SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 - CAIN: Northern Ireland Conflict
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SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007
Contents PAGE
NUMBER
Delivering Real Progress 2
Delivering Key Priorities 3
Delivering for You - Leading & Winning 6
Delivering the Agreement 9
Delivering a United Ireland 10
Delivering Public Services, Investment & Government Reform 11
Delivering Quality Healthcare 14
Delivering Quality Education for All 17
Delivering Economic Growth & Jobs 19
Delivering Investment in Workers & Skills 21
Delivering Safer Communities 23
Delivering Affordable Quality Homes 26
Delivering Social Inclusion 29
Delivering a Sustainable Environment 32
Delivering Balanced Regional Development 34
Delivering for Agricultural & Rural Communities 36
Ag soláthar Acht Gaeilge - Delivering for the Irish Language 39
Delivering Arts & Leisure Opportunities 41
Delivering Equality & Human Rights 42
Delivering a Shared Society 44
Delivering for Victims, Truth & Remembrance 45
Delivering on International Affairs 46
Please note that certain objectives appear under more than one
heading to give a complete overview of each topic at a glance
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 1
Delivering
Real Progress
Your Ambitions – Our Agenda
The SDLP stands in this election proud of our record and confident of our prospects. We have
stood consistently for the Good Friday Agreement’s core principles of a lawful society and an
inclusive democracy. The SDLP has held nothing back. We only want to move forward.
You deserve better than endless ‘process’ and stop-go politics. You need non-stop progress.
The SDLP alone can be trusted to deliver that. The DUP and Sinn Fein want their ambitions for
themselves to become the people’s agenda in this election.
For the SDLP, people’s best ambitions are our only agenda. Your highest hopes are our driving
political purpose.
This manifesto outlines the SDLP’s clear, strong policies on issues that really matter to you –
including water charges, rates, healthcare, jobs, poverty, education, policing and
climate change.
It underlines our determination - not just to deliver political progress - but to grow our economy,
improve our society and fulfil the promise of a better way to a better Ireland.
It sets out our radical proposals for:
• Economic growth, social justice, environmental protection and cultural vitality;
• Ambitious targets for North South development;
• Cohesive plans for joined-up government;
• Greater transparency, effectiveness and accountability;
• Strong safeguards against ever-higher rates and other unjust charges; and
• Imaginative ideas for far-reaching investment and improving public services.
The difference between politics not working and a government working for you will be a strong
SDLP. Ongoing political uncertainty is not a reason not to vote. It is a reason to vote SDLP. Your
vote can make the difference. Use it to deliver real progress.
Vote SDLP on Wednesday 7 March.
Mark Durkan MP
SDLP Leader
2 Let’s Deliver Real Progress
Delivering Key
Priorities
Delivering the Agreement • Strong long-term protection of Delivering Economic
ratepayers’ interests in the form of Growth & Jobs
• Stand strong for the Agreement and
a revenue regulator; and • Single all-Ireland corporation tax
seek the immediate restoration of
its democratic institutions of • Two new Assembly Committees regime at 12.5%;
Government; that will examine government • Create an all-Ireland Research Fund
administrative expenditure as well and an Enterprise Growth Fund;
• Keep pressure on all parties to
as delivery and performance.
respect the commitments at the • Create broadband capacity of
heart of the Agreement to an 8Mbps across the North;
Delivering Quality Healthcare
inclusive and lawful society; and
• Cleaner hospitals through improving • Investment in biotechnology and
• Seek the Agreement’s full creation of biotechnology council;
and monitoring cleaning standards
implementation and development, and
and integrating hospital cleaning
including delivery of commitments
back into healthcare management; • Increased provision of workplace
in the Agreement and St. Andrews
on devolution of policing and • Invest in health promotion, primary based training packages.
justice; North/South co-operation; care and tackle health inequalities
human rights; equality; to reduce the burden on acute Delivering Safer Communities
demilitarisation; a shared future; care; • Work for an all-Ireland sex offenders
victims; and the Irish language. register and end automatic 50%
• Secure finances to implement the
recommendations of the Bamford remission for dangerous offenders;
Delivering a United Ireland
Review of Mental Health and • Push for Garda secondments to the
• Seek the recalling of the Forum for Learning Difficulties; PSNI as well as lateral entry;
Peace and Reconciliation;
• Ensure access to clinically effective • Creation of North/South bodies on
• Engage in outreach with the drugs (where appropriate) for policing and justice including an all-
unionist community to persuade treatment of conditions such as Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau and
them of the benefits of a United MS, Alzheimer’s disease and an All-Ireland Law Commission;
Ireland and reassure them of the Arthritis; and
protections that the Agreement • Create an all-Ireland Public Safety
• Improved access to NHS dentistry Body;
offers them in it; and
services across the North.
