yfg_priorities for young ireland

YOUNG FINE GAEL POLICY PRIORITIES

PRIORITIES FOR

MAY

IRELANDYOUNG

2014

TABLE OF CONTENTSForeword ...................................................................................................................... 3Local Government .................................................................................................. 4

Dublin Mayor.......................................................................................................... 4Property Tax ............................................................................................................ 4Homelessness ........................................................................................................ 4

Commercial Rates for New Businesses ......................................................... 4European Union ....................................................................................................... 5Economy & Jobs ..................................................................................................... 6

Tackling Youth Unemployment ....................................................................... 6Health & Youth Issues ......................................................................................... 7

Mental Health ........................................................................................................ 7Cyber-Bullying ....................................................................................................... 7Tax on Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB’s) ............................................... 7

Education ................................................................................................................... 8Third Level Funding .............................................................................................. 8Education and Information Technology ..................................................... 8Teaching in Schools ............................................................................................. 8

Agriculture ................................................................................................................ 9Young Farmers ....................................................................................................... 9Agriculture Relief .................................................................................................. 9Extending Land Leasing Tax Exemption ....................................................... 10Means Test ............................................................................................................... 10

Transport, Tourism & Sport ............................................................................. 11Fair Fares ................................................................................................................. 11Privatising Public Transport Routes ............................................................... 11

Foreign Affairs .......................................................................................................... 12Foreign Aid ............................................................................................................... 11NATO ......................................................................................................................... 11

Environment .............................................................................................................. 13Climate Change..................................................................................................... 13

PRIORITIES FOR YOUNG IRELAND 2014

FOREWORD

DEAR FRIEND,

This is the first major election that the Fine Gael led Government face since its formation. A great deal has changed since they took office.

The economy is recovering offering hope to tens of thousands of people who had their jobs and livelihoods stripped from them during the economic crisis. We are progressing as a society with many constitutional referenda having been put to the people and with a commitment for many more to be held in the future, including Gay Marriage, a proposal that Young Fine Gael fully supports. A lot has been progressed, but we have a lot more to achieve and secure for the next generation.

For this upcoming election we have so many brilliant and talented Young Fine Gael members who are seeking election to Local Councils all over the country. These are people who have the core Fine Gael values at heart, of putting the country and not the party first. However, they are also people with a unique insight into the next generation. The next generation who will become entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, teachers, guards and so on, all contributing to our society and helping to build on the progress already achieved over the last few decades.

Young Fine Gael candidates offer an ability to represent the views of this generation, one that has been shackled down by the complete economic ineptitude of the previous Fianna Fáil & Green Party Government. It is this Government that is releasing this generation from the economic shackles that restrained us from achieving our goals. Now we can stand tall and begin to realise our potential. We are slowly regaining our lost ground and it is the challenge of this Government to not only ensure that every young person in Ireland has a job, but that every young person has a choice of jobs and allow them to pursue their dreams.

This document is sourced from Young Fine Gael motions, policies and National Executive stances over the last number of years outlines what we believe are the priorities for Young Ireland.

I wish every young candidate the very best of luck in the coming election and hope to see as many Young Fine Gael candidates becoming Councillors as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Dale McDermott

PresidentYoung Fine Gael

3


LOCAL GOVERNMENTDUBLIN MAYOR

Young Fine Gael strongly believes that a Mayor is needed for Dublin. The Mayor should have clearly defined responsibilities, executive power and a real budget. One of the keys to the success of the Mayor of London is that the office has real spending power.

Young Fine Gael also believes that citizens in Dublin should still be consulted and that the Government should still proceed with the Dublin Mayor vote, despite the rejection of the plan from Fingal County Council.

PROPERTY TAX

Young Fine Gael supports the introduction of the Local Property Tax (LPT) as a means of sustainably funding Local Government in Ireland. While we note that the LPT can be varied upwards and downwards by a range of 15% by Local Authorities, we believe that this should be substantially increased to allow proper accountability between elected officials and expenditure sanctioned by them.

Young Fine Gael also believes that the Local Property Tax should be charged on the basis of ‘site value’ rather than the current method of valuation.

HOMELESSNESS

Young Fine Gael believes that it is totally unacceptable that someone can be homeless in modern day Ireland.

Young Fine Gael strongly supports the need to increase services and access to emergency accommodation to those who are in need of housing.

Young Fine Gael believes that the Government needs to do more to end long-term homelessness and that the pace of progress needs to increase.

