Policies

Animal Welfare Policy

Summary

  • Conduct a full audit of animal welfare issues in Ireland.
  • Increase financial support for animal welfare charities
  • Promote responsible pet ownership through the school curriculum.
  • Conduct a full review of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 (DBEA).
  • Stop live exports to countries where welfare standards at the final destination cannot be assured.
  • Introduce measures requiring all animals, but especially pigs and poultry, to be provided with adequate space, natural light and opportunities to carry out their natural behaviours.
  • Support the complete ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
  • Introduce a complete ban on the hunting of wild mammals with hounds.
  • Introduce a complete ban on coursing live hares.
  • Properly enforce the ban on doping of greyhounds, lurchers, and horses.
  • Control and regulation of Greyhound breeding for profit.
  • Examine and restructure Bord Na gCon.
  • Ban fur farming.
  • End badger culling by traps, snares and shooting.
  • Ban all non-medical animal experiments.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Arts Policy

Summary

  • Increase the arts budget for 2018 by €100 million.
  • Increase state funding of the arts to the European average of 0.6{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b}
  • Fund access to arts participation in disadvantaged areas for adults and children.
  • Fund access to arts participation for adults and children with disabilities.
  • Ensure children have greater access to culture and art as a right.
  • Open schools and colleges for after-school artistic activities for children and teenagers.
  • Open Public Spaces – including NAMA buildings – for use by local arts organisations.
  • Support performances and exhibitions in public spaces.
  • Arts participation programmes in prisons, schools, care homes and hospitals.
  • Remove the requirement of ‘availability for work’ for artists on Jobseeker’s Allowance.
  • Allow artists to do unpaid work without pressure from the Department of Social Protection.
  • A new deal programme for artists in the public sector. This would create well paid jobs and increase access to the arts throughout society.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Brexit Policy

Summary

  • Reject all moves to re-create a hard border.
  • Reject any attempt to establish customs posts or immigration checks.
  • No Irish Garda, immigration or customs official should co-operate in imposing a border.
  • Irish people – North and South must vote on the outcome of any negotiation between the EU and Britain.
  • The Irish government should give a clear commitment that it will use its veto to implement the decision of such referenda.
  • Insist on the retention of a common travel area between North and South.
  • Reject moves to weaken the economic linkages between North and South.
  • A campaign of civil disobedience and people power to remove posts if the EU and UK insist on imposing a hard border.
  • Oppose neoliberal reforms imposed by London or Brussels
  • Oppose Imperialism imposed by London or Brussels.
  • Oppose PESCO – the move towards a European Army.
  • Ensure that working people do not pay the economic costs of Brexit
  • Move to a new model of economic development less susceptible to international decisions like Brexit or the election of Trump.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Disability Policy

Summary

  • Ensure that the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability (UNCRPD).
  • Grant Medical Cards on basis on patient need not income.
  • Extend the Disability Act 2005 to include all persons with a disability.
  • Enact Part II of the Disability Rights Act to entitle people to an immediate needs assessment.
  • Implement the Education of Persons with Special Education Needs Act (2004).
  • Implement the Assisted Decision-Making Act (2015).
  • Establish a Joint Oireachtas Disability Inclusion Committee.
  • Introduce hate crime legislation to tackle crimes against the disabled.
  • Implement the Citizens Information Act 2007.
  • Establish a National Advocacy Authority to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
  • Establish a National Respite Strategy to address ad hoc provision of respite care across Ireland.
  • Increase the Disability Allowance by €20 weekly.
  • Introduce a Disability Tax Credit of €1560 annually.
  • Provide an emergency Wheelchair Provision Fund of €37 million.
  • Reverse all cuts and increase the budget for disability services by €50m annually.
  • Increase the budget for the Personal Assistant service by €7 million each year from 2016 -2019.
  • Invest €50m in community support packages.
  • Invest €30m in the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme.
  • Provide accessible housing for the almost 5,000 people with disabilities on social housing waiting lists.
  • Ring fence 8{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b}-15{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} of the HSE disability budget governed by service-level arrangements (SLAs) to individualised and community based models of supports
  • Ring-fence €3m annually to address the lack of care centres providing intensive neurological rehabilitation
  • Allocate 15{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} of the Fair Deal budget to providing nursing home and homecare services to under-35s.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Drugs Policy

