Bertie Ahern’s Next Steps Throw the Kitchen Sink at the Electorate

Well auction politics or poker politics, it is all academic. He saw the opposition, by equalling commitments on the standard rate (down to 18% - originally Labour), the pension (€300 over the five years of government - originally PDs), lower the higher rate of tax (down to 40% - not as much as the PDs).

And boy did he raise them.

Under the theme of “the next step forward” the Taoiseach, in his address to the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, threw out a slew of policy promises. Many on the tax side, only indexation and PRSI are Fianna Fail’s own.

Then there was the spending. Which is the most interesting of the lot, I would love to see the GDP growth assumed by these spending considerations when you take account of the lower taxation being put in place.

1) Taxation: PRSI is where the middle and lower income earners are hit hardest, he is lowering the top rate from 4% for employees and 3% for self-employed to 2% all round.

2) Indexation of tax bands to wage increases will be put in place over the lifetime of the next government. Implying they will be tied to the rate of increase.

3) Doubling of tax credits for carers. Bringin the pension to €300 in the liftime of the next government.

4) 2,000 extra Gardai on top of the 14,000 commitment which is on its way to being delivered next year bringing total to 16,000. Also a dedicated unit to enforce/police ASBOs.

5) Health checks will be made a universal entitlement, including screening for major diseases. 1,500 extra public beds. Doubling the number of consultants to 4,000. 24 hour GP care in every constituency.

6) Increase primary care, build accident clinics and elderly care facilities. Any under 5 waiting 3+ months for treatment is entitled to restort to the NTPF.

7) Rights of the Child referendum will be put to the people. 50,000 new child care places a fund for new ‘ youth cafes’.

4,000 new primary school teachers bringing the teacher pupil ratio down to an unspecified number. Individual education plan for special needs students (not 1 on 1 teaching necessarily).

9) Transport commitments abound, almost all from the NDP - Western Rail Corridor, Navan Rail Link, Metro North and West, Linking of Luas lines.

And the press?

Sunday Independent: “Taoiseach Resorts to Auction Politics to Woo Voters”

Says it all really.