Sunday marked the 10th day of the 2024 general election campaign and the deadline for the nomination of candidates passed. A record number of women are among the more than 600 candidates estimated to be on the ballot paper across the State’s 43 constituencies.
Fine Gael launched its manifesto in the afternoon, pledging to cut taxes by €7 billion, provide a €1,000 savings fund to every newborn baby and break up the Office of Public Works.
Fianna Fáil in turn responded to their Coalition partner’s manifesto, with Minister for Finance Jack Chambers saying it does not appear to allow for public sector pay increases or higher employment in the healthcare sector.
Meanwhile, Labour’s manifesto set out six “key missions” the party will have if it is part of the next Government, relating to issues including housing, climate and health.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was canvassing in Dublin on Sunday afternoon.
Key Reads
- ‘Cost of living versus income ... It’s that simple’: Drogheda and Bray fans cite health and housing as election issues
- Extra €52bn spending proposed in Fine Gael manifesto is ‘secure and sensible’, Harris says
- Labour will not offer tax cuts, commits to investment in housing and childcare
- Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers questions whether Fine Gael envisages a public sector pay freeze
- Message from the Editor: Election campaign to enter new phase after blizzard of promises
That concludes our live coverage for day 10 of the general election campaign. Thanks for reading and stick with us in print and online at irishtimes.com as polling day on November 29th moves ever closer.
‘Very positive feedback’ on Labour plan for State construction company, says Bacik
From Pat Leahy:
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she had “very positive feedback” about the plan for a State construction company, but she did not have a figure on how many workers it would employ.
She said Labour will build more homes, give working people a new deal, take action on climate change and a just transition, transform the health service, implement a cost-of-living action plan and a charter for children’s rights.
The document contains plans for average net spending increases of over 5.1 per cent over the next five years – amounting to some €40 billion.
It proposes annual additional income from new taxes of €400 million – including doubling the bank levy and a new wealth tax. It also pledged to introduce an SUV tax based on the weight of new petrol and diesel cars which it said would “tackle car and SUV bloat”, though officials said this was not a revenue-raising mechanism but rather a device to incentivise car manufacturers to provide smaller and lighter vehicles.
It also said that expected savings from a “healthier population, better educated workforce, reduced homelessness and waiting lists, digitalisation and less emergency spending on measures like agency staffing” would arise because of “better planning.”
Fianna Fáil announces €300m village and town businesses support fund
Colm Keena writes:
Among the measures announced by Fianna Fáil were an annual €300 million business support fund to enhance the viability of businesses in villages and towns, and a €2 billion towns investment fund to upgrade towns and make them a more attractive place in which to live, shop and work.
The decision to keep the VAT rate on gas and electricity at 9 per cent was in order to help businesses reduce their costs, not just in hospitality but across all sectors, said Mr Calleary.
The party was “definitely not giving money away”, Mr Calleary said. Its policies were about “investing in employment and in the future of our society”.
Other policies revealed by Fianna Fáil included reducing the rate of employers’ PRSI in the case of minimum wage workers, driving down business costs by way of investment and reform, reducing red tape and supporting family-owned businesses through the taxation system and training and skills supports.
In the retail sector, the measures being promised include a new law to provide shopkeepers with a statutory defence where shoppers claim they have been defamed when asked to produce a receipt for their goods.
Read the article in full here.
Labour will not offer tax cuts but commits to investment in housing and childcare
Pat Leahy writes:
The Labour Party will not offer tax cuts but will instead commit to sustained investment in housing, childcare and public services over the next five years, party leader Ivana Bacik and finance spokesman Ged Nash promised today as they launched their manifesto for the general election.
Instead of “shrinking the tax base” with tax cuts, Mr Nash said, Labour would pledge to automatically index tax bands and credits, as well as social welfare rates. Labour would remove the means test for the carers’ allowance, introduce a cost of disability payment and also a second tier of child benefit for children in poorer households.
It would set up a new public childcare system with 30,000 places by the end of the government’s term of office, initially located in public buildings but with new facilities added adjacent to schools. Labour would also cap childcare costs at €50 per week. Existing childcare businesses would be able to join the public system.
Some 50,000 extra public servants would be needed over the next five years, Labour says, to deal with extra pressures on public servants and the party also committed to establishing a State building company where construction workers would have public sector pay scales, increments and pensions. The new State company is essential to delivering housing targets of 50,000 new homes every year, plus 50,000 home retrofits, the party said.
Harris calls on McDonald to publish Sinn Féin manifesto
Simon Harris has called on the Sinn Féin leader to publish the party’s manifesto ahead of the first leaders’ debate on Monday evening.
The Fine Gael leader has accused Mary Lou McDonald of “cynicism” in not publishing the party’s general election proposals before the televised debate.
It comes as Ms McDonald accused Mr Harris of refusing to take part in a separate “proposed” debate.
Posting on social media, Ms McDonald said Mr Harris was “hiding” and claimed he does not like to be challenged on his record.
However, Mr Harris said his party has never received a formal invite to take part in a leaders debate with Sky News and Today FM ahead of the election.