Summary

  • A healthcare model to support current drug users and their families.
  • Improve funding for services and facilities for drug users including counselling, occupational therapy, social support and psychotherapy.
  • Reverse the cuts to Community and Voluntary drug services. Restore Community Task Force teams on drug addiction.
  • Education to replace criminalisation as a method of deterrence.
  • Information on drug safety should be commonly available via our health service, our schools and universities, at music festivals and in commercial venues.
  • Integrated substance abuse and mental health services.
  • Safe injecting rooms and pill testing centres could be established such as those in the Netherlands.
  • Establish a State body to work closely with the Health Products Regulatory Authority to scientifically examine drugs that people take socially.
  • State run distribution services with high levels of regulation and supervision including proper funding for needle exchange.
  • Oppose the commodification and promotion of addictive drugs such as that engaged in by tobacco and alcohol companies.
  • Move towards the Portuguese Model to undermine criminal gangs. Immediately decriminalise possession for personal use and low level distribution.
  • Controls on the Pharma Industry to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs.
  • Tackle the inequality, deprivation and oppression that create the material conditions for problematic drug use.
  • Legislate for the use of medicinal cannabis for pain management of chronic conditions.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Early Childhood Care & Education

Summary

  • Extend childcare to two years olds, increase hours from 15-30, extend all year round.
  • Increase the capitation grant per child to crèches to subsidize high quality care. Parents pay max 30{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} of cost.
  • Integrate care, education and after-school services by linking early care and education services, primary schools and after school services.
  • Conduct a quality audit across all early years’ services to provide baseline data for the implementation of National Early Years Strategy.
  • Publish a fully resourced rights-based National Early Years Strategy
  • Overtime, move to A National Child Care Service paid for through direct taxation.
  • Move towards an investment of 0.8{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} of net GDP and eventually to 1{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} of GDP.
  • Better income supports, particularly for single parents and migrant women.
  • Introduce a National Regulatory Body for Child Minders and After School Services
  • Review qualifications of childcare workers. Expand the Learner Fund to provide support to allow childcare workers to professionalize to progress to FETAC levels 7 and 8.
  • Unionise the industry and increase pay to reflect skills and responsibility.
  • Encourage parents to participate in the organization and structure of crèches, through places on management bodies.
  • Support stay at home parents with a review of the Growing Child Programme.
  • Improve access for children with special needs to childcare services.
  • Improving work-life balance for parents so that parents can work and bring up their children. This will mean more flexible working arrangements for parents.
  • Twelve months paid leave to be split between parents once a child is born.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Economic Policy

Summary

  • Shift economic policy away from Tax Haven Ireland.
  • State led investment to ‘Brexit Proof’ the economy.
  • Establish state led banking and construction companies.
  • State ownership of natural resources and move to green energy.
  • State led investment in pharmaceutical and agriculture sectors.
  • Close corporate tax loopholes – make Apple pay all their back taxes.
  • Redistribute wealth from the top 5{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b}.
  • Introduce higher rates of income tax for those earning more than €100,000 – move towards a maximum wage
  • Introduce a Robin Hood tax on financial speculation.
  • Abolish austerity taxes, including the USC and Property Taxes.
  • End Pay Apartheid in the public service and create pay equality.
  • Develop quality public services – provided as a right.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Education Policy

