Rabbitte's briefing:The Labour Party yesterday attempted to highlight differences between itself and the current Government in 10 key areas the party said had a significant impact on the quality of life of Irish families.
In its morning press briefing yesterday, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte claimed that while Ireland enjoyed a strong economy, it had a "society under strain", and claimed Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats policies were "not helping".
However, he rejected suggestions that the party would jeopardise the economy if elected.
He said that economic prosperity was a "prerequisite to all that we want to do". "However, Labour is not a party that wants growth for growth's sake."
The party said its health policy, which favoured 2,300 more public hospital beds, was in marked contrast to the Government's proposals for private clinics on public hospital lands.
He said other Labour health policies, including free medical cards for under-fives and free health insurance for all under-16s, were also opposed by Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.
Labour has proposed five halfdays of free pre-school education for all children but Fianna Fáil had "set their face squarely against this policy", Mr Rabbitte said.
Mr Rabbitte accused the current Coalition of favouring property developers over people's housing needs.
He said Labour favoured stamp duty reform for first-time buyers and a "begin to buy" scheme to enable low-income families to purchase part of a home.
"Fianna Fáil and the PDs are on the side of private developers and big builders," Mr Rabbitte said. "Their actions in the last 10 years make it clear that their interests are with their friends in the Galway tent and not those who work hard and hope to buy a home for themselves and their families," the Labour leader said.
Mr Rabbitte also pledged that in government, Labour would reverse restrictions on freedom of information legislation.
On climate change, Labour said it was committed to introducing a 50 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020, and would introduce much stricter energy standards for new homes.
He said Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats had presided over a situation in which greenhouse gas emissions were now at 26 per cent above 1990 levels and would rise to 30 per cent by 2012.
Labour said it was also committed to providing 1,500 dedicated community policing gardaí, while the Government's commitments to deliver 1,500 reserve gardaí had resulted in just 35 reserve members to date.
On transport, Mr Rabbitte said Labour would provide 500 more buses in Dublin, along with a standard €1 fare across the city, in contrast to the Government's "failure" to provide additional vehicles that had been requested by Dublin Bus.