• Seek a referendum on a United • Harmonisation of road safety
Ireland when the Agreement’s Delivering Quality Education measures on the island; and
institutions are operating stably and for All • Better measures to tackle anti-
campaign vigorously for a yes vote. • The right for children to have a wide social behaviour, including penalty
ranging education; notices.
Delivering Public Services,
Investment & Government • An end to academic selection by
Reform opposing the use of pupil profiles
and Computer Adaptive Testing as
• A fairer rates system based on
a method of selection;
ability to pay;
• Effective implementation of the
• Strategic capital expenditure and
Special Educational Needs Order;
Service, Community & Enterprise
all-Ireland funds; • Promote the introduction of modern
languages at primary school; and
• Joined-up government across all
departments; • Investment in early years education.
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 3
Delivering Investment in Delivering Social Inclusion Delivering Balanced Regional
Workers & Skills Development
• Further development of the
• Campaign for a regional Pension Anti-Poverty Strategy to ensure • Legislate for decentralisation of
Protection Fund; adequate oversight, dedicated government functions and agencies
resources and realistic targets; including at least 2000 jobs to
• Cross-departmental strategy to
towns across the North, targeting
augment protection and awareness • Address the shortage of available,
areas with high unemployment;
of the rights of migrant workers; affordable and quality childcare;
• Create a new all-Ireland transport
• Widen access to Higher Education • Work to eradicate child poverty by
and infrastructure body;
through additional core funding 2020; and
packages for families on low • Develop a plan to convert public
• Implement the Money & Debt
incomes; transport to operate on bio-fuels;
Advice strategy.
• Eradicate adult illiteracy and • Secure major capital investment for
innumeracy by 2015; and Delivering a Sustainable the Belfast-Derry rail line; and
Environment
• Create an all-Island Research • Develop a light rail system for the
Alliance. • Introduce stronger targets on Belfast Metropolitan area.
emissions with year on year
Delivering Affordable Quality reductions so that emissions will be Delivering for Agricultural &
Homes 20% below 1990 levels by 2010; Rural Communities
• Explore proposals for a ‘use it or • Establish an All-Ireland Independent • Complete an all-Ireland Animal
lose it’ policy on lands zoned for Environmental Protection Agency; Health Strategy;
development;
• Campaign for the immediate • Develop an all-Ireland strategy for
• Increase the upper limit threshold in cessation of Mox production at the reform of the Common Fisheries
the Co-ownership Scheme; Sellafield; Policy;
• Release more land for social • Introduce marine legislation that will • Work for a fairer rates relief package
housing from the government land address the issues of pollution and for agricultural properties;
bank; and habitat protection; and
• Replace PPS 14 with a system that
• Address differentials between the • Annual publication of a State of the is fair to rural communities and
two main communities in waiting Environment report. cherishes the environment; and
times for public housing.
• Develop a cross-cutting Rural White
Paper to focus on the promotion of
economic regeneration and social
inclusion.
4 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressDelivering A Shared Society Delivering for Victims, Truth & Delivering on International
Remembrance Affairs
• Increased shared spaces and more
mixed estates; • An over-arching victims strategy; • Lobby for full implementation of
the G8 commitments to increase
• The prevention of sectarian or • A victim centred Truth Body to
volume, quality and effectiveness
national flags flying on public direct the process of truth and
of aid;
property; remembrance for all victims,
compile a register of victims and re- • Increase the number of Fair Trade
• A strategy against hate crime for
open police files at the request of towns and cities across the North;
the criminal justice system; and
victims’ families; • Reverse the decision to export
• New powers for the Community
• Well resourced and unimpeded refugees and asylum seekers to
Relations Council to support the
inquiries; and Scotland; and
Good Relations work of local
government. • Paramilitary assets to be used to • Campaign against the use of our
fund victims’ families compensation. airports to facilitate Extraordinary
Delivering Equality & Human Rendition.
Rights Ag soláthar Acht Gaeilge -
• Deliver the Single Equality Bill to Delivering for the Irish
harmonise protection against
Language
discrimination and guarantee • Tacaíonn an SDLP le Acht Ghaeilge
equality for all groups; atá cuimsitheach, bunaithe ar chur
chuige cheartasach a dhéanfaidh
• Deliver effective rights protection of
teanga oifigiúil den Ghaeilge agus a
our young particularly in the area of
bhronnfaidh cearta fiúntacha ar
mental health;
chainteoirí na teanga i réimsí
• A comprehensive Bill of Rights for éagsúla – na hinstitiúidi polaitiúla,
Northern Ireland; and an rialtas áitiuil, riar na córa, an
• Eliminate the differential in tOideachas, agus na meáin
unemployment rates between chumarsáide ina measc.
the two communities by 2012. • Support a comprehensive Irish
Language Act founded on a rights
based approach which will make
Irish an official language and afford
worthwhile rights to Irish speakers
in various aspects of public life
including: the political institutions,
local government, the justice
system, education, and the media.
