Day 23 - Voters have a clear choice

Posted on May 21, 2007

With only three days to go till polling voters have a clear choice between making a change by voting for the Alternative Coalition or five more years of Fianna Fail in Government.

That means five more years of Dick Roche, five more years of Martin Cullen, five more years of chaos in our health service, not to mention the prospect of another five years of the same FF-led incompetence and arrogance.

Or there is the choice of a real change, with Labour being the engine of change, in an alternative government.

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Permanent link | Categories: Elections

Only days to go

Posted on May 21, 2007

Liz McManus, Enda Kenny, Pat Rabbitte and Richard Bruton at today's photo-opp on our voting transfer pact.

Its the last few days of the campaign and day 23 started off with a photo opportununity in St Stephen's Green, Dublin, with Pat and Liz as well as Fine Gael's Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton highlighting the importance of the vote transfer pact between the two parties.

This was followed up this afternoon with a press conference with Ruairi Quinn and Fine Gael's Richard Bruton where they outlined the economic priorities of the Alliance for Change.

Speaking in a joint press statement they said: "Over the past three weeks, Fianna Fail has unleashed a relentlessly negative and untruthful campaign about Labour and Fine Gael's plans. In the final days of their dying Government they have moved from misrepresentations to outright lies about our policies.

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Permanent link | Categories: Elections

Day 22 - Four Days to Ensure a Better Health Service

Posted on May 20, 2007

at our 4 Days to Ensure a Better Health Service launch

Ruairi Quinn and Liz McManus were in the media centre today in election HQ to reveal new information obtained under Freedom of Information confirming that the FF/PD plan to build super private clinics on the grounds of public hospitals will cause serious problems for the public health service.

Ruairi said: "Fianna Fail and the PDs have given on the public health system. They simply don't believe that good quality health services can be delivered by a public health system where medical need, rather than ability to pay, determines the care a patient receives. Instead they want to turn public health into something the sockness industry can profit from.

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Permanent link | Categories: Health • Policy • Elections

Day 21 - Going the extra mile

Posted on May 19, 2007

At the launch of our policy, Giving Youth a Chance

The final weekend of the campaign sees Pat with his Make a Change tour in the West with Jimmy McGarry in Sligo, in Mayo with Harry Barrett, Tuam with Colm Keaveney and Galway City with Michael D.

Back in Dublin in Election HQ Joan Burton and Oisin Quinn launched our Giving Youth a Chance, Labour's plan for youth activities allowing us to have a kick-about in the media centre during the photo-opportunity.

Considering that Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe with one in three people under 25 years old, the corresponding facilities are not in place and this is at the heart of the document.

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Permanent link | Categories: Arts Sport & Tourism • Elections • Policy

Day 20 - Many Happy Returns

Posted on May 18, 2007

Pat celebrating his 58th Birthday by blowing out the candles on his birthday cake with help from pre-school children, Hannah Brennan-Doyne and Ellie Manning during his visit to Mary Mother of Hope National School, Littlepace, Clonee.

Today marked the birthday of an important member of our team; the Party Leader, Pat who celebrated the day while canvassing with Joan Burton and Joanna Tuffy.

On hand to help him blow out his candles were Hannah Brennan-Doyne and Ellie Manning during a visit to Mary Mother of Hope National School in Littlepace. Not only was it Pat's birthday and therefore cake all round for everyone but we also launched a major document on education .

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Permanent link | Categories: Education • Elections • Policy

Day 19 - Putting gangs out of business

Posted on May 17, 2007

Pat speaking on gun crime at the Labour Party conference 2007

Day 19 - Today's press conference was taken by Brendan Howlin and Ruairi Quinn where they launched our 'Putting the gangs out of business'.

Over the last ten years the conviction rate for gun murders stands at 16 per cent. During 2005 of the 21 gun murders only four were regarded as having been detected, with proceedings commenced in just two cases.

Since Minister McDowell made his ill-judged statement in November 2005 'last sting of a dying wasp' 54 people have died in gun murders.

It is clear the criminal gangs believe they can get away with killing each other.

In our document launched today we set out a number of measures that will be taken by Labour in Government to defeat the gangs.

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Permanent link | Categories: Justice • Elections • Policy

Value for money for tax payers and Q&A with Pat

Posted on May 16, 2007

Pat launching our countdown to change in the press centre of our campaign headquarters.

Day 18 kicked off with a press conference in election HQ's press centre hosted by Pat and Liz where they focused on value for taxpayers' money.

The document focuses on Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats' record of waste at a cost of millions to the taxpayer and how Labour will improve public spending and the delivery of public services.

One example of this is the saga of the HSE computer system PPARS that does not work with the total cost to date being €176.8m and rising each day never mind the uncertainty as to whether or not it will be rolled out nationally.

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Day 18 - Labour blogging roundup

Posted on May 16, 2007

Checking out Dominic's website which incorporates his blog and videos.

First up in this round-up of Labour bloggers, our finance spokespeson Joan Burton talks about our changing lifestyles and how it affects canvassing. She also talks about meeting an elderly woman who is on the list for eye treatment and has received an appointment for April 2008.

She says: "That lady should not be put through such an ordeal for something so simple as eye treatment. We need a change and it's coming."

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Day 17 - Fair Deal for Communities

Posted on May 15, 2007

At October's ploughing championships in Tullow about to be interviewed by RTE's Sharon Ní Bheoláin

Another day closer to the election and another positive poll for us. There have been five polls since the election was announced; we were up in four with no change on one so there is a definite and positive rising trend for us. The poll also confirms what we are hearing from people on the ground that there is an urge for change out there.

Speaking on the canvas trail in Tipperary South with Phil Prendergast, Pat said: "Now is the time for a new vision, and new values.

"A vision of our country, as one where hard working families enjoy a good quality of life and can build a better future for their children.

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Permanent link | Categories: Education • Elections • Policy

Day 16 - Making our A&Es work

Posted on May 14, 2007

Speaking at today's press conference

Day 16 - As ever there were a number of things happening around the country on the election trail. Pat and the battlebus were in Carlow/Kilkenny and Tipperary North and South; while in Dublin Liz McManus and Ged Nash took a press conference on Labour's plan for ending the crisis in Accident and Emergency departments.

Speaking at the press conference Liz said: "Access to prompt and effective advice and treatment in decent conditions for those who suffer an accident or require urgent medical intervention should be a basic right in any developed society.

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Permanent link | Categories: Health • Elections