Young Fine Gael also calls for a greater focus on youth homelessness and more solutions to be sought on the matter.

COMMERCIAL RATES FOR NEW BUSINESSES

Young Fine Gael calls on the Local Authorities of Ireland to put in place a new and start-up business agreement on commercial rates being graded 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% each year in the first 4 years of business, to support job creation and entrepreneurship.

4


EUROPEAN UNIONYoung Fine Gael calls on the Commission to ensure that The Erasmus+ Programme is given appropriate priority to ensure ongoing social and labour mobility within the EU. We believe it would be beneficial to integrate the Erasmus project into commercial and state supported vocational schemes. This can be achieved by organising vocational programs similarly to the Bologna process.

Young Fine Gael calls for the organising of standards for training, in a similar way to the recognition of degrees under the Bologna process; this should be the same in each member state.

Young Fine Gael believes more power to be given to the Council of the European Union and the National Ministers, therefore reducing the role of the Directorates-General’s in the European Commission by reforming the ordinary legislative procedure. This should include allowing for 1/3 of the total membership of the European Parliament to have the power to initiate legislation.

Young Fine Gael believes the EU Member States should propose a change to the EU treaties, which would make the provision for the direct election of the President of the European Commission by direct ballot of the citizens of Europe and would transfer the representation duties of the President of the European Council to the President of the European Commission.

Young Fine Gael believes that a common policy for data protection across the European Union should be developed, removing a major bureaucratic barrier to innovators in the European Union.

Young Fine Gael calls for the creation of an annual assessment mechanism, written by each C ommissioner and presented to the public whose function would be to clearly communicate their work to date and their future actions.

Young Fine Gael calls for the targeting of European Union Structural Funding towards the development of high quality, high speed internet networks throughout the regions of the European Union targeting 90% connectivity rate by 2020 with average connection speeds of 100Mbits/s. Support should also be given to the development of technology sharing networks in technologies interlinked with the digital economy such as 3D printing.

Young Fine Gael calls for the publication of all European Funds managed by the European Commission and member States and all organisation’s (enterprises, NGO and public companies) that received money from the EU budget.

Young Fine Gael calls on the EU - not to recognise the incorporation of Autonomous Republic of Crimea (an autonomous part of Ukraine) into the Russian Federation and calls on all European Union member states to stop any kind of military co-operation with the Russian Federation.

5


ECONOMY & JOBS TACKLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Young Fine Gael understands that this is a European wide problem. We believe Ireland can become the leading country in directly tackling this epidemic, in the same way as we are the leading nation emerging from the bailout program. We can lead in reducing the average of 25% youth unemployment across Europe by initiating policies that tackle our own high rate that exceeds the EU average currently. The adoption of effective and practical policies can mean that this generation, and those following, can enjoy the fruits of our extensive investment in education and training through obtaining relevant employment in our chosen field, here in Ireland.

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to ensure all public contracts are awarded to private companies with a requirement to employ newly qualified apprentices of three years, newly qualified graduates in the area of Law, HR, Finance, etc.

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to introduce incentives for employers to employ persons under 30.

Young Fine Gael calls on the Minister for Education to introduce a mandatory work experience component (comprising of 10% of final results) for all undergraduate third level degrees to ensure students are prepared for entry to the workplace.

Young Fine Gael calls on the IDA to encourage a policy for Foreign Direct Investment companies to employ a quota of new Irish graduates.

Young Fine Gael calls on employment legislation to be introduced to ensure the cessation of public sector institutions rehiring retired personnel to complete part-time employment where the employment does not require vast experience and expertise.

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to introduce new interim certificates to apprentices, which would help them to progress to other qualifications and further training, especially in those cases where apprentices have been made redundant.

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to break the link between the apprenticeship pay rate and the fully qualified rate. This is costly and the change would allow for more opportunities for both employers and apprentices.

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to break the dependence on academic route to train young people for entry to the workforce.

6


HEALTH & YOUTH ISSUESMENTAL HEALTH

Young Fine Gael supports ‘Mental Health Reform’ in advocating the need for a National Mental Health Information System. This system would positively contribute to the ability of the Director of Mental Health to adequately organise the efficient and effective delivery of services. Such a report would incorporate information on the extent and quality of community based mental health services.

Young Fine Gael believes that this should involve the Government rolling out a blanket campaign on suicide prevention, similar to a campaign ran against smoking and speeding, and investigate introducing annual counselling sessions for all second level students.

