Fine Gael’s 5 Point Plan will get Ireland working and will modernise public services, protect the frontline, ensure public sector pay is not hit, and support the taxpayer according to Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony.
“Fine Gael is committed to the public service. In a time of austerity when cuts are being made across the board, Fine Gael is determined to protect vital frontline services in the public sector provided by doctors, nurses, teachers, gardaí, and local authority workers,” outlined Deputy O’Mahony.
“Other political parties scaremonger and tell lies. Fine Gael is offering a serious plan. Under our plan, the frontline will be protected, there will be no compulsory redundancies and pay will not be hit.
“The reality is quite stark: if we do not make savings in our public sector, then all staff will end up with their pay being hit or their taxes being hiked. We believe we can save over €5 billion, or one euro in 10 spent by public bodies, by confronting waste, duplication, and inefficiency. We recently set out how we anticipate making significant savings through streamlining processes by the creation of a Single Public Entitlement Service, Business Inspectorate and Licence Authority; abolishing over 145 quangos, State bodies and companies; restructuring the HSE; a one third reduction in civil service back office staff; streamlining services.”
Dep O’Mahony has accused Labour and Fianna Fáil of being determined to tax all workers far more severely. “This means that all workers, including those in the public sector, will see their pay packets hit hard by Labour and Fianna Fáil,” he added.
According to Dep O’Mahony the public sector has a key role to play in rebuilding Ireland. “We believe the vast majority of public servants do an absolutely vital job and recognise that many public servants feel they are being unfairly targeted as a result of a crisis they did not create.
“Fine Gael has already committed to not increasing income tax rates, bands, or allowances for all workers. In order for us to deliver on this commitment, we must make savings across the system. If those savings are to be made we are absolutely committed to protecting the frontline service providers.”