Summary

  • Education should be funded and managed exclusively by the State rather than handed over to various patron bodies.
  • Develop a National Childcare Service to offer educational supports as early as possible.
  • Bring class sizes down to a ratio of 18:1.
  • Abolish all requirements for compulsory religious instruction.
  • Capital Investment at primary and post-primary level to ensure science labs, computer labs and well-furnished classrooms with Wi-Fi access and iPads/tablets.
  • All schools to be provided with fast, free and filtered broadband so that it can become an integral part of classroom learning.
  • School transport, uniforms, meals, educational materials and play and PE facilities provided free in all schools.
  • Small schools to be protected and supported in line with the wishes of local communities and parents, particularly in rural areas.
  • Employ lab assistants to cater for Science and ICT classes
  • Restore supports for vulnerable pupils and all those with special educational needs
  • Autism proof all schools to give every pupil the chance to develop.
  • Additional resources for disadvantaged and traveller students, including smaller classes and one-to-one tuition as necessary.
  • Emphasize critical thinking and lifelong learning not rote learning for competitive exams.
  • Introduce modules on philosophy, political economy, arts and media studies in second level to promote creativity and civic awareness.
  • Reverse the increase in formal working hours imposed on teachers and SNAs through the imposition of “Croke Park hours”.
  • Support teachers in their fight to end pay inequality.
  • Abolish university ‘registration’ fees; extend and improve maintenance and back-to-education grants.
  • Subsidise accommodation for students who have to travel to go to university.
  • Redirect money from giving R&D tax credits corporations to the university sector in order to do blue sky research.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie
Environmental Policy

Summary

  • Move to carbon neutral economy by 2035.
  • Invest in renewable energy jobs, R&D and environmentally friendly food production.
  • Update the water infrastructure.
  • Major investment in public transport –expand the bus fleet nationally and in Dublin, increase rail services on suburban lines, finish and enhance the frequency and capacity of the Western Rail Corridor. Invest in light rail systems for Cork, Galway and Limerick.
  • Invest in cycling and walking infrastructure.
  • Halve all fares on public transport to affect a major shift in behaviour.
  • Involve transport users and local communities in planning new routes
  • Introduce and enforce new building codes to make buildings energy efficient. Aim for “passive “energy efficiency in all homes within 10 years.
  • State Energy and Construction Companies to retrofit buildings in line with efficient energy rating standards.
  • Pass legislation to take existing stock of fossil fuels into public ownership.
  • Pass legislation to leave fossil fuels not currently in use in the ground.
  • Increase taxes on oil and gas companies to pay for transition to renewables.
  • Include local communities in switch to renewables.
  • Democratise energy grid by opening it up to renewable projects lead by community and micro generation. Establish efficiencies with one grid for the whole island.
  • Diffuse renewables to every town and city whilst ensuring communities have ownership and control of all projects.
  • If possible, move to environmentally friendly Biofuels/Biomass production.
  • Oppose nuclear power, fracking and shale gas extraction.
  • A properly mandated and accountable Environmental Protection Agency and Sustainable Energy Association Ireland. End the corporate and business influence in these agencies.
  • Physical heritage, including mountains, lakes, rivers, countryside to be safeguarded from privatisation and remain open to the public
  • Re-afforestation programme to sequester Co2 and to increase bio diversity. Complete overhaul of Coillte and its remit, replacing it with a dedicated environmental mandate and a not for profit business to reforestation; increase forestry cover from 11{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} to 20{19796df765dbf025ac61cbf8dc94f673197fa071c084b5afc47108c01ac4e54b} by 2025.
  • Protect Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas where appropriate.
  • Re-municipalisation of Waste Collective Services.
  • Oppose GM Crops in Ireland and the Developing World.
  • Reverse the planned increase in dairy and beef herds and expand investments in sustainable agriculture and organic models for real food security in years ahead.
  • Lobby for international action to restrict the burning of fossil fuel.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Healthcare Policy

