The Labour Party has committed itself to retaining the €1.3 billion paid by the European Union to Irish farmers.
At the launch of the party’s rural economy policy today, agriculture spokesman Seán Sherlock said fighting to retain the share of EU funds paid to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy, was a key policy for his party.
He said the second of the two most important elements in the policy was the implementation of the Food Harvest 2020 Report, which would create jobs and increase exports. Labour would also set up a dairy industry task force, he added.
Tourism spokeswoman Mary Upton said tourism had the potential to create jobs. She said it was important not only to tackle the decline in traditional markets like Britain and mainland Europe, but also to tap into the new emerging tourism markets of India and China.
"To do this we must simplify the visa system because it is very difficult for a Chinese person or other Asians to get a holiday visa for here," she said.
Access to and within the country will have to be improved, she said, and web-based tools to support the industry would have to be developed.
She said the Irish Rail free travel scheme for over 66s should be extended to all CIÉE services at off-peak times. This would help successfully develop the "silver surfers" market for older people.
Labour also said Nama should conduct an independent review of the hotel sector and use this as a basis for decisions on which hotels would be supported.