The Progressive Democrats have promised the continuation of a low income and corporate tax regime if they are returned as a coalition partner after the next general election.
Ms Mary Harney in her closing address to the party’s annual conference last night used her speech as an effective party political broadcast trumpeting what she regards as the party’s achievements in government and laying out the bones of an election manifesto.
She spoke of the party’s plans for investment in regional development, health and transport; clearly signaling the PD’s right-wing credentials with promises to involve the private sector in numerous initiatives and further deregulation and privatisation.
"We will use all available ways to to finance infrastructure: public finance, private finance and the proceeds from the sale of State assets," Ms Harney said
"We will give the private sector a much greater role in financing road developments," she told delegates. "We will introduce real competition to the bus market. We will break down barriers that prevent independent operators from offering a service to the often frustrated travelling public," she added. She said proposed reforms would apply to both local and national networks.
And despite the Government’s recent decision to give the go-ahead for the development of a second terminal at Dublin Airport, Ms Harney committed herself to introducing competition to the airport sector.
"We want to see an independent second terminal at Dublin Airport. We want Shannon and Cork to have the freedom and the resources to compete successfully as major gateways in their own right.
"We will release Aer Lingus from State control so that it can secure the new investment it needs to become a vibrant and successful international carrier," Ms Harney said.
While talking up the PDs as a party of business, she said highlighted social inclusion as the key to fighting crime.
"We must ensure every community has the access to the kind of social, cultural and sporting facilities required by young people. We must ensure too that every young person in this country has the chance to pass through the gateway of opportunity that is education," she said.
Implying that her preferred partner in the next Government would be Fianna Fail, she paid tribute to Taoiseach, Mr Ahern: "We’ve been able to put our policies to work in a stable coalition government and we in the Progressive Democrats generously salute the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern."
However, her praise was tempered by her assertion that the party will only grow if it maintains independent policies while her reference to the need for community sports facilities implied her opposition to Mr Ahern’s pet project, Stadium Ireland.
The PD leader also paid tribute the party founder member and first leader Mr Des O’Malley, who will retire as a TD at the dissolution of the current Dail: "Our founder, Des O’Malley can be proud of his work. His hard work to break the mould of Irish politics has paid off. It’s been a crowning public service to the people of Ireland."