BRINGING peace to the North, reducing poverty and unemployment and tackling crime are Labour's priorities for the next government, according to its manifesto published yesterday.
The lengthy document covering all areas of public policy contains the set of proposals Labour will bring to post-election negotiations on forming the next government, it says.
Introducing the manifesto in Dublin, the Tanaiste and party leader, Mr Spring, said his party would fight the election on the basis of its policies, as "that is the only way to make the voice of the voiceless heard as loud as possible".
Mr Spring listed what he said were Labour's achievements in Government. The economy, he said, was the envy of Europe. Some 200,000 jobs had been created while Labour has been in Government "the best record since Independence, and it is the best record in Europe".
Much of the damage done to housing, health, welfare and education services by Fianna Fail and the PDs in Government had been undone, he said. There had been "historic legal reforms" including the introduction of divorce and legislation on freedom of information, ethics, equality, family law, education and the environment.
Mr Spring also claimed credit for his party in accelerating the search for peace in Northern Ireland and the fight against crime.
The document adds: "We reject the ideology that public spending is too high. In fact, public expenditure in Ireland is relatively low by EU standards. We need to tackle the problems of poverty and social deprivation. We need quality health and education services.
Labour's priorities, according to the manifesto, are:
. permanent peace in Northern Ireland based on an inclusive settlement rooted in consent.
. a wider sharing of the benefits of growth.
. an intensified fight against poverty and long-term unemployment.
. effective tackling of crime and of its causes.
"We have other major tasks of economic management, tax reform, education, public service reform, environmental enhancement, cultural development and strengthening our role in Europe and the world," the manifesto states. "And we have unfinished business in key areas of social reform."
On personal taxation, Mr Spring said, Labour will increase personal tax allowances by 70 per cent over five years, to widen the standard rate tax band by 43 per cent and to raise the PRSI exemption limit from £80 to £130 a week.
This, he said, would mean that unmarried persons earning up to £20,000 per annum would pay tax only at the standard rate, and married couples earning up to £39,200 would pay tax only at the standard rate.
The party would continue to increase child benefit rates as the Government had done since 1992, he said. In addition, they would introduce a double month's payment in August and December, the most expensive times for parents.
The manifesto also advocates the extension of minimum wage rules from the sectors to which they currently apply. About one in five workers is currently covered by minimum wage legislation, but the problem of low pay extended far beyond those workers.
The manifesto proposes setting up a review group to quantify the extent of the low pay problem, to identify the sectors where it is prevalent, and to recommend a national hourly norm.
Other proposed changes in the areas of work and enterprise include:
. strengthened partnership structures at the level of the individual firm.
. strong support for State-sponsored companies and "stake-holding" for employees in them through partnerships and share-participation schemes.
. a major review of key aspects of the financial system.
. continued support for industry, tourism, agriculture, services industry, forestry, fishing and the marine sector "through prudent use of Structural Funds, a good corporation tax system and appropriate supports from State agencies when necessary".
The manifesto proposes setting out maximum waiting times for different medical treatments in order to reduce hospital waiting lists. It pledges the party to introducing the services for people with physical disabilities recommended by the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, prioritising funding of services relating to mental handicap, extending GMS services to younger children.
In the area of education, the new education boards would empower local communities, bringing about "a staggering change in the way education is planned".
Labour would continue to improve the teacher/pupil ratio, develop an integrated professional psychological service for primary and secondary schools, and appoint one psychologist for every 5,000 students, expand the remedial teaching service, ensure that every student will have access to the study of a modern European language, increase maintenance grants at a faster rate than inflation, introduce a special maintenance scheme so that students from lower economic groups will be supported and encouraged in third-level education, extend Higher Education maintenance grants to PLC students, and prepare legislation to regulate private commercial colleges.
The manifesto pledges to uphold Ireland's neutral status, and says this is compatible with involvement in certain tasks of the Western European Union (WEU) and in the NATO-sponsored Partnership or Peace programme.
"Ireland could undertake certain tasks related to its observer status in WEU and could legitimately participate in the Partnership for Peace (PIP), already joined by the other European neutrals. The PIP is not a military alliance and Ireland would be free to negotiate its own terms for participation," the manifesto says.
The document proposes the establishment of "an authoritative and independent Irish Human Rights Commission, and a programme of ratification of relevant international conventions".
Overseas Development Aid will continue to be increased by 0.05 per cent of GNP each year until the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP is reached, and Labour in government will work for an effective mechanism to deal with the debt crisis of the poorest countries.
The manifesto says progress must be made towards a successful launch of the single European currency.
On immigration the manifesto says:
. we are committed to the creation of a new and effective regime in Ireland for Citizenship and Immigration.
. a proper legal framework must be set down.
. an independent Immigration Authority which would also have responsibility for the law on naturalisation should be established.
. the Refugee Act must be fully implemented.
. the common travel area with the UK and the emerging system of freedom of travel and access within the EU must be reconciled.
Mr Spring said the party does not support the proposal to hold another referendum on abortion, but favours legislation on abortion along the lines of the X case judgment. Labour would also remove from the constitution the "out-dated reference" to woman's "life within the home".
Other constitutional and legal reforms proposed are:
. the removal of the ban on revealing Cabinet discussions "in clearly defined circumstances".
. reducing the minimum qualifying age for membership of the Dail from 21 to 18.
. the repeal of the Official Secrets Act and giving legal protection to those who blew the whistle on official malpractice.
. legislation to protect journalists' sources, and reform of the laws of defamation in conjunction with the enactment of a new Privacy Bill to protect citizens from unwarranted intrusion into their private lives.
. extending the data protection laws where appropriate.
The manifesto pledges that Labour in government will build on "the initial success of Teilifis na Gaeilge" and to take further initiatives to foster and develop the use of Irish. RTE will be strengthened legally and financially as the national broadcaster, and Labour will set up a Broadcasting Commission.
Other proposals in the document include:
. an increased supply of housing to meet rising demand without placing undue pressure on the environment.
. the appointment of an Ombudsman for children.
. a Green Paper on basic income, involving full and open consultation, will be published within one year.
. the implementation of the Report on Violence against Women.