Joan Burton vows to hold abortion vote if re-elected
Launching her party’s manifesto, Tánaiste Joan Burton yesterday said Labour would put the issue to the people.
This is at odds with Fine Gael, which only committed to a citizens’ assembly to examine the Eighth Amendment, which gives equal protection to a mother and her unborn child.
Labour’s manifesto also promises to abolish the universal social charge for those earning up to €72,000, free GP care for all, and placing a cap on childcare costs.
Both Ms Burton and Brendan Howlin yesterday launched attacks on Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.
Speaking at the event held on DIT’s new Grangegorman campus, Mr Howlin claimed Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin has been “peddling a fairy story”, while Gerry Adams has no intention of being in government.
“Adams and Martin are scrapping because their battle is to lead the opposition,” said Mr Howlin. “Please don’t be fooled; it’s nothing more than that.”
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Ms Burton claimed that Mr Martin had “walked off the pitch and now he is presenting himself as the new kid on the block when, in fact, it’s very much that he is coming back, maybe with new clothes but with the same idea”.
She added: “It’s very remarkable with Fianna Fáil that they have complete lack of clarity in relation to how they would do — even reforms in the health service. All they are saying is ‘we’ll sort it’ but they are very, very short on detail.”
Sinn Féin’s deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, hit back by claiming the Labour Party had “torn up every promise it made”.
Speaking as she launched a billboard attacking Labour, Ms McDonald said: “Nobody believes any promise the Labour Party makes.
“That seems to be the modus operandi of the Labour Party; they’ll promise you the sun, moon and stars but when it comes to it they’ll forget about you and forget their promises.”
Other promises in Labour’s manifesto include raising the minimum wage to €11.30 and increasing pensions to €260.
The party would also appoint a cabinet minister with specific responsibly for primary care and would recruit 5,500 doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Labour would set up a “save to buy” scheme for aspiring home owners which would provide a €1 top-up for every €4 saved. This would be subject to a cap of €1,200 a year over five years.
Speaking about a referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment, which is a key proposal for the party, Ms Burton said: “We are saying that if Labour is in government we will ensure that there is a referendum on the Eighth Amendment.
“There will be a referendum on the Eighth Amendment if Labour is in government; equally there will not be a referendum if Labour is not there. I would be very confident given the way that we have worked with Fine Gael that there would be a referendum.”
Asked about a coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, Ms Burton said she had met with Mr Kenny on Monday and was confident from that conversation Mr Kenny would rule out such a deal.
“I met the Taoiseach last night and he told me that he intended — and I expect that, perhaps as I am speaking that he is clarifying that situation — he wants to see Fine Gael for his part, just as I want to see Labour for my party returned to government,” said Ms Burton.
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