Ireland's Fine Gael launches election manifesto

Ireland's Fine Gael party on Sunday launched an election manifesto as the latest poll showed a drop in support for the party.

In the party's election manifesto, it set out its priorities if returned to government. It promised to create 200,000 jobs, abolish the Universal Social Charge (USC) and add additional 20 euros (about 22.6 U.S. dollars) in weekly social welfare payments to the vulnerable groups.

Fine Gael is the largest party in Ireland in terms of members of the parliament. The party is the senior partner governing in a coalition with the Labor Party, with the Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny serving as Taoiseach (prime minister). Kenny has led the party since 2002.

The USC, described by the party as "the most hated tax in the country", is a tax payable on gross income, including notional pay, after any relief for certain capital allowances, but before pension contributions.

The party also proposes to increase the state pension by 25 euros a week. It also proposed an additional 10,000 frontline public service workers and an increase in the minimum wage to 10.50 euros per hour.

At the launching ceremony, Kenny said it was not the time to take risks with the economy, adding that political stability and economic stability go hand in hand.

He said that for Fine Gael the recovery was never an end in itself.

Kenny said it is about the well-being of people and their prosperity.

The latest RED C opinion poll for the Sunday Business Post suggested a drop in support for Fine Gael and gains for opposition Sinn Fein. The RED C poll suggested Fine Gael support had fallen two points to 28 percent. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars) Endit