Green Party Senator Mark Dearey has welcomed new regulations to control recreational activities in sensitive nature areas like along the River Boyle, in the Baltray Boyne estuary area and on Bettystown and Laytown sand dunes.
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Analysts declare Greens a “Safe Pair of Hands”
National media assessments of the Green Party economics policies have ranged from “innovative”, “clever” and “appealing” to “realistic”, “prudent” and “equitable” and correspondents have broadly welcomed their publication. Local candidate Cllr Mark Dearey welcomed these comments and stated “Green policies are about protecting our economy, promoting growth, supporting enterprise, making the tax system more equitable and taking action to protect our natural resources. It is great to see our efforts being recognised by the national media.”
Tax reform aims to reduce the inavoidable taxes that feature in consumers everyday lives such as VAT and PRSI. Indexation of the tax bands and tax credits system would help to compensate for cost of living increases. Demystifying the pension system would be achieved by introducing an SSIA type savings plan to allow everyone to benefit from providing for their future. Phasing out of property based tax breaks for example in nursing homes and private hospitals is also on their agenda whilst an increase in the home carers allowance of €1000.00 was also welcomed.
Vehicle registration tax, currently 37% on the price of a new car, will be replaced by an environmental charge which is calculated on fuel efficiency, engine size and vehicle weight. Many of the Green candidates are entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses before entering politics and a range of measures to ease the burden of unavoidable taxes such as commercial rates are also contained in the policy.
Families trading down to smaller homes in later life will be eligble for stamp duty exemptions – this works on the basis that existing family homes have the infrastructure that is needed i.e. schools and playgrounds nearby, access to shops and medical facilties etc. Allowing older persons to trade down to smaller, better insulated, more manageable properties without being charged stamp duty will free up housing stock for families trading up.
Economics Editor Marc Coleman of the Irish Times commented that “The Greens have set out prudent yet cohesive policies” whilst political editor Stephen Collins said “these plans show that the Greens are both politically and economically living in the real world.” Election candidate Cllr Mark Dearey, commenting on the coverage said “The Green Party have said to the electorate that we are ready for government. I know from meeting people all over the county that they understand that the time has come for the Green Party. Our campaign motto is “It’s Time” and we know that it is.”