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 5Delivering for You -
Leading & Winning
At the time of the Westminster Winning on Delivering
elections, the SDLP asked
voters to make us stronger to North South on policing
help us deliver our vision of a The SDLP is convinced that this island The SDLP has always argued that the
better way to a better Ireland. can be transformed through North best way of delivering Patten was by
South cooperation to the benefit of getting on the Policing Board. Recent
Since then, we have worked to nationalists and unionists alike. moves by other parties have vindicated
deliver on what we were elected
our position.
to do.
At the time of the last election, we were
gravely concerned that the North South While others stood on the sidelines, the
Although we have been held
back by suspension from taking agenda was on go slow due to SDLP has been delivering Patten. As
forward our plans on all suspension. Other parties were doing the report of the independent Oversight
important bread and butter little to challenge this – for example, the Commissioner shows, over 86% of
issues, we have nonetheless Sinn Fein/DUP Comprehensive Patten has been delivered in only year
succeeded in delivering on key Agreement did not offer a single extra five of Patten’s ten year programme of
planks of our agenda. area for North South cooperation or change. As he has also found, the
implementation. Police, Policing Board and Police
The SDLP has been: Ombudsman have done what was
That’s why we launched our asked of them.
• Winning on the North South agenda;
North South Makes Sense campaign.
• Delivering on policing; That campaign has done much Our achievements include:
• Exposing the truth on to get the North South agenda • Collusion exposed - because the
water charges; moving again. As a result: SDLP insisted that the Office of the
• Plans for all-Ireland free travel for Police Ombudsman have the power
• Defending the Agreement;
older people are now underway; to investigate the past;
• Leading the campaign against MI5;
• The South is now investing • Special Branch dismantled and
• Holding out for power-sharing; unprecedented money in the replaced by police intelligence
North’s infrastructure through the structures that “meet the best
• Safeguarding human rights;
National Development Plan; practice requirements of any police
• Preventing cover ups; force in the world” according to the
• The two Governments are working Oversight Commissioner;
• Winning the argument on guns; and on developing proposals on North
• Keeping pressure on loyalist South funds; and • Catholic levels in the regular police
paramilitaries. now over 21% - and rising; and
• The Single Electricity Market is due
to open later this year. • “More accountability than any
“The words which come quickest to police agency that I am aware of”
mind when writing about the SDLP Most importantly, it is now accepted in the words of Kathy O’Toole,
are decency, courage and tenacity… that the North South agenda has to Patten Commission member.
Over the long barren years when continue on whether or not we achieve
there was little hope, or little to devolution by 26 March. And we are working to deliver more -
hope for, the SDLP kept faith with like the new police college, accessible
its democratic message… And in The SDLP will continue to lead the police stations and faster police
Drapier’s view, that endurance is campaign on North South and work in response times.
going to see it through the next
particular to deliver the rich rewards of
30 years as well. ”
an all-Ireland economy.
Drapier, Irish Times
6 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressExposing the truth That is why we have stood by the We have exposed their dangerous lack
Agreement – and opposed attempts by of accountability and the way that they
on water charges
others to weaken its protections. will be able to operate beyond the
The SDLP has led the campaign It is also why we opposed the flawed scrutiny of the Police Ombudsman.
against water charges and exposed Comprehensive Agreement negotiated
the truth about the direct rule by the DUP and Sinn Fein in 2004. At We will continue to oppose the MI5
administration’s plans. For example, St Andrews we succeeded in undoing takeover and campaign for the Police
the direct rulers denied that there a lot of the damage done by that deal. Ombudsman to be able to investigate
would be privatisation. The SDLP For example: wrongdoing by MI5 in the North.
exposed the truth: that the Treasury
• We have defended inclusion – and
was pressing for “greater private sector
1 ensured the abandonment of the
participation.”
Comprehensive Agreement’s Holding out for
The SDLP has also exposed the truth
proposal for a new form of power-sharing
automatic exclusion.
about the level of water charges. The SDLP has stood strong for power-
Contrary to British Government • We have ensured that DUP sharing at local government level – and
assurances, limits on water charges ministers cannot veto who ministers opposed plans that could lead to the
through an affordability tariff are only are – something that was conceded dominance of any one community over
planned until 2010. to them in the Comprehensive the other.
Agreement.
The SDLP opposed water charges in Unlike Sinn Fein, we rejected the seven
Westminster and will continue to do so • We have cut out much red tape council model – which we argued was
in the Assembly. on North South that was also bad for minorities and bad for power-
conceded to the DUP in the sharing. We did not make the mistake
Comprehensive Agreement. of presuming that the seven council
“The SDLP have shown leadership
and courage for many years and • Above all, we have ensured a model would ensure a 25% minority in
continue to do so to this day.” sunset clause – so that the DUP every council area and power-sharing.
