Main points of Fianna Fáil's Economic Policy
Tax commitments
The abolition of the PRSI ceiling for full rate payers and a reduction of the rate at which the tax is levied from 4 per cent to 2 per cent over the lifetime of the next administration.
The rate of PRSI paid by the self-employed to be reduced from 3 per cent to 2 per cent.
Tax bands and the personal and employee tax credits to be increased by the average rise in wages each year.
Home carer tax credit to be doubled from €770 to €1,540.
A reduction in the standard rate of income tax to 18 per cent and the higher rate of income tax to 40 per cent over the lifetime of the next government, if economic resources allow.
Vehicle Registration Tax to be further weighted in favour of cars with lower emissions.
Budgetary projections
Average budget surplus of 0.5 per cent of GDP over the 2007-2012 period.
A net debt of less than 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the government's term of office from the present figure of 14.5 per cent of GDP.
Public spending to increase by just over 7 per cent per annum.
A minimum of 1 per cent of GNP per annum to be set aside to provide for future pensions.
Economic assumptions
Average economic growth of 4.5 per cent per year in real terms.
Average economic growth of 7 per cent per year in nominal terms.
Average earnings growth of 4.5 per cent per year.
Employment growth of 2.5 per cent per year.
Average increase in base current expenditure of 6 per cent per year.
Average rate of return on the National Pensions Reserve Fund of 7 per cent per annum.