Summary 

  • A National Health Service that treats people according to medical need.
  • Establish an Independent Health Promotion Agency to promote health and preventative behavior.
  • Abolish the HSE – hospital groups and CHOs to be integrated and governed by new health councils.
  • Create a network of community primary care centres – free GP care for all.
  • Guarantee access to health care within 18 weeks.
  • Guarantee access to emergency hospital care within 4 hours of presenting to an Emergency Department, elective hospital inpatient care within 12 weeks of referral, outpatient care within 10 weeks and diagnostic procedures within 10 days.
  • Move to 21,000 beds nationally to increase capacity. Compulsory purchase private facilities required as part of increasing the number of public beds.
  • Increase ambulances and air ambulances to meet 8-minute response times. Introduce a Paramedic Transport Service
  • Increase medical technicians by 750 as per HIQUA recommendations
  • Re-open hospitals closed during the recession -reopen emergency departments too.
  • End ‘outsourcing’ of frontline health service jobs
  • End outsourcing of non-medical healthcare staff
  • Stop all support and tax breaks for private hospitals and health care facilities
  • Reduce profiteering by private drug companies. Overtime, – move to a National Pharmaceutical Company.
  • Abolish prescription charges and all other out-of-pocket payments such as hospital in patient charges; abolish car parking charges in hospitals – reduce the drug payment scheme threshold to zero.
  • Establish 500 primary care teams and primary care centersto house them.
  • Invest in a network of Community Development Health Workers based in community projects.
  • End the ‘Fair Deal Scheme’ and improve funding for the elderly.
  • Increase funding for Mental Health and ringfence funding for child and adolescent mental health.
  • Disability services should follow a rights-based approach.
  • Increase Personal Assistant Hours so people with disabilities can lead independent lives.
  • Early intervention for children with disabilities.
  • Improve age appropriate services for young people.
  • Improve cancer care including screening, access to diagnostic tests, radiotherapy/chemo.
  • Extend diagnostic option during pregnancy in weeks 18-22 to all who want them.
  • Extra support for those with autism and those with dementia. Transgender people to access services as a fundamental human right.
  • Create fresh fruit clubs and community exercise initiatives.
  • Chemicals added to food, water or air should be more closely regulated and subject to public consultation and control
  • Create a country wide network of cycle lanes
  • End Corruption and Improve Service Planning.
  • Investigate malpractice at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise
  • Build resistance to cuts and privatisationin healthcare.
  • Work in con-junction with the Still Waiting Health Campaign to unite trade unions, workers and service-users to fight for a better health service for all. 

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Housing Policy

Summary

  • Declare a National Housing Emergency to release funds for local authority and affordable housing.
  • Hold a referendum to insert a ‘right to housing’ clause into the Irish constitution.
  • Create a national construction company to take control of building supply.
  • Launch a five year programme to house 100,000 families and individuals in secure, permanent public housing.
  • Identify current principles that prevent the provision of local authority housing including acquisition and buy back policies.
  • Raise the income thresholds for public housing to €60,000 per annum.
  • Reverse the scandal of self-certification of building works. Pursue developers for compensation due to shoddy building practices during the building boom.
  • Ensure building standards that give proper facilities, functionality and space.
  • Transfer 20,000 NAMA housing units to local authorities.
  • Stop the sell-off of public land to private developers at knock down prices.
  • Impose a vacant dwelling levy to bring housing supply into use.
  • Compulsory Purchase Orders to acquire land in the public interest.
  • Support proper public consultation on planning policy where the public are meaningfully engaged at all stages.
  • Encourage community interaction in the built environment.
  • If feasible, explore policy of extensions to council houses to relieve overcrowding.
  • Reduce rents through the establishment of a new Rental Board. Introduce rent controls linked to the Consumer Price Index.
  • Increase HAP caps as an emergency measure and move away from landlord subsidies overtime.
  • Introduce legal measures to outlaw discrimination: an end to “Rent Allowance not accepted”.
  • Establish an Independent Regulator for tenants in Local Authority Housing.
  • Establish an Independent National Housing Agency to oversee the delivery of safe and culturally appropriate Traveller Accommodation.
  • Ban evictions where there is genuine economic distress.
  • Abolish bureaucratic measures which mean that homeless people can easily lose their social welfare payment.
  • Increase supply of housing fitted for people with disabilities and special needs.
  • Support the provision of suitable, affordable student-specific accommodation in areas around third-level institutions.
  • End the scourge of Direct Provision.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

International Trade Policy

Summary

  • Opposition to IMF and WTO inspired neoliberal policies.
  • Opposition to Trump’s brand of anti-worker US protectionism.
  • Opposition to all forms of anti-democratic Investor Court Settlements.
  • Irish government should withdraw from CETA – 90 million EU jobs are at risk.
  • Irish government should lobby against the EU/ Japan free trade deal.
  • Irish government should withdraw from EUSFTA (a free trade deal between the EU, Mexico and the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela).
  • No involvement in TiSA (Trade in Services Agreement).
  • The promotion of CETA-free zones by local councils.
  • Government should explain how proposed trade agreements undermine democracy and endanger our health and environment.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

LGBTQ Policy

Summary

People Before Profit campaigns for full equality for LBGTQ people.

