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FG and FF parliamentary parties have been sent the framework document on govt formation, which outlines ten “missions” for the new govt:
Mission 1 includes a commitment to introduce a living wage over the lifetime of the government (a come-and-get-me plea to @labour)
Mission 2 reads like a summarised version of Slaintecare, a come-and-get-me plea to the @SocDems
The ‘Green New Deal’ mission offers “immediate action in response to the biodiversity crisis”, a just transition, and ensuring that the economy recovery post-Covid is “through a green lens”. A come-and-get-me plea to the @greenparty_ie
Others spots that catch the eye:
- Commitment to €80/tonne carbon tax by 2030
- Commitment to National Broadband Plan (something of a FF concession)
- Multiple references to housing construction, especially with reference to young people and rural areas
- Commitment to €80/tonne carbon tax by 2030
- Commitment to National Broadband Plan (something of a FF concession)
- Multiple references to housing construction, especially with reference to young people and rural areas
It opens with the usual poetry you’d associate more with a full programme for government than a mere precursor - “we are at an unprecedented moment… there is no going back to the old way of doing things… to face the crisis of a lifetime we must all play our part…”
“The ideas behind this document seek to build on ideas from all parties and none… our citizens deserve a government that works for the good of Ireland and its people — a government that lasts. Let us build it together”
Other notable points:
- It says it will borrow if necessary to stimulate domestic demand, grow employment, respond to social need, improve health, transport, education and housing (the previous attitude of borrowing-is-bad gone out the window?) but also wants to reduce deficit
- It says it will borrow if necessary to stimulate domestic demand, grow employment, respond to social need, improve health, transport, education and housing (the previous attitude of borrowing-is-bad gone out the window?) but also wants to reduce deficit
- No cuts to core welfare rates (where have we heard that before?... and no increases to income tax or USC
Health:
- All new consultant contracts in public health service to be public only
- Invest in public health so as to manage ability to cope with future threats such as other pandemics
- All new consultant contracts in public health service to be public only
- Invest in public health so as to manage ability to cope with future threats such as other pandemics
Housing:
- Prioritise home ownership and affordable purchase schemes
- Reduce cost of land, employing all measures including referenda (?)
- Cost-rental to be developed
- A “new deal for renters” with focus in long-term security, stable and affordable rents, and “greater choice”
- Prioritise home ownership and affordable purchase schemes
- Reduce cost of land, employing all measures including referenda (?)
- Cost-rental to be developed
- A “new deal for renters” with focus in long-term security, stable and affordable rents, and “greater choice”
Social contract:
- Pension auto-enrolment
- “Reform and modernise” childcare
- Increased parental leave
- “Strong and safe communities”
Otherwise woolly malleable language on gender equality, disabilities and carers
- Pension auto-enrolment
- “Reform and modernise” childcare
- Increased parental leave
- “Strong and safe communities”
Otherwise woolly malleable language on gender equality, disabilities and carers
New Green Deal:
- No specific carbon reduction targets, but with a “clear road map for delivery”
- a Citizens Assembly on the biodiversity crisis
- become a European leader in offshore wind
- “significantly increasing the number of daily journeys being taken by foot and bicycle”
- No specific carbon reduction targets, but with a “clear road map for delivery”
- a Citizens Assembly on the biodiversity crisis
- become a European leader in offshore wind
- “significantly increasing the number of daily journeys being taken by foot and bicycle”
Quality of life:
- Public sector employers, colleges and other bodies mandated to move to 20% remote working by 2021 (only next year!) and private sector employers to be encouraged to do the same
- Balanced regional development
- Bring vacant properties back into use
- Public sector employers, colleges and other bodies mandated to move to 20% remote working by 2021 (only next year!) and private sector employers to be encouraged to do the same
- Balanced regional development
- Bring vacant properties back into use
More quality of life:
- Specific clause on helping cultural bodies, sports, community groups, charities etc to overcome covid19
- “Prioritise the upkeep and expansion of parks and green spaces for community enjoyment”
- Woolly non-committal stuff on arts and the Irish language
- Specific clause on helping cultural bodies, sports, community groups, charities etc to overcome covid19
- “Prioritise the upkeep and expansion of parks and green spaces for community enjoyment”
- Woolly non-committal stuff on arts and the Irish language
“Young Ireland”:
- Affordable housing and realistic aspiration to ownership
- Some sort of mechanism to make young people be part of “decision making at community, county and national levels” (age quotas?)
- Give every child chance to learn Irish and history
- Combat online abuse
- Affordable housing and realistic aspiration to ownership
- Some sort of mechanism to make young people be part of “decision making at community, county and national levels” (age quotas?)
- Give every child chance to learn Irish and history
- Combat online abuse
Education section includes a commitment to (finally) make a decision about the future funding of third level, but already rules out any increase in current student contribution of €3k a year which puts a lot of alternatives off the table
Also in education:
- Increased apprenticeships and traineeships
- Increased “parental choice” on patronage options
- Increased apprenticeships and traineeships
- Increased “parental choice” on patronage options
“A Shared Ireland” includes a commitment to create structures to deal with the legacy of the Troubles… not explicit on whether this is a justice or reconciliation - our old friend creative ambiguity strikes again - and to continue the decade of centenaries
Also, quite a standout: FG and FF agree to set up a unit within the Dept of An Taoiseach “to work towards consensus on a United Ireland”
Snap judgement: vaguely aspirational and aspirationally vague. In wanting smaller parties to get involved and demonstrably put a stamp on the programme for government, FF and FG have chosen only to mark out the edges of the circuit. Up to those others now to mark the racing line.