“It’s an interesting position that Mary Lou McDonald thinks everyone in the country is afraid of debating her. I have a number of questions I want to talk to Mary Lou McDonald about and I look forward to that, with the debate tomorrow night,” Mr Harris said during Fine Gael’s manifesto launch in Co Tipperary.
“We have a debate the following Tuesday and we have a debate in the Dáil at least twice a week. Now it would be easier and more productive to debate her if she published her manifesto, and I think it’s a little bit cynical that she is going to publish her manifesto the day after the first leaders’ debate.
“She will be able to stand on the stage and say ‘we will deal with that in the manifesto’.
“My challenge to the leader of Sinn Féin is publish your manifesto before I see you tomorrow night at RTÉ, so we can have a real and meaningful debate on your costed proposals and vision for the this country.
“I have never been known to be shy or shirking a debate and I am certainly not.
“There was an issue that my our director of elections have never received a formal invite to any other debates.
“Should they come, we will of course consider it and try to facilitate it.”
Sources said that while talks were continuing about the possibility of a debate taking place, no formal invitations were issued.
Today FM radio host Matt Cooper posted on Twitter on Saturday: “To clarify: Sky News and [Today FM] has put forward a proposal for a simulcast radio and TV debate next Friday. I remain hopeful that Simon Harris might be able to find time in his schedule.”
It is understood that Fianna Fáil has agreed in principle to take part in the debate.
Ms McDonald posted on Twitter: “Simon Harris is refusing to take part in the proposed Today FM/Sky News leaders debate.
“He won’t have this debate with me.
“He is hiding from answering for Fine Gael’s disastrous performance in Government over 14 years.
“Simon Harris has no new ideas, no new plans and doesn’t like being challenged on his record.”
Party leaders will take part in two live debates in the coming weeks.
All 10 political party leaders have been invited to take part in a debate on Monday, while a second debate between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin will take place on November 26th.
Sky News has been contacted for comment. – PA
FG to continue to canvass for Senator found liable for assault
Elsewhere on Sunday, Simon Harris said his party will continue to canvass for Senator John McGahon, despite photos showing injuries a man suffered following an altercation with the Louth candidate.
Mr McGahon was found not guilty of assault in a criminal case two years ago, but a High Court civil action found him liable earlier this year.
The man was awarded a sum of damages against Mr McGahon.
Photos have been published in a Sunday newspaper showing the extent of facial injuries suffered by the man.
Mr Harris said his party will continue to back Mr McGahon.
“These matters were all examined in a court of law. A jury sat in Louth. A jury looked at the CCTV, a jury looked at images. A defence was put forward, a defence of self-defence was put forward, and a jury found him not guilty,” Mr Harris added. – PA
FG manifesto may not allow for public sector pay increases, says Chambers
Colm Keena writes:
At a press conference announcing Fianna Fáil’s measures to support small and medium enterprises, Minister for Finance Jack Chambers said the Fine Gael manifesto did not appear to allow for public sector pay increases or increased employment in the health service.
“Are they proposing a pay freeze?” he asked. “I don’t think the Irish public would like to see an embargo in our health service for five years.”
Minister of State for Trade, Dara Calleary, said that “at least” Fine Gael had published a manifesto, in contrast to Sinn Féin.
“How can you have a leaders’ debate when the Sinn Féin manifesto is missing in action,” he said, referring to Monday’s planned leaders’ debate on TV.
Sinn Féin were making countless promises but had no fiscal framework, Mr Chambers said. “They would raid Ireland’s future.”
Both men rejected the suggestion that the major parties were acting like Elon Musk in the US, offering the public money for their votes.
“In terms of investing in enterprise,” Mr Calleary said, “enterprise pays the bills for this country.”
The measures announced include the establishment of a €300 million business support fund for SMEs in villages and towns, a reduced rate of employers’ PRSI on minimum wage workers, driving down business costs by way of investment and reform, reducing red tape, and driving regional enterprise.
Measures aimed at bringing life back to the main street include a €2 billion Towns Investment Fund to make towns a more attractive place to live, shop and work, and supporting family-owned businesses through the taxation system and training and skills supports.
In the retail sector, the measures being promised include new law to provide shopkeepers with a statutory defence in cases where shoppers claim they have been defamed when asked to produce a receipt for goods.
Pat Leahy writes:
Labour Cllr and candidate in Dublin South West Ciaran Ahern says that Labour is campaigning for a “kinder, fairer and more equal Ireland”.
Labour sets out six ‘key missions’ in election manifesto
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has set out six “key missions” which will be the priorities for Labour in government, reports Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy from the party’s manifesto launch in Dublin.
Bacik says Labour will:
- Build more homes
- Give working people a new deal
- Take action on climate change and a just transition
- Transform the health service
- Implement a cost of living action plan
- Charter for children’s rights
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said crime in parts of the country is presenting “significant challenges” and that there has been “an increase in aggression and an increase around retail theft”.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, the Minister said Fine Gael was proposing to create a “stand-alone offence for assaulting a retailer”.