We want:

  • Full equality for gay or bisexual men donating blood. This means ending the 12 month celibacy rule that currently exists.
  • Hate crime legislation to deal with homophobic and transphobic attacks and proper recording of data on such attacks.
  • Extension of gender recognition act to 16-18 year olds.
  • Access to gender neutral toilets in schools, workplaces and public buildings.
  • A third gender option for non-binary people on all official forms.
  • Legislation to make anti-retroviral drugs such as Pre-exposure prophylaxis, free.
  • Legislation to allow all LGBTQ people fleeing persecution to live in Ireland.
  • Free gender care through an Irish NHS, including services like psychotherapy, counselling, speech and language therapy, hormone therapy, hair removal and gender reassignment surgery.
  • Restoration and improvement of funding for mental health and addiction treatment services.
  • Proper funding for LGBTQ organisations and resource centres.
  • Compulsory, age-appropriate sex education which deals with issues around gender, sexuality, safe sex, consent and contraception.
  • Anti-bullying initiatives for schools, youth groups, sports clubs etc.
  • LGBTQ awareness training for workplaces, community organisations, sports clubs etc.
  • Full support for marriage equality in the North.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Natural Resources Policy

Summary

  • Take all oil and gas resources into public ownership.
  • Introduce a new model of public hydrocarbon management.
  • Develop and fund an integrated industrial development strategy comprising upstream and downstream activities.
  • Use funds and infrastructure from oil and gas activities to diversify Ireland’s energy supply.
  • Design and implement a new system of consultation and planning for all energy activities based on the active engagement of all stakeholders.
  • Ban fracking and end the use of fossil fuels beyond currently issued licences.
  • End public subsidies for corporate wind farms; regulate and develop community appropriate farms that serve Irish society
  • Stop the privatisation of our forests

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Racism and Immigration Policy

Summary

  • Oppose Racism in all its forms – legislate to make racism a hate crime.
  • Oppose the policy of Fortress Europe – welcome a proportion of those fleeing war and persecution.
  • Legislate to End Direct Provision System.
  • Oppose all deportations – treat refugees and asylum seekers with dignity and respect.
  • Integrate Migrants – Give them Voting Rights.
  • Oppose all forms of Islamophobia.
  • Support the right of Muslim people, along with all other religions, to practice their religious beliefs
  • Reverse Cuts to Traveller Supports – oppose state racism against Travellers.
  • Establish an Independent National Housing Agency to oversee the delivery of safe and culturally appropriate Traveller Accommodation.
  • Reverse cuts to Traveller services and the improvement of those services, to include Education, Health, Employment and Equality programmes.
  • Public inquiry into the Carrickmines Tragedy.
  • Traveller representation in the Seanad and other organs of the state.
  • No Platform for Fascists – oppose them on the streets if necessary.
  • Oppose Donald Trump’s Racism.
  • Oppose Israel as an apartheid state. Support the Ban Divestment and Sanctions Movement against Israel.
  • Oppose Britain First in the North.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Reproductive Rights Policy

Summary

  • Outright Repeal of the 8th
  • Referendum to be held during April/May to facilitate student voting.
  • Choice in pregnancy and child birth
  • Legislation for free, safe, and legal abortion on both sides of the border.
  • Reproductive services, including contraception and infertility treatment provided free through the health service.
  • Full counselling on contraceptive options.
  • Full support for transgender people during pregnancy.
  • Accessible state-funded childcare facilities in communities and workplaces.
  • All schools, regardless of ethos, mandated to deliver age-appropriate, fully comprehensive sex education at both primary and secondary level.
  • Increase in Parental Leave from 6 to 12 months, to be shared between the parents as they choose.
  • All information provided on education, contraception and abortion should be evidenced based rather than based on religious ethos or practices
  • Improvement in Maternity Services.
  • Economic and social equality-close the gender pay gap; social welfare payments to be restored to their pre-austerity levels; adequate provision for lone parents and their families, for people with disabilities and for children with special needs.
  • Full reproductive rights for people with disabilities.
  • Full separation of church and state, particularly in healthcare and education.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