Pat Rabbitte TD, Labour Party Leader
will not get any of the changes
November 2005 conceded by others to the There are two simple reasons for this.
workings of the Agreement if First, the seven council model does not
they do not go into Government ensure a minimum 25% minority in
Defending the by 26 March 2007. many council areas. In some, the
Agreement nationalist minority would be well under
The SDLP will continue to defend the 20%. Second, the British Government
The SDLP believes that the Good
Good Friday Agreement – and work for has not even given a commitment that
Friday Agreement offers nationalists
the restoration of its democratic there would be power-sharing even
and unionists alike the chance to work
institutions of government. where there is a 25% minority.
together as partners and as equals.
The SDLP will continue to hold the line
We do not believe that there is anything
wrong with the Agreement. All that is Leading the for real power-sharing, equality and
partnership in local government.
wrong is that too often parties have campaign
failed to honour it. against MI5
The SDLP has been leading the
campaign against British Government
plans for MI5 to take over primacy for
intelligence policing in the North.
We have told the truth about MI5.
1 Civil Service Memorandum revealed in the Water Service Judicial Review
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 7Safeguarding human Winning the Keeping the
rights and opposing argument pressure on loyalist
paramilitary on guns paramilitaries
vigilantes Some said that IRA decommissioning While IRA decommissioning marks a
The SDLP is for restorative justice. But could never happen, would never major step forward, the SDLP remains
we made clear that the Government’s happen and should never happen. concerned at the failure of loyalists to
plans in December 2005 did not go far decommission or end their activity.
enough – and risked creating state paid The SDLP pointed out that the
paramilitary vigilantes. Agreement said that it must happen. We were the only party to object to
We also argued that the failure to the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
We forced David Hanson to admit that decommission was only giving anti- which would have let loyalists avoid
the Government had “got it wrong” and Agreement unionists the excuse that both truth and justice without having
bring forward revised proposals. they needed to hold back change. Our decommissioned a single bullet
argument won out. Decommissioning or ended their drug dealing
Those revised proposals, though happened. And the reason given? and intimidation.
improved, still do not go far enough – Because the failure to decommission
and we are still working to ensure that was being used to hold back change. We were also the only major party to
people are protected from rough justice put pressure on the Secretary of State
and paramilitary control. to declare the UVF ceasefire over –
“…I believe that the pivotal role of
the SDLP in courageously opening after they had murdered no less than
political dialogue with the four people.
Preventing republican movement must not be
cast aside. Both governments need The SDLP will keep the pressure on
cover ups to recommit themselves to the loyalist paramilitaries to wind up their
The SDLP succeeded in getting the inclusive, all-party, transparent activity and destroy their weapons.
British Government to withdraw the model of negotiations envisaged
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill. by the Good Friday Agreement.” Equally, we will continue to insist that
so called “dissident republicans”
Enda Kenny TD, Fine Gael Leader
That Bill would have allowed loyalist, 18 October 2006 respect the will of all the people of
state and republican killers alike to Ireland by ceasing all activity and
avoid not only jail but even truth or decommissioning all weapons.
the discomfort of having to look their
victims in the eye.
The SDLP exposed the dirty deal
done by Sinn Fein and the British
Government to cover up the past and
forced the withdrawal of the Bill.
We will continue to seek a better deal
for victims and oppose cover ups of
the past.
8 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressDelivering the
Agreement
The SDLP is determined to • ensured that the power of DUP • Keep pressure on all paramilitary
deliver all of the Good Friday ministers to veto who other groups to decommission all their
Agreement. Because we ministers could be has been weapons and end all activity –
believe in each and every one scrapped; including loyalists and dissident
of its key principles. And republicans.
because, as a truly republican • got much red tape on the North
party, we stand by the will of South agenda removed; • Seek the implementation of the
the Irish people, North and SDLP’s North South Makes Sense
• Above all, we have ensured a
South, who voted for it. proposals.
sunset clause – so that the DUP will
not get any of the changes • Continue to undo the damage
The SDLP is the only party to have conceded by others to the of the flawed SF/DUP
worked all the Agreement’s institutions workings of the Agreement if they “Comprehensive Agreement.”
