Fine Gael contract:Enda Kenny kicked off his election tour yesterday by publicly signing his Contract for a Better Ireland and warning political opponents that it was about time they took him seriously as a politician.
"For the last 10 years there has not been a single minister that has put up their hands and accepted responsibility for failure in their departments, be it in relation to PPARs, electronic voting or the delivery of the ending of waiting lists or the reduction of class sizes.
"As far as I am concerned, that breeds cynicism and apathy among young people, and I am really serious about signing this contract, which contains 14 items fundamental to the building of a better Ireland, and I intend to carry this contract to every constituency in every county over the next three weeks to ask the people for their imprimatur to implement it."
He said that the morning after a new Fine Gael/Labour government was formed they would set about implementing this contract in full. "The contract works both ways. I have said that at the end of my period as taoiseach if I have failed to deliver on my contract I will not seek the endorsement of the people any more as taoiseach."
Dismissing Fianna Fáil claims that he did not have the experience to take over as taoiseach, he said: "Many people in the past have not taken me seriously as a politician. They will want to start doing so now."
He refused to be drawn on the decision of the Mahon tribunal not to proceed with its public investigation into the Quarryvale module until after the election.
"The Mahon tribunal has a job to do. Obviously it is going to make its own decisions."
Mr Kenny's contract involves pledges in a number of areas.
Health: Free health insurance for every child under 16, free GP visits for every child under five and 2,300 more acute hospital beds.
Justice: 2,000 more gardaí on the streets, tougher sentences for violent criminals by ending the automatic policy of reducing sentences by 25 per cent.
Education: Access to a year of pre-school education for all children by expanding the number of public places available and subsidising those who use independently-provided pre-schools.
Immigration: Appointment of a minister for immigration affairs to ensure that the system is good for the State and good for the immigrants, to keep Ireland safe, and to improve, not threaten, our working and living standards.
Environment: Specific targets for every government agency to reduce its carbon footprint so that the government leads by example. Increased investment in the development of renewable energy. Lower taxes on biofuels.
Government waste: The dismissal of any minister responsible for wasting public money.
Taxation: Reduction of the standard rate from 20 per cent to 18 per cent. Tax relief for families where someone stays at home to care for a child or a parent.
Stamp duty: Abolition of stamp duty for all first-time buyers up to a ceiling of €450,000 and lower rates for every transaction.
