Fianna Fáil has pledged to create a new Department of Domestic Affairs if elected to Government.
The party has today launched its General Election 2024 manifesto – with a strong focus on the cost of living, housing and health.
Speaking at the launch, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he would seek to take control of the Justice Ministry in any new coalition government.
He said the new Domestic Affairs Department would be under the Justice Minister’s control and have responsibility for immigration and other domestic issues.
He said Fianna Fáil is also pledging to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 a month or less – and ramp up home building to 60,000 units a year.
The party is also pledging to double the renters tax credit and significantly increase Garda numbers.
Minister Martin said the party would also introduce a new Public Transport Police.
“Just as we took housing and health in the last occasion, we don't shirk big responsibilities as a party,” the Tánaiste said.
“We believe in delivery, and I think this is a more coherent model that we're putting forward.”
Sinn Féin
Elsewhere, Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, pledged to abolish the Universal Social Charge (USC) for those earning less than €30,000 next year and those earning less than €45,000 in 2026.
“Our tax package at the at the heart of it is this measure designed to give relief to every single worker on the first €45,000 of their income,” Deputy McDonald said.
Sinn Féin has also launched its list of candidates standing for election.
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is dealing with the fallout of Michael O'Leary's comments about teachers, with Taoiseach Simon Harris distancing himself from the situation.
“I think the comments made were crass,” the Taoiseach said. “They were ill informed, and I'm pretty annoyed about it.”
Fine Gael has also today committed to a €40 billion housing plan, if re-elected.
The party plans to deliver 303,000 new homes by 2030, with a target of 60,000 per year by the end of that period.
Fine Gael has also pledged to increase and extend schemes for first time buyers “to ensure that people are assisted in making home ownership a reality”.
Social Democrats
The Social Democrats are planning to introduce a Government Accountability Office, and an anti-corruption agency, if elected.
The proposals are aimed at tackling the "waste of tax payers money," and to restore trust and accountability in political life.
The party is also proposing to reform the 1924 Ministries and Secretaries Act.
Dublin City Councillor Eoin Hayes said people need to be held “accountable” for their actions.
“Ministers and secretaries act from the 1920s needs to be updated for the 21st century,” he said.
“We can't keep on having this who said, he said, she said about what decisions were made.
“Who signed off on the National Children's Hospital? Was it a senior civil servant? Was it the minister who made that decision? And why?
“So that we can hold people accountable.”
More updates to follow...
Tanaiste and Fianna Fail party leader leader Micheal Martin and Minister for Finance Jack Chambers at a launch of the FF manifesto. 11/11/2024 Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