– and a strong SDLP is essential to do not go into Government by 26
get the Agreement working. Left to • Seek the removal of the DUP’s
March 2007.
veto on the devolution of justice
themselves, other parties just
conceded by Sinn Fein in the
cannot deliver. But there is more work to do:
“Comprehensive Agreement”
and legislated for by the
At the time of the Westminster The SDLP will:
British Government in the NI
elections we promised to defend the
• Stand strong for the Good Friday (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Agreement and keep on pressure to
Agreement and seek the Act 2006.
get its democratic institutions of
immediate restoration of
government restored. That is what we • Stand for good government and
its democratic institutions
have done – especially at St Andrews. continue to oppose the DUP
of Government.
proposals that would cause
• Keep pressure on all parties to gridlock, deadlock and allow tit for
“Recent statements by Mark
respect the commitments at the tat vetoes by different ministers.
Durkan…have revealed him as a
heart of the Agreement to an
politician who is both surefooted • Ensure repeal of the Suspension
inclusive democracy and a
and determined. He will not easily Act and an end to stop-go politics.
lawful society.
be forced to abandon the
Good Friday Agreement gains." • Seek the Agreement’s full • Seek new partnership
implementation and development, arrangements between the British
Irelandclick.com November 26 2002
including delivery of commitments and Irish Governments in the event
in the Agreement and St Andrews that we do not secure restoration
We have kept the pressure on the on: by 26 March 2007, while still
problem parties to live up to the two working for restoration.
- devolution of policing
key principles at the heart of the Good • Oppose attempts by others to allow
and justice;
Friday Agreement: an inclusive the Assembly to continue past 26
- North/South co-operation;
democracy and a lawful society. March 2007 if we do not achieve
- human rights;
- equality; restoration.
And we have succeeded in undoing a
- demilitarisation;
lot of the damage done to the Good
- a shared future; “[I]n the eyes of his party and
Friday Agreement by the flawed Sinn
- victims; and many bystanders, the SDLP
Fein/DUP Comprehensive Agreement
- the Irish language; leader has every right to call
of 2004. For example, we have:
himself the Agreement's champion.”
• defended the right of all parties to Fionnuala O’Connor, Irish Times
sit in the Executive in accordance Friday 8 October 2004
with their democratic mandate;
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 9Delivering a
United Ireland
The SDLP believes in a United Achieving a majority for Irish unity any
Ireland. And we are the only time soon will require the persuasion of
party with the vision, the standing some unionists. It will also require the
and the strategy to deliver unity. reassurance of many others. Because
we have always stood for peace and
We believe that all the rights,
partnership, only the SDLP can
protections, and inclusion that
persuade a majority in the North in
nationalists have sought within
favour of unity - just as we persuaded a
Northern Ireland while it is in the
United Kingdom, must equally majority of the North in favour of the
be guaranteed to unionists Good Friday Agreement.
within a United Ireland.
That is why only the SDLP can deliver a
So our vision of a United Ireland United Ireland.
is based on equality. We are
emphatic that unity must not Working towards a united
be about the entrapment of a Ireland the SDLP will:
new minority.
• Seek the recalling of the Forum for
Peace and Reconciliation. At the
That is right in principle - since in a
last Forum, Sinn Féin would not
United Ireland we will still need to find a
sign up to the emerging consensus
way of sharing our society as equals
on how unity could be achieved. At
every bit as much as we do today -
this Forum we will seek the
and that is what the Agreement is all Agreement of all parties to our
about. vision of and strategy for unity.
It is also right in practice. The best • Engage in outreach with the
context for holding and winning a unionist community to persuade
referendum is when it is clear that the them of the merits of a United
Agreement is fully bedded down and Ireland and reassure them of the
that all its protections will continue protections that the Agreement
regardless of the referendum’s offers them in it.
outcome. A majority is most likely to • Seek a referendum on a United
vote for a United Ireland when Ireland when the Agreement’s
reassured that it is neither a vote institutions are operating stably and
against the Agreement nor a vote for campaign vigorously in favour of a
constitutional uncertainty. yes vote.
‘In a United Ireland we will still need to find a way
of sharing our society as equals every bit as much
as we do today - and that is what the Agreement
is all about.’
10 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressDelivering Public
Services, Investment
& Government Reform
Reforming SDLP Goals: • Legislate to require decentralisation
Social Partnership Approach of government functions and
Government agencies including at least 2,000
• Ensure that an integrated approach
is adopted with regard to the jobs to towns across the North
Under direct rule, little has been
implementation of cross-cutting within the next 5 years, targeting
done to tackle the legacy of under-
investment in infrastructure, strategies. areas of high unemployment in
healthcare and our schools. In fact, order to secure balanced regional
in many cases the situation has • Reshape the Programme for development (see also Regional
worsened. In the last year Education Government, working with Development section).
and Library Boards have received businesses, trade unions and the
significantly less funding, hurting the voluntary sector on a basis of real • Utilise the leverage of
children whose futures we should be social partnership to agree a five government spending through
investing in. criteria for awarding government
year programme of priorities for
Government for the people of contracts, to achieve equality and
The SDLP has pioneered the
the region. environmental targets as well as
advantages of an all-island approach
to issues such as infrastructure, economic regeneration.
