Day 19 #GE16 Labour’s proposals to increase take-home pay for low and middle income workers.

Posted on February 21, 2016

This afternoon we launched our plan to increase your take home pay for low and middle income earners with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister Aodhan . We want to make sure work pays. That is why we want to abolish the Universal Social Charge for everyone earning under €72,000. This change will increase an average retail workers yearly take home pay by over €1,000 and a teachers by over €1,700.

We have a proven track record of making sure work pays. We have increased the minimum wage by 20% since 2011 – which means that someone who works on the minimum wage is €3,000 a year better off because of Labour’s influence in government.We have also taken 700,000 people out of the Universal Social Charge.

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Day 18 : #GE16 We're Investing in the Services that Families and Communities Need

Posted on February 20, 2016

Today we launched our Standing up for Public Services plan in our Campaign HQ with Minister Brendan Howlin and Minister Ged Nash. 

We plan that for every €1 in tax cuts, we will spend €3 on schools, childcare, and healthcare. These are the vital local services that all families and communities need. Families endured a lot during the economic downturn and deep recession. Now that we have a recovery, it is time to make sure it reaches the kitchen table.

[Read our Plan for investing in the services that families and communities need]

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Day 17 : #GE16 Equality is the Keystone of What we Believe

Posted on February 19, 2016

Today with launched our plan for a more modern, equal Ireland with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister Jan O'Sullivan and former Deputy Leader of our party, Liz McManus.

[Read our Plan for a more modern, equal Ireland here]

If re-elected to Govenment, we will tackle gender pay issues by ensuring large companies and public sector employers make public the details their own internal pay gaps in order to stimulate stronger action towards pay equality.

Highlighting the gender pay gap with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Jan O Sullivan and Liz McManus #GE16

A photo posted by Labour Party (@labourparty) on Feb 19, 2016 at 2:47am PST

 Minister Jan O'Sullivan MC'd the event and spoke about the Labour Party always pushing equality forward in Ireland.

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Day 16 : #GE16 Only Labour in Government can Repeal the 8th

Posted on February 18, 2016

Today we launched our  plan to hold a referendum to repeal the 8 ^th Amendment. Minister for Communications, Alex White, Minister for Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, and Senator Ivana Bacik outlined how the party would deliver a referendum, and campaign strongly to repeal the 8 ^th amendment, if returned to Government.

Speaking at the launch in Labour’s Campaign HQ this afternoon, Minister for Communications, Alex White, said: “It’s high time that this generation was given the right to choose – through a referendum – whether the 8 ^th amendment should remain in our Constitution.

Only @labour in Government can deliver a referendum to #repealthe8th #GE16 pic.twitter.com/96PY4gQ5RO

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Only Labour can provide a fair Government

Posted on February 17, 2016

Dear friend,

The recovery we have achieved together has been stable and it has been balanced. It has also been fair.

Only Labour can provide a fair government that will ensure that tax cuts are focused on low and middle income families, that there is proper investment in schools and healthcare, and that we can have a modern and progressive Ireland.

We need to keep building the strong economy so that we can have a decent society.

In this election, other parties are trying to undo all that we have achieved together. We cannot allow them to play with the recovery.

Tonight's Party Election Broadcast demonstrates this simple message. Please watch and share it with your friends, family and colleagues.

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Day 15 #GE16 : We're Standing Up for Irish Culture

Posted on February 17, 2016

Today we launched our plan for promoting arts, culture and heritage in the Project Arts Centre with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Kevin Humphreys and Tony Award winning director Garry Hynes.

Ireland is a country with an extraordinarily rich heritage on which to base our cultural identity. Who we are as a people is firmly grounded in an outstanding foundation of artistic and cultural achievement and excellence. We believe that participation in and enjoyment of the arts and our cultural institutions should be for the many, not the few. That’s why we will push for greater access and more innovative uses of our artistic and cultural resources to the benefit of all our citizens.

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Day 14 #GE16 :Standing up for Education

Posted on February 16, 2016

Today the Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister Jan O'Sullivan launched our Standing up for Education plan in Limerick. Among the commitments in our plan for education include delivering the smallest class sizes in the history of the State, ending the use of prefabs in schools, reducing school costs for parents, doubling the number of multi-denominational schools by 2021 and amending the Equal Status Acts so that local children can access local schools. 

[Download Labour's Plan for Investment and Reform of our Education System.]

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Day 13 #GE16 : Standing Up for Ireland's Future

Posted on February 15, 2016

Today we launched our manifesto 'Standing Up for Ireland's Future' in DIT Grangegoreman with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Ministers Alan Kelly and Brendan Howlin and our #GE16 candidates.

There are three core principles which underpin Labour’s manifesto – invest in services, reduce tax burden on working families and stand up for a modern and inclusive Ireland.

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Day 12 : #GE16 Don't Let them Play with the Recovery

Posted on February 14, 2016

The Labour Party has delivered a stable and balanced recovery. In five years, we have rebuilt our economy from the ruins that Fianna Fail left it in.

We've created almost 140,000 jobs. We've cut the USC and increased the minimum wage. We've introduced free GP care, and we've passed a referendum on marriage equality.

We can look forward with hope and optimism, and begin to make Ireland a great country to live, work, and raise a family.

All this has been achieved by managing the economy responsibly and fairly. But, at the moment, storm clouds are gathering over the international economy. There is a lot of uncertainty about the wider economic outlook.

At this time, we cannot allow others to play with the recovery that we have delivered. This simple ad shows how Labour has delivered a stable and balanced recovery and how we cannot let others put that at risk. Please share it with your friends, family, and colleagues.

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Day 11 : #GE16 Standing Up for Safer Communities

Posted on February 13, 2016

Today we launched our plan for community policing and reform of justice with Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin , Deputy Joe Costello , Senators Lorraine Higgins and Máiría Cahill .

[You can read our Standing Up for Safer Communities plan here]

Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáín spoke about  our plan to indroduce a new and comprehensive approach to dealing with drug addicition - "We will put the Drugs Cort on a statutory footing and expand its remit. We must also ensure that the resources of the criminal justice system are targeted at drug pushers and those that wish to damage our communities, not their victims."

An tAire @AodhanORiordain ag caint faoi acmhainní na Gardaí. #GE16 pic.twitter.com/sMU89lAlvg

— The Labour Party (@labour) February 13, 2016

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