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RENUA HAS RELAUNCHED the party’s core principles and dropped its policy of allowing elected party members a free vote on the issue of abortion.
The policy document, made up of six pillars, firmly sets out that party candidates who want to run in the next general election and any TDs elected to the next Dáil must firmly adhere to the party’s policy on abortion.
Under their “pro-life” pillar, it states that the party strongly supports the 8th Amendment.
It states that Renua “believes that the Eighth Amendment is a secular human rights issue as it protects the human rights of the unborn child”.
The party states that it “understands” that some party members declare “freedom of conscience” on this issue. It accepts this stance for members, adding that they will not be required to support, canvass, or issue statements in support of the party position.
However, party candidates and elected representatives will be required to “subscribe fully to the party position on the matter”.
This is quite the departure from the party’s early days under Lucinda Creighton’s leadership.
During the party’s launch in Dublin back in March 2015, Creighton repeatedly emphasised the party’s “open position” on matters of conscience, outlining that the party would allow a free vote on such issues.
Getting off the fence
Renua leader, John Leahy told TheJournal.ie that under his leadership it is important people know what the party stands for.
“It was time for us to get off the fence on the issue,” he said, adding that other parties needed to make their position on the issue known.
“The Citizen’s Assembly is coming down the line, it is an important issue, and political parties should let people know where they stand,” he said.
We are sticking to it, it would have been easier for Renua to scrap everything and start again and be populist, but that’s not for us.
According to the new policy document, Fianna Fáil is “populist” and Fine Gael is “socially liberal”. However, Leahy said Renua’s clear-cut viewpoint on the abortion makes them different from other political parties.
Leahy said he didn’t feel the new position would deter possible candidates from signing up to the party, stating that the party’s viewpoint on the issue is now clear for all to see and people can either support them or not.
Populist politics
“It’s my hope that people will start seeing through the populist politics of the moment,” he said.
One of the more controversial policies Renua championed in the run up to the general election, the controversial ‘flat tax’ of 23% on all income has been firmly placed on the scrap heap.
The internal review of the party’s policies, which took longer than expected according to Leahy, also contains Renua’s “modified” core tax policy.
The costed tax policy, which was formulated with the help of economist Jim Power, focuses on the marginal tax rate of €33,800.
Leahy said Renua is all about “putting the taxpayer first”. He said taxation of over 50% at this rate was an issue for his party, which is why they are arguing it should be pushed out to €44,800.
“We believe a lot of people are not taking up active employment because of this,” said Leahy.
“Some people are finding it more beneficial to be on welfare,” he added, pointing out that feedback from their review found that workers were questioning if they should go back to work due to the high tax bracket.
The other party pillars deal with include entrepreneurship, getting tough of repeat offenders, local democracy and creating a cohesive society.
The last election was absolutely disastrous for Renua, with the party failing to win a single seat in the 32nd Dáil, with the leader losing her own mandate in Dublin Bay South along the way.
Is the party ready for an election?
“We are prepared,” said Leahy, who vowed to have candidates running around the country.
He said there is a big interest in the party, with future candidates already being selected, said the new party leader.
“It is very easy for Renua now as we are very clear now on what we stand for,” said Leahy, who speculated that a general election wouldn’t be called any time soon.
“My view is that Fianna Fáil are waiting in the long grass. They don’t want to deal with the issues that are there at the moment. They will drag it out for while,” he concluded.
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Private sector.. prepare to be hammered! You will support the public sector.
Do you actually know anyone in the public sector? I do, most of them take home about €400.
I do, but people I know are all on €50k+. They are actually laughing at how much they are being paid for “scratching their arse”
I bet you could count the amount of people you like that on one hand with three fingers and a thumb cut off.
You know…sorry
My wages are now down below €400 a week
Howlin can promise what he wants. But its out of his control. If the economy does not grow, and there are no more bailouts from the IMF/ECB , then he just won’t have the money to pay the public sector pay bill.
Looks like the public sector is in for another round of bashing. Lets do a poll! What services do people want to see cut, and what services are you prepared to pay private companies directly for?
No pay cuts, no income tax rises, no cuts to social welfare. How will they pull this off?
Two words- Roscommon Hospital.
There are at least three more budgets in this austerity plan. The Public Sector has already been hit hard so they will be left alone this year ( other than having to pay water charges, property tax like everyone else).
But come budget 2012 or 2013 they will undoubtedly be attacked again.
They have said that before, they promise but never keep them.
ekhm… Why not?
The reason for the possible cut is that taxes are not large enough to pay the costs of government and social welfare. The gap between revenue and spending is not being closed fast enough.
Another agreement delivered on by the ICTU unions
The new Fianna Fail – they fail to see the herd of elephants standing in front of them. Yet the Germans can see our herd of elephants from the far side of Europe. I hear One elephant is called ICTU and another is called IBEC – any other names fir the rest of the hers are welcome.
Why is the gov making promises? Is there an election coming, yes there is. When we have a new pres will the position change.
The public sector must share the pain like the rest of us Minister !
You’ll be downvoted for that comment. Most of them spend the day on here instead of working.
Dont be fooled, the Gov are seeking other ways to get the revenue, indirect taxes. Its a way of avoiding directly confronting workers but make no mistake there will be less money in our pockets. Add to this interest rate increases, continually rising unemployment thus increased Gov expenditure….not sustainable…….unless of course we stop putting money into dead banks or EU and start putting it into the country…..
have your say