• Reform the role and broaden
economy, health and education. The
recently published National membership of the Strategic Local Government Reform
Development Plan provides further Investment Board to include
detail of the benefits of a co- • Secure a legal requirement for
unions and voluntary sector groups
ordinated approach. The NDP sets power-sharing, ensuring cross
to ensure longer-term, robust
out a major proposed framework for community protection in
decision making.
all-island co-operation with representation and decision
significant Irish Government • Work to ensure that services making.
investment in North/South projects currently dependent on EU funds,
and initiatives for the mutual benefit that reflect the priorities agreed by • Continue to oppose the seven
of all on the island. Many of the council model announced in the
social partners, are in future
initiatives announced in the NDP Review of Public Administration.
reflect policies from our North South supported by new mainstream
recurrent expenditure. The proposed structures will lead to
Makes Sense campaign – a result of
the creation of super-councils that
our intensive lobbying of
• Pool transferable benefits that have an insufficient rates base to
Government Ministers and
Oireachteas committees. have been acquired through civil sustain them. The SDLP will work
service and elected representatives’ to secure a model that ensures
travel and redistribute them to effective local representation, value
For four and a half years the population
charities (e.g. air miles). for money, equality of opportunity
of Northern Ireland has been living in
the limbo of direct rule. This has meant and quality services for rate payers.
Reforming Government
that a new Executive will face many • Reform the delivery of public
immediate challenges such as • Spend less on bureaucracy and services, creating opportunities for
investment in infrastructure and people, more on front line services (roads, local ownership and delivery. For
ensuring sustainable governance and nurses, schools etc.) The SDLP example, councils, voluntary bodies
meeting our commitments on climate has proposals to introduce the or new partnerships could be
change. The SDLP is committed to permanent scrutiny of government invited to bid for central government
securing better services not only for performance in meeting set targets, funds to deliver services locally.
today’s generation but also for future and government spending on
generations. We want to reverse the department’s running costs rather
years of decline by reshaping than on services. The SDLP will
government and rebuilding public strive to improve public
services; investing in a future that accountability, transparency and
we all deserve. efficiency throughout government.
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 11Investing in Public Services Revenue Regulator This independent office would be a
& Infrastructure watchdog against excessive rates
People are rightly aggrieved by the big
increases and other charges being
• Reconfigure the Strategic rates increases imposed in recent years
levied on householders and
Investment Board (see also Social and the impact of water charges to
businesses. It would effectively have
Partnership) to enhance the come.
“stop and search” powers on plans
professional expertise available in
and actions by regional and central
considering funding options for all Ratepayers – both householders and
government that are imposing costs
public-led investment projects. businesses – have cause to worry
on ratepayers. It will have power to
about even more excessive demands investigate and cap not just specific
• Release under-utilised public
being made on them in the future. charges by the Assembly, departments
land and assets and secure the
further release of military bases to • The Treasury will be pressing the or Councils but their cumulative impact
generate economic and social Assembly for higher rates and will on households and businesses.
dividends for the whole community. put the squeeze on reliefs including
the “affordability tariff” introduced In the role of “Payers’ Champion” this
• Establish new ‘not for profit’ models
for water. office would work with the Consumer
for investment in the development of
Council to ensure that people are only
better public services. • The RPA’s purported savings are
asked for a fair contribution for good
unlikely to be realised, the new
• Following the launch of the NDP services. It would also work with the
councils might not get the extra
ensure that a number of all-island Audit Office
resources to match their new
funds are created including:
responsibilities and some councils - to encourage cost restraint
- Strategic Capital Funds to will have much weaker rates bases within local and regional
support infrastructure and all adding up to “Super-Rates Bills” government;
capital spending. Our proposals from the Super-Councils. - to improve transparency and
would require each jurisdiction to
• The Policing Precept is designed to reliability of estimates with rates
contribute to dedicated North-
impose another band of rates on or other revenue implications; and
South funds for part of such
top of everything else. - to ensure justification for any
spending, taking account of
regional imbalance. The funds • Future revaluations could be used revenue demands or other
would be deployed through joint to hugely increase the rates yield charges by regional or local
planning and spending to rather than just redistribute the government.
achieve shared benefits. The existing burden.
funds would be similar to the The SDLP proposes that this office will
Executive Programme Fund, but The SDLP promises to guard against also review the equity and efficacy of
on an island-wide basis. all these factors in the Assembly, the relief measures.
