The Choices: Some Background On The Two Main Parties
Fianna Fáil
* Status: Incumbent since 1997, leading partner in ruling coalition with Progressive Democrats as junior partner.
* Party Orientation: Centre right (originally a left of centre party).
* History: Did not support partition of the island of Ireland agreed by Michael Collins with the British leading to the Irish Civil War in the 1920s.
* Leader: Bertie Ahern (current Taoiseach)
* Campaign: 'The Next Steps' (www.thenextsteps.ie) - outlining how they will build on the successes of the last decade. Also using the popularity of the party leader heavily to promote local candidates - 'Vote for Bertie's Team' - despite the fact that he has been embroiled in a controversy over his own seemingly irregular financial transactions in the eighties (known as the 'Teflon' Taoiseach for emerging unscathed and even more popular after every controversy he is involved in!).
* Major Election Promises:
--> U-turn: will now abolish stamp duty (tax) on homes purchased by first time buyers.
--> Additional mortgage interest relief for first time buyers.
--> Further tax-cuts: lower rate reduced from 20% to 18%, higher rate from 41% to 40%).
--> Removal of salary ceiling for the payment of PRSI. Reduction in rate of PRSI. [PRSI = Pay Related Social Insurance]
--> Increase state pension to €300 a week.
--> Increase Garda numbers to 16000 by 2012.
--> Continue 'No to Nuclear' stance.
--> Third of electricity from renewable resources by 2020.
* Major Recent Achievements:
--> Completion of Dublin port tunnel.
--> Completion of M1 motorway to the 'border' with Northern Ireland.
--> Completion of many major road projects across the country ahead of schedule and within budget.
--> Completion of Luas commuter tram lines in southern Dublin.
--> Government sponsored 'SSIA' savings scheme offering 25% interest p.a. to fight inflation (the accounts matured just in time for the general election incidentally.....).
--> Massive economic growth unrivalled anywhere in Europe, massive inward investment, Ireland now No.2 software exporter in the world with one of the highest qualities of life and standards of living available today.
--> Successfully progressed the Northern Ireland peace process to the stage where arch-enemies Sinn Féin and the British DUP will now sit together in a devolved parliament for the North.
--> Major reductions in taxation across the board.
--> Managed to achieve agreement on the text of the now defunct European Consitution when they held the rotating European presidency.
--> Lowest unemployment rate in Europe.
--> Gaeilge made an official EU language.
--> Consistently posting gigantic budget surpluses.
* Criticisms:
--> Healthcare system in disarray, nurses working to rule, hospitals overloaded to capacity (mainly due to immigration driven population explosion).
--> Traffic gridlock in Dublin, refusal to eliminate tollbridge on M50.
--> Bends over backwards for the USA (Shannon airport fly-throughs to Iraq deeply unpopular).
--> Cost of living has spiralled dramatically out of control, gap between rich and poor widening.
--> House prices have gone through the roof (mainly due to immigration driven population explosion).
--> Crime on the increase (mainly due to immigration driven population explosion).
--> Late delivery of Luas and Dublin port tunnel, both over budget.
--> NUMEROUS allegations of corruption/dodgy dealing.
--> Cost of electricity and energy in general has spiralled.
* Website: http://www.fiannafail.ie/
Fine Gael
* Status: Main opposition party, lost power as part of the 'Rainbow Coalition' with Labour and the Green party in 1997.
* Party Orientation: Right wing (once sent troops 'The Blueshirts' to help General Franco in the Spanish civil war, mellowed since, 'rich farmer' party, worryingly anglophile).
* History: First party to govern the Irish free state, signed act which partitioned the island of Ireland in exchange for freedom leading to the Irish Civil War in the 1920s.
* Leader: Enda Kenny
* Campaign: Playing up Fine Gael's so-called 'Contract for a Better Ireland' between them and the people of the country. Posters with slogans like 'Health Services That Work. For A Change.' and 'Safer Streets. For A Change'. Lots of negative campaigning surrounding the financial shennanigans of the opposition leader, Bertie Ahern, and the fact Bertie had the president call the election by surprise at 5am on a Sunday morning!
* Major Election Promises:
--> No change in rate of corporation tax (lowest in Europe) or capital gains tax.
--> Higher capital spending.
--> 'Better and more cost effective' public services (good luck with that one lol).
--> Free health insurance for all under-16s.
--> Free doctor visits for children under 5.
--> 2300 additional hospital beds.
--> 100,000 more medical cards (free healthcare entitlement).
--> 2000 more Gardaí.
--> Tougher sentences for criminals (prisons are overcrowded and sentences are being commuted quite a bit).
--> Lower income taxes for EVERY taxpayer by increasing tax credits (min at which you start paying tax).
--> Abolition of stamp duty on house purchases for first time buyers. Significant reduction in rates for others.
* Website: http://www.finegael.ie/
Last edited by CameronPoe (2007-05-04 13:22:01)