War and Conflict Policy

Summary

  • People Before Profit is an internationalist party. We regard the working people of all countries as our sisters and brothers.
  • PBP opposes imperialism and war. In Ireland and internationally we want spending on health, welfare and peoples needs, not guns and bombs.
  • We are opposed to the manufacture, possession and use of nuclear weapons.
  • PBP opposes all imperialist wars, conquests and interventions including those which claim to be ‘humanitarian interventions’.
  • The removal of dictators and vicious regimes (e.g. Gaddafi, Assad, Sadam Hussein, North Korea etc.) is the task of the people of those countries, not Western intervention which makes matters worse.
  • PBP supports the right of nations to self-determination, including the right to secede e.g. Scotland, Catalonia, Kurdistan.
  • We are opposed to Western and Russian military intervention and intervention by regional powers (Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel) in the conflict in Syria.
  • We support the Palestinian struggle for liberation against Zionist occupation and oppression and back the international campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Apartheid Israel. We condemn Trump’s designation of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
  • We defend Irish neutrality; oppose NATO and the military use of Shannon, and all Irish participation in the international arms trade.
  • We are opposed to PESCO and the development of an EU army

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

Water Policy

Summary

  • Oppose water charges
  • Increase investment in water infrastructure through central taxation
  • Abolish Irish Water as a quango
  • Create a National Water Authority linked to Local Councils.
  • Direct public control over water treatment and supply
  • For real water conservation through rainwater harvesting and retrofitting
  • For an investigation into the activities of Siteserv.
  • Bring Private Wells into the Public System.

These are summary policy points. For our entire policy document on this and other issues, please visit the People Before Profit website at http://www.pbp.ie

5 Comments on “Policies

  1. Your economic policies work against human nature. It is not a bad thing to be wealthy or ambitious and the adjustments and cut-off points for tax you’ve listed, would clearly stifle personal drive and the affinity to contribute to society. In fact there is a clear undercurrent of hatred in what you’re proposing, especially toward the foreign companies that employ so many on this island.

    Your rationale will always exist, but thankfully it sits on the disgruntled fridges of society where it can be ignored.

    Never forget, you are just a passenger on the plane, not the pilot.

    • Dear Nick,

      Have you considered that it is in everyone’s interest, including the wealthy to create an equitable society?

      Society across the west has a growing inequality. We need political discourse to address this.

      Human nature is multi-faceted. As people, we are ambitious, driven, greedy, caring and generous. Brid Smith is making proposals for political debate which we should all be part of.

      Ideally, our country is a democracy where we all contribute but value is not chiefly measured in money. Capitalism seems to be dedicating our society while not delivering for the majority.

      Best wishes,
      Anna

  2. Hi brid Christopher Dempsey hear I would like if u could help me to get a house or apartment up in the clondalkin area I’m homeless a year now and I can’t see my kids as much as I would like to I’m entitled to over night stays and I can’t do it because I’m in York house hostel for men I have 3girls so a two bed would be ideal please contact me if you can help me in any way of form much appreciated.

    Kind regards
    Christopher Dempsey

  3. Haya could you help me I have 3 kids and on housing 8 years im living in 2 bed apartment in clondalkin but my land lord wants to put up my rent and also he said too many in the aparment.

  4. Amen Nicholas. Equitable society also involves a social contract where you get up off your ass and don’t expect the hard working people of Ireland to pay for everything while you choose to opt out: TV Licenses, Bins, Water Charges, Free housing, Free healthcare. Yep you have to work for it like everybody else.

    Get a life, take some personal responsibility for your own decisions in this world, Did i go the pub or finish my leaving cert.? – stop blaming the state and everybody else. Mrs Smith uses disadvanage as an expedient tool for her own egotistical political advancement. It’s frightening- She’s so far down the hole she’ll never get out.