Executive and in Councils. But we
- Services, Community & As an independent office it would
are also offering strong, long-term
Enterprise Funds for prepare reports for the Assembly
protection of ratepayers’ interests in the
programmes and services including one during the budget cycle.
form of a Revenue Regulator.
rather than capital investment In order to give Assembly weight to its
which will help counter the work we envisage the office engaging
decline in European funding. with a dedicated Assembly Committee
• Promote greater co-operation and modelled on the Public Accounts
information exchange between the Committee or, given its close work with
Comptrollers and Auditiors general on the Audit Office, the PAC itself.
the island, with a view to public services
in each jurisdiction given the similarity of
challenges faced in delivering effiency in
services North and South.
12 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressPolicing Precept • Oppose any plans to privatise Rates
the water service;
The SDLP is opposed to the The SDLP has clear concerns about the
introduction of a policing precept • Modernise the water service new rating system and in the Assembly
and would fully expect central and improve water quality; will work to secure:
government to continue to meet its
• Review other options for the status • A fairer system which is based on
obligations to cover the costs of
and structure of the Water ability to pay;
implementing the Patten reforms, which
Service including mutualisation;
are so central to political progress and • Provide relief for students in the
the future stability of Northern Ireland. • Upgrade the sewage system to form of student financial support
The SDLP stress that a key issue in meet EU and modern packages rather than provide relief
the devolution in justice and policing environmental standards; and to landlords;
will be the adequacy of the budget
• Develop a modern and • Lobby for extra finances for the
transfer from the NIO to the
streamlined procurement process support package for older people
Assembly. The Treasury will try to
for all major capital and structural with particular attention to single
short-change Northern Ireland and
maintenance contracts in order to pensioner households;
force the Assembly to levy a heavy
ensure increased accountability and
policing precept on the rates. The • The extension of transitional relief
transparency, providing better value
SDLP has been the most vocal party beyond the three years if the rating
for the public.
against this future risk to ratepayers. system has not been reviewed by
THE SDLP WILL CONTINUE then;
Water
TO OPPOSE SEPARATE WATER
• Disability relief that is not
The failure of other parties to agree has CHARGES AND WILL RESIST
dependent on home adaptations;
allowed direct rulers the opportunity to PRESSURES FOR PRIVATISATION
push through the Treasury agenda of OF THE WATER SERVICE • A revenue regulator to act as a
introducing water charges. The SDLP ‘ratepayer’s champion (see above);
has been consistent in its opposition
• A transparency mechanism to
to new water charges as we already
monitor where savings are being
pay for water through our rates and we
achieved e.g. the Audit Office
should not be forced to pay twice. In
overseeing the Review of Public
the short term we will do what we can
Administration; and
to reverse the damage that this
legislation has caused and the way • Create two high-powered
that this new company has been Assembly committees styled on
established. Such an obligation would the cross-cutting Public Accounts
require the same commitment and Committee. One to challenge
clarity from other parties. In the long departments on the cost of
term the SDLP will mitigate against governmental administrative
privatisation of our Water Service. expenditure and one to focus on
policy delivery and performance.
• Within the next Assembly
scrutinise and review the water
reform process in terms of
fairness, affordability and
sustainability, with a view to
legislating for restoration of the
transparent link between rates and
water, for which the Barnett formula
does not make provision;
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 13Delivering
Quality Healthcare
The Review of Public SDLP Goals: Health Inequalities
Administration is a big Investment
The SDLP acknowledges that our
challenge to Northern Ireland’s
public services and throughout • The SDLP is committed to ensuring health is affected by a series of wider
the review speculation and a well-resourced health service determinants such as environment,
expectation have been high. where money is spent more education and poverty.
This provides an opportunity efficiently and effectively.
• Improve the health of those worst-
to reshape Northern Ireland’s • Dedicate additional resources into off in society by widening access
public services in the best prevention and treatment of cancer, to services in schools, workplaces
interests of the patient.
heart disease, stroke and and the community.
respiratory disease, among
We must ensure that the 5 • Co-ordinate approaches from
the largest causes of mortality
Health Trusts relate effectively the Department of Health Social
in Northern Ireland.
to the relevant council areas Services & Public Safety and the
and we must ensure that all Office of First Minister & Deputy
Review of Public
service users have equal First Minister and other relevant
Administration
access to their appropriate departments to ensure action on
trust. It is evident that mixing • Use the RPA to cut bureaucracy anti-poverty measures that will
public and private health care and ensure that all savings are help reduce health inequalities.
undermines the National Health directed to front line services and
Service. Everyone has a right to • Support community development
tackling waiting lists.
the best health care under the approaches and professional
National Health Service. While Waiting Lists networks involving people working
people have the right to choose in nursing, environmental health and
private health care we must • Priority must be given to cutting health promotion north and south of
ensure that it is not at the waiting lists. We need firm limits the border that will meet local
expense of the NHS. for waiting times in every speciality health needs, improve people’s
with investment in diagnostic health and tackle health inequalities.