Young Fine Gael recognises and supports the efforts of the Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in providing help and support for those under the age of 16 who experience emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. Such a service proves a vital component of school-based supports and the development of the service and ability to effect real change in the lives of those affected would have a considerable impact on the health and happiness of young people in Ireland.

CYBER-BULLYING

Young Fine Gael believes that the 1989 Incitement of Hatred Act be updated to include provisions relating to social media and social networking.

TAX ON SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES (SSB’S)

An Oireachtas study found that 66% of all Irish adults, 22% of 5-12 year olds and 20% of teenagers (13-17 years) are overweight or obese. The main contributors to our obesity problem are a lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits. Weight problems for children create huge risk to their general health and well-being later in life, as the chances of remaining overweight or obese into adulthood are large.

SSBs include drinks sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, or other calorific sweeteners, other carbonated and non-carbonated drinks such as energy and sports drinks. SSBs play a key role in the obesity epidemic; they have no nutritional role and do not provide a feeling of fullness. For young people, for each SSB consumed each day increases their chances of obesity by 60%.

The introduction of this tax is an attractive option because there is no nutritional value in SSBs and there is a healthier alternative in water and other drinks according to the Irish Heart Foundation. The proposed tax would not be regressive as people on lower incomes would be benefit from better health and a reduction on spending on SSB’s. In the 1970’s a 10% tax on soft drinks was in place in Ireland.

According to the health impact survey commissioned by Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly, it was found that a reintroduction of the 10% tax abolished in 1990’s would reduce the number of overweight and obese people by 14,000 or 1.25% in the reduction of obese people.

Young Fine Gael believes that the introduction of this tax would play a small role in mitigating our obesity levels. According to studies by leading researchers in the field and the awareness of people in Ireland of the adverse impact of SSBs would help to reduce consumption, improve health and increase the possibility of switching to healthier alternatives and also would not be viewed as a regressive tax.

7


EDUCATION THIRD LEVEL FUNDING

Young Fine Gael believes in a fairer funding system for third level to ensure every student has access to a high quality education. This should involve a graduate contribution from students of roughly a third of the cost of their course. We believe the student registration fee should not be increased further and this fee should be phased out over the next number of years and replaced with a graduate contribution scheme.

EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Young Fine Gael believes the Government should focus on developing ICT skills through education at as early a stage as possible with a particular emphasis on programming as set out in the Programme for Government. The promotion of ICT careers and education courses targeting young people should continue to be a priority.

Young Fine Gael believes Government funding should be targeted towards the development of high quality, high speed internet networks throughout Ireland targeting 90% connectivity rate by 2020 with average connection speeds of 100Mbits/s. Support should also be given to the development of technology sharing networks in technologies interlinked with the digital economy such as 3D printing.

Young Fine Gael believes the Irish government should support the development of a common policy for data protection across the European Union, removing a major bureaucratic barrier to innovators in the European Union.

TEACHING IN SCHOOLS

Young Fine Gael strongly support the rights of primary and post primary schools of a faith ethos to teach religious education during class time in line with the ethos of the school.

Young Fine Gael supports the development of a teaching programme of a third language & information technology in primary schools.

Young Fine Gael opposes the abolition of history as a core subject at Junior Certificate level as we enter the decade of commemorations, and calls on Fine Gael in Government to reverse this decision.

Young Fine Gael believes the Minister for Education and Skills should reverse the decision to phase out the externally assessed Junior Certificate, and engage with education partners to implement reform while not undermining the credibility of the Junior Cycle. The new Junior cycle should ensure that students receive both a high quality of education and that it can be clearly quantified in assessment.

8


AGRICULTURE YOUNG FARMERS

Young Fine Gael proposes that an incentive for young farmers be introduced by increasing the number of training places in agricultural colleges.

Young Fine Gael proposes that the Early Retirement Scheme should be reopened in order to let young farmers progress in their career. The scheme aims to provide income for older farmers who stop farming. We encourage the replacement of these older farmers by young farmers in order for them to progress in the agriculture industry and encourage reassignment of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses where it cannot be farmed.

AGRICULTURE RELIEF

Since the introduction of Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) in 1976, agriculture relief has been made available for gift and inheritance tax. Over the years, this relief has been increased significantly.

