Three Fine Gael Policies Which Must Go if Labour goes into Government
1) Student Graduate Tax of €12,000
This is a great way of making sure talented graduates leave our shores and never return, especially if they're from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and are already lumbered with student loans.
2) Privatisation of State-owned utilities, particularly the ESB and Bord Gais.
These companies are making profits which contribute to our healthcare and education costs. Any monies raised from a sell-off would be quickly spent and decades of future profit lost only to enhance the coffers of the already rich and please the ideological itchings of right-wing loons like Leo Varadker.
3) Abolition of Employer social insurance payments.
Fine Gael claim this will make it easier for small firms to hire more staff, but most small firms aren't paying enough in employer social insurance to make up another living wage, so it can't help in this way. Instead it will just lead to an increase in the tax burden of the employee as the government strives to make up the shortfall somehow.
If Labour lets any of these madcap free-market ideological policies get into the programme for government they will lose all credibility and slip to fifth place behind Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein at the next election.
Of course these policies are so lunatic, one wonders if a Fine Gael strategist placed them in the party manifesto just so Labour could shoot them down in negotiations and make it seem like Labour gained something.
