People Before Profit-Solidarity launches election manifesto

People Before Profit-Solidarity has launched its election manifesto ahead of the general election.

The party is campaigning on “bringing an end to 100 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rule” and have published what they would like to achieve should they get into power.

The outline of their manifesto outlines their aims as providing, affordable housing, stopping “rising inequality and protect the many from the cost of living crisis,” provide public services free at the point of delivery, provide care for “those who need it,”  cutting carbon emissions, defending Ireland’s neutrality and protecting refugees and “standing with Palestine.”

The party said, “this election takes places at a time when Ireland has unprecedented wealth but we also have high levels of homelessness, inequality and deprivation.”

“One in five children are experiencing deprivation. Many households are struggling with cost-of-living increases. Many young people are forced to emigrate. Affordable housing is out of the reach of the many, education is costly when it should be free and childcare costs amount to another mortgage for many households.  Those with additional needs are locked out of basic services, waiting for essential assessments and therapies and even school places. Many disabled people live on or below the poverty line. Hundreds of thousands are on waiting lists for essential medical care.”

The party, which currently has 5 TDs, recently named Richard Boyd Barrett as its principal speaker and leader in the Dáil.

Unsurprisingly, the party said they would not support Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael in government, and have expressed their wish for a left-wing government to be formed.

“The first step in bringing about fundamental change will be the formation of Left Government – one that excludes Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael,” they said.

“It is not too late for Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats to join with People Before Profit in ruling out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and committing to a left government. That would inspire people to come out and vote to end 100 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rule.”

“We know, however, from the experience of other countries that such a government must be willing to take the fight to the rich and privileged. Ireland needs a party that fights for workers, the poor and oppressed with all the energy and enthusiasm that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael defend the rich.”

With housing among the major issues on voters minds, the party said they would introduce a rent freeze and reinstate the ban on evictions.

The ban on evictions being lifted in early 2023 has been regarded as a major contributing factor to Ireland repeatedly breaking records for the number of people in homeless services in Ireland.

The party proposed scrapping the Universal Social Charge for people earning less than €100,000 per year and replacing it with a “multi-millionaires tax, raising the minimum wage to €15 an hour and increasing the weekly pension to €300 a week.

In terms of macroeconomics, the party has proposed raising the corporate tax rate to 20%, up from the current rate of 15%.

Ireland’s current budget surplus is a result of a 2021 agreement by G20 countries, led by American president Joe Biden, to increase the corporate tax rate to a minimum rate of 15% among developed global economies.

By upping the corporate tax rate to 20%, People Before Profit says this would translate to €20 billion a year coming into Ireland’s coffers.

The introduction of two new bank holidays and increasing annual leave to 30 days for workers also features in the manifesto, along with the introduction of a four-day working week and the abolishment of education fees for students.

On the foreign policy front, the party has called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, pushing Russia to begin peace talks over its war with Ukraine, passing the Occupied Territories Bill, and stopping Irish airspace being used by foreign air forces.

The abolition of fares on all public transport to encourage the use of public transport as well as doubling capital investment on public transport also features in the manifesto.

The party are running candidates in all of Dublin’s Dáil constituencies, with the party currently holding seats in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin Mid-West, Dublin South-Central and Dublin South-West.

In June, the party won four seats on South Dublin County Council and two seats on Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal County Council.

The full manifesto can be read here.