Irish General Election Attracts Manifesto Blizzard

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

09 May 2002

With a general election imminent, Irish party manifestos are littering the streets even as Fianna Fail, the party currently in power, set out its environmental stall yesterday, vowing to extend its 'successful' anti-litter plastic bag levy to cover other types of container such as PET (polyethylene) bottles and aluminium cans.

In other respects the document was less precise, repeating a pledge to reduce the use of landfill for waste disposal in words lifted from its own 1997 waste disposal policy document, and saying: 'We will ensure that the waste that remains - something that other parties seem to think they can magic away - will be dealt with in the safest, most environmentally friendly way possible, by following international best practice.' Burying it in words, maybe?

Minority Republican party Sinn Fein set out a populist, rich-bashing agenda in its manifesto, also published yesterday. Higher taxes for businesses and the rich, including a 40% Capital Gains Tax rate, and reductions in social security contributions, were key promises. Capital Gains Tax on the sale of second, and more houses should rise again within two years to 60% to force 'speculative owners of multiple dwellings' to sell, said the manifesto.

Sinn Fein has the advantage in terms of election manifestos since there is no danger that it will be elected to power, and all other parties have said they won't ally with the Republicans in Government. Saying that ruling Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat coalition has favoured the rich, the party's manifesto declares: 'We do not accept the mantra that universal tax cuts lead inevitably to a richer economy and a fairer society.' Sinn Fein said that 25% of the value of Budget 'tax giveaways' over the last five years went to the richest 10%, while the poorest 5% received just 10%. Every citizen should have a constitutional right to housing; local authorities should be given two years, and bigger budgets to house 70% of those currently on waiting lists, dreamed the manifesto.

Calling for a fundamental review of the tax system to be completed within 12 months, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said all existing tax loopholes should be closed immediately. On health, Sinn Fein proposes major funding increases, an end to the two-tier system over 10 years, free GP care and the extension of the medical card to all those on the minimum wage and under-18s in full-time education. Mr Adams said all parties should first agree that they wish to create a one-tier health system and then use the tax system 'to bring it about' over 10 years.

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