It applies when the beneficiary known as the ‘farmer’, gets relief on the ‘agriculture property’ at the ‘agriculture value’ that is calculated by the marked down market value by 90%, provided that 80% of the gross assets post-transfer are ‘agriculture assets’.

According to the Irish Creamery Milk Supplies Association (ICMSA) 2014 Pre-Budget Submission, the retention of the 90% agriculture relief CAT rate is a vital component for the transfer of land from one generation to the next.

Reducing the rate to a hypothetical 75% would result in a 60% reduction in tax allowance and serious implications for the transfer of land. For those entering farming, retention of the current rate is important so that their tax liability is not significantly increased. If altered, it could pave the way for the break-up of the family farm and the ultimate sale of the assets.

9


EXTENDING LAND LEASING TAX EXEMPTION

According to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Pre-Budget Submission 2014, a key mechanism in the transfer of land from less productive to more productive farmers is the Land Leasing Income Tax Exemption Scheme. Farmers who lease out their land for a period of 10 years would qualify for an income tax exemption of €20,000 per year with lower thresholds between 5 and 10 years. Presently under this scheme, a ‘qualified farmer’ (who is aged over 55 and has owned and farmed the land for at least 10 years) can avail of the Capital Gains Tax Retirement relief if they sign over the land to their child.

It does not allow for land sold or if the successor is not their offspring. The prohibition for qualifying on CGT relief on transfer of land to a favoured nephew/niece and land sales inhibits the potential for more long-term land leases and subsequently creates difficulty in accessing land for other farmers. Young Fine Gael believes that the CGT retirement relief should be extended to farmers who lease their land long-term if subsequently sold with a set threshold or if passed to their favoured niece/nephew.

MEANS TEST

Young Fine Gael strongly believes that the concept of using productive land as a means to assess higher education grants is grossly unfair. We commend Fine Gael in government for resisting attempts to introduce productive land means for granting higher education grants.

10


TRANSPORT, TOURISM & SPORT FAIR FARES

Young Fine Gael calls for the immediate reconfiguration of the inconsistent fare structure for post-primary students using public transport in Ireland today. Particularly for those aged between 16 and 18 years of age, these students in some cases are subject to pay an adult fare, which is clearly unfair.

PRIVATISING PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTES

Young Fine Gael supports mandating the National Transport Regulator to open up bus routes in Dublin and elsewhere to competitive tendering from alternative providers, and by opening up the use of publicly owned bus stations to facilitate competition and user choice.

Young Fine Gael does not believe that the current allotment of 10% is sufficient in order to successfully introduce competition into the market and calls for this to be increased in order to meet market demand for choice.

11


FOREIGN AFFAIRSFOREIGN AID

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to deliver on its aims to have its Foreign Aid Budget at 0.7% of GDP as set out under the Millennium Development Goal. YFG believes that this Aid should not be given freely and that all countries in receipt of Aid from Ireland should be respecting basic Human Rights and that the money given in Aid should be spent on the people and not in the back pocket of politicians or administrators.

NATO

Young Fine Gael calls on the Government to start talks with NATO on closer co-operation that could lead to session. Recent events have shown that some countries do not respect international agreements and it is incumbent on the Government to ensure the best defence for Ireland is available. YFG notes the recent Memorandum of Association recently signed by NATO with Sweden and Finland provide a framework for the Government to follow.

12


ENVIRONMENTCLIMATE CHANGE

Young Fine Gael supports the Government’s draft Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill but believes a number of improvements can be made including incorporating a national objective for 2050 of near zero emissions from energy, buildings and transport and carbon neutrality in agriculture.

The law should ensure that it can be monitored independently and transparently and provide that the proposed Expert Advisory Body follows the example of the Fiscal Advisory Council. The law should recognise and act on the principle of climate justice.

Many of those who suffer the worst effects of the climate crisis are those in developing countries who have done the least to cause the crisis. We as a developed nation have a moral responsibility not to cause them further harm.

YFG also calls on the Government to play a leadership role in the Negotiations in the lead-up to the Paris Climate Summit in December 2015 where a new climate treaty will be signed.

This Treaty should be fair and ambitious and Ireland is well placed to lead a coalition of countries to ensure that this happens after the many failed attempts in the past.

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NOTES

PRIORITIES FOR YOUNG IRELAND 2014 15

NOTES

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yfg_priorities for young ireland

Documents

ireland young

young farmers

mental health

agriculture relief

health youth issues

sugar sweetened beverages

commercial rates

new businesses