheith ag dúil. Tá an fhoireann againn. Tá an taifead againn. Tá na pleananna againn. Leo Varadkar Ceannaire Fhine Gael 2 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to Contents 1. Half-time in Brexit: Fine Gael protecting the interests of all people on the island of Ireland, North and South ........................................................................................................................... 5 2. Ireland – an island at the centre of the world and at the heart of Europe ..................................... 7 3. Northern Ireland and the future of our shared island .......................................................................12 4. Implementing Sláintecare .......................................................................................................................14 5. Helping parents to give their children the best start in life .............................................................21 6. Ensuring that work pays ...........................................................................................................................24 7. An Ireland where nobody is left behind ................................................................................................28 8. An Ireland where everyone is equal ......................................................................................................32 9. A first-class education system ..............................................................................................................35 10. Preparing for the jobs of tomorrow ......................................................................................................41 11. Responsible management of the public finances ............................................................................48 12. Ensuring that every part of Ireland prospers through Project Ireland 2040 ................................52 13. Rural Ireland’s voice at the heart of Government .............................................................................55 14. A vibrant agri-food sector .......................................................................................................................58 15. Our golden years guarantee ...................................................................................................................64 16. Providing more homes without repeating the mistakes of the past ...........................................66 17. Protecting our environment and moving decisively towards a zero-carbon future ................72 18. Protecting our Ocean Wealth.................................................................................................................79 19. Security and justice in modern Ireland .................................................................................................81 20. A Strong Defence Force ..........................................................................................................................86 21. A sporting and active nation ...................................................................................................................89 22. Enhancing our culture and heritage .....................................................................................................90 23. Growing the use and enjoyment of the Irish language ...................................................................94 24. Wellbeing and security in the digital age ..............................................................................................98 25. Continuing political reform .................................................................................................................. 100 26. Budgetary assumptions and costings .............................................................................................. 103 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 3 Helen McEntee Candidate for Meath East 4 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to Half-time in Brexit Fine Gael protecting the interests of all people on the island of Ireland, north and south • The right team The next phase of Brexit on behalf of the EU and with Phil • The right relationships On 31 January, the UK will leave the Hogan, a former Fine Gael Minister, • The right strategy EU. But, this does not mean that who, as Trade Commissioner, will • The right results for Ireland. ‘Brexit is done’. have a central role in negotiating the free trade element of the future Fine Gael has worked tirelessly to The standstill transition