Labour's Plan for Fair Health Care

Posted on February 08, 2011

Cllr John Gilroy and Deputy Jan O'Sullivan at the launch of Labour's Plan for Fair Health Care.

"Labour in government will introduce Universal Primary Care Insurance for every citizen by 2014," said Jan O'Sullivan TD at the launch of Labour's Plan for Fair Health Care.

"At the same time Labour will end the two tier system in hospital care so that everyone has the same access to treatment through a Universal Hospital Care Insurance system by 2016."

Alongside Cllr John Gilroy, one of Labour's candidates in Cork North Central, and Cllr Pat Cody, one of the party's candidates in Wexford, she presented a bold new vision to rebuild healthcare in Ireland.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Health • Jan OSullivan • Policy •

Don't Kill the Patient - surgery not butchery - Labour's Plan for Stability and Growth

Posted on February 03, 2011

"Labour's budget plans will achieve stability while leaving room for jobs and growth," the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said at the launch of our latest policy document Labour's Plan for Stability and Growth.

"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are committed to the budget plans in the IMF/EU deal, which pose an excessive risk to Ireland's chance of recovery. They are comfortable with the Celtic Tory Consensus that embraces austerity, at any price.

Labour is clear on the need to bring down the deficit, but the Irish economy needs surgery, not butchery. What Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil want to do is high risk and could kill the patient."

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A Fair and Effective Penal System

Posted on January 11, 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik and Deputy Pat Rabbitte at the launch of 'A Fair and Effective Penal System'.

"A Fair and Effective Penal System" policy document was launched this afternoon which argues that our current system is costly, ineffective and has led to grossly overcrowded prisons. The document says that those engaged in serious criminal activity, and persons convicted of crimes of violence and offences against the person must be imprisoned to protect society, but outlines a number of alternatives to custodial sentences in appropriate cases.

Leading the launch was our Justice Spokesperson Pat Rabbitte TD and Senator Ivana Bacik.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Justice • Policy

Labour document proposals fundamental reforms

Posted on January 06, 2011

Brendan Howlin TD, Eamon Gilmore TD and Pat Rabbitte TD at the launch of Labour's policy doc 'New Government, Better Government' which contains 140 proposals to radically reform how the Government functions, how the Dáil carries out it business and how public services operate.

"The document we are publishing here today sets out the most comprehensive plan to transform, government, politics and the public service, ever published by any political party in the history of the state.

"It contains 140 separate proposals that would radically reform how the government functions, how the Dail carries out is business, and how the public service operates, "the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said today launching 'New Government, Better Government'.

Among the 140 proposals contained in 'New Government, Better Government', include:

• Establish an Independent Fiscal Advisory Council to undertake official macroeconomic projections and monitoring
• Establish an Independent Electoral Commission
• 50 per cent increase in Dail sitting days, longer working week, longer working days, less holidays
• Abolish the Seanad
• Introduce Whistleblowers legislation
• Introduce spending limits for local and Presidential elections

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Day 24 - the last press conference

Posted on May 22, 2007

Pat speaking at the last press conference of the campaign.

Today saw the last press conference of the campaign due to the moratorium placed on television and radio media in the last 24 hours of the countdown.

Speaking to journalists Pat said: "The people have a choice. For the last 22 days, Labour has run a campaign that has been unrelentingly positive. We have concentrated our efforts on putting forward our vision for the future of our country. A vision I call the Fair Society."

Pat also took the opportunity to dispel a lot of guff being thrown by Fianna Fail as they attempt to spread misinformation on our costed and researched policies.

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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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Permanent link | Categories: Elections • Policy