“We want to say this will be a stronger, heavier penalty if you commit this type of crime.
“What we know is about 40 per cent of retail crime is committed by 8 to 9 per cent of people. If you target those people, you’re automatically able to take a large percentage out of the equation.”
Main promises made by Fine Gael in their election manifesto, launched today
Read Irish Times political correspondent Harry McGee’s full report from the manifesto launch in Co Tipperary here.
- Cut taxes by €7 billion
- A child savings fund of €1,000 for every newborn child
- A New Department of Infrastructure. Fine Gael will merge the Department of Transport and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Communications, as well as the infrastructure part of the Department of Public Expenditure. The OPW will be subsumed into the new department except for the National Monuments Service, which will move to the Department of Housing. A special team reporting to Cabinet will have responsibility for ‘mega projects’ – those worth more than €100 million
- Increase the higher tax threshold by €2,000 each year for five years, so by 2030 so the higher tax rate threshold will be €54,000. The cost of this will be one €2.5 billion
- Tax credits will be increased by an additional €750 by 2030
- The new exemption from inheritance tax for children inheriting from parents will be increased to €500,000
- The Help-to-Buy scheme will be extended until 2030
- Electricity and gas VAT will be reduced from 13.5 per cent to 11 per cent. Food and catering business will be subject to a lower date of 11 per cent
- State pension will be increased by €12 each year, or €60 over five years, at an overall cost to the exchequer of €2.4 billion
- Ease out student fees over five years
- Commitment to build 300,000 new homes over five years
- On immigration, Fine Gael has committed to building designated centres that will facilitate expedited processing for individuals from safe countries or those arriving with no, or false, documents. Appeals and removals completed within 90 days. It also proposes a dedicated division of the High Court to handle immigration cases
- Asylum seekers will be required to contribute to their accommodation costs. The party will put an end to the emergency use of hotels if in Government
- On health, it has promised 5,000 new inpatient beds by 2031. It has proposed six new surgical hubs – one each in Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick and two in Dublin
Fine Gael launches election manifesto
Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has launched his party’s manifesto for what it plans to change, if elected back into Government. The main points include:
- A child savings account from birth with State contribution of €1,000, or €1,500 for lower-income families.
- €40 billion investment in the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030.
- The recruitment of 6,000 additional gardaí and the roll-out of body-worn cameras and facial- recognition technology.
- €1 billion investment in increasing services and reducing waiting lists for children with disabilities and special educational needs, and reducing the cost of childcare.
- A new Department of Infrastructure, Climate & Transport.
Oxfam Ireland has rolled out its general election manifesto, calling on the Government to introduce fairer wealth taxation, measures to address inequality and to improve climate justice at home and abroad.
Oxfam has proposed a 1.5 per cent wealth tax on those with net wealth over €4.6 million, which it says would fund healthcare, education and climate resilience, while reducing the strain on low and middle-income citizens. It also notes that Ireland’s current climate action plans are insufficient to meet the 2030 targets.
The Occupied Territories Bill must be passed “as soon as possible” and the Government should also work to “suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement on trade, fund local aid organisations, and promote infrastructure rebuilding”, says the Oxfam manifesto.
“Oxfam’s vision goes beyond Ireland,” said Jim Clarken, chief executive of Oxfam Ireland. “By implementing these policies and collaborating with other nations on global tax and climate solutions, Ireland can become a beacon of fairness and responsibility, showing that meaningful change is possible when governments lead with compassion and justice.”
Meet The Irish Times voter panel for General Election 2024
The Irish Times has assembled a panel of 11 readers, drawn from across the State and from a cross-section of age groups, to discuss the general election campaign. They were selected after responding to a call-out and have been interviewed twice by editors and reporters to get a picture of their background and attitudes to politics. All say they are certain to vote on November 29th.
While they are not selected to be absolutely representative of the population as a whole, they come from a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.
Some of the panel found the election campaign lacklustre, with the barrage of promises from politicians leaving them unimpressed. One participant said it felt like they were being “bribed with our own money”.
Many on the panel expressed frustration at what they believe is a lack of long-term planning, or a longer-term vision, for Ireland’s future needs. One member said: “there isn’t a single party that has presented a vision for what Ireland could be in 10 years’ time. It is all very short-term.”
You can read more about their thoughts on the upcoming general election here.
Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has posted a video on X saying Helen McEntee is “the worst Minister for Justice in the history of the State”. His comments come less than a year after he voted that he had confidence in Ms McEntee in a vote of no confidence, tabled by Sinn Féin in December 2023. The Minister won the Dáil confidence vote by 83 votes to 63.
The Women for Election campaign group has said 248 women are running in the election, the largest number and an increase of 53 per cent on the total that went forward in 2020. In the outgoing Dáil, there were just 37 women TDs out of 160 (23 per cent).
“With Ireland 104th in the world for the number of women in parliament, it is really good news for the health of our democracy that so many women are stepping forward to stand for election, seeking to represent their communities, and to bring their voices and experiences to the Dáil”, said Brian Sheehan, chief executive of Women for Election.