The SDLP is committed to a well- equipment and staff.
resourced National Health Service, Primary Care
with excellent and efficient healthcare,
Health Promotion
• Over 90% of the care we receive is
delivered free at the point of need • The SDLP views a positive health delivered at primary level in the
without reference to ability to pay. agenda as key to reducing demand community through GPs and other
It is imperative that the RPA delivers on our health service. We need to allied professionals. The SDLP will
organisational change that will improve tackle challenging lifestyles by work to secure a well-resourced
the quality and speed of patients’ care. encouraging people to adopt primary care-led service delivered
The benefits of better organisation in healthier lifestyle choices e.g. stop through real partnership between
our hospitals could be seen most smoking, reduce alcohol GPs and other health workers in
clearly in more available beds, more consumption, eat a better diet and order to reduce demands on acute
efficient A&E departments and more exercise more. We support groups like services.
appropriate staff in frontline services. the Healthy Living Centres who are
getting this message through to hard
Within an island of 6 million people it to reach groups in the community.
makes sense to share expertise and
equipment. The SDLP is committed to
improved cross border arrangements
regarding acute hospitals and GP out
of hours services.
14 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressHospitals Access to Services Mental Health
• Co-ordinated strategy that will • Principles of equality and rural The SDLP believes that good mental
enable hospital staff and other proofing must be adhered to so health is imperative to an individual’s
health care workers to work in an local hospitals across the North will general well being.
environment free from fear of deliver consistently high quality
• Provide the necessary funds
attack. health care. In all rural areas it is
to implement in full the
essential to have the retention of
• Recruit and retain staff as required recommendations of the Bamford
the ability to assess trauma
and encourage modern, flexible Review of Mental Health and
patients and stabilise them before
work practices that will keep Learning Disabilities and the
they are safely transported to the
personnel working in the NHS. Suicide Prevention Strategy,
trauma centre.
addressing the chronic lack of child
• Provide additional care packages,
• Given the poor road infrastructure in and adult mental health services as
step down care and the expansion
some rural areas it is vital to have a a matter of urgency
of rehabilitation services to ensure
fully resourced ambulance service
that people regain their • Advance island wide co-operation
with adequate paramedic and
independence after a hospital stay. in mental health services
technician provision.
providing better services for adult
• Better management and simple
• Ensure the delivery of services for and child psychiatry.
changes in working practice to
at risk, hard to reach and isolated
ensure major improvements in bed • Develop an all-Ireland approach,
groups and communities e.g. the
availability by tackling inappropriate which would include an all Ireland
delivery of tailored men’s health
admissions, and poor anticipation of Forum on Mental Health, to
programmes. Primary care services
need e.g. in a winter crisis. suicide prevention, co-ordinating
are especially important in rural
approaches and resources to
areas from the GP service to the
reduce the alarming number of
community groups e.g. NI Rural
Healthcare Acquired Infection suicides on the island.
Women’s Network.
It is totally unacceptable that vulnerable
• Ensure that local needs are Nursing and Personal Care for
ill people go into hospital with the hope
addressed while providing Older People
of getting better, but pick up a
consistently high quality care.
preventable infectious disease that
It is unacceptable that certain Older people should receive high
contributes to further ill health.
treatments and clinical drugs are quality health care and support which
• Improve basic hygiene and available in some trust areas and should be free at the point of use.
cleaning standards which will be not in others.
• During devolution the SDLP
constantly monitored.
• Wider access to National Health secured funds to introduce free
• Provide highly visible hand Service dentistry in all areas and nursing care; the SDLP continues
washing facilities on hospital increased training places for dental to support the Royal Commission
wards for patients, staff and visitors. hygienists and nurses as well as an proposals on free personal care
improved working environment for and will continue to work towards
• Integrate hygiene and cleaning
dental care staff in the NHS. this goal.
services back into hospital
management and explore new
ways of fighting healthcare-acquired
infection such as MRSA.
• Even though the occupancy bed ‘The SDLP is committed to a well-resourced
turnover is increasing rapidly there
needs to be strict adherence to
National Health Service, with excellent and efficient
hygiene standards. healthcare, delivered free at the point of need.’
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 15Access to Clinically Disability
Effective Drugs
• Provide a co-ordinated cross
• Work to ensure access to departmental approach so that
clinically effective drugs (when people with physical and mental
appropriate) that enhance quality of health issues have all the resources
life, particularly in relation to they require to lead a full and
conditions such as Alzheimer’s satisfying life.
disease, Arthritis and Multiple
Sclerosis. Autism
• Develop a strategy for these The SDLP believes that early
conditions so people with these intervention and early diagnosis is key
illnesses can identify the key in dealing with this developmental
elements that they should be able to disability.
expect from their health service.
• Ensure that a comprehensive
cross-departmental strategy is
Valuing Carers
implemented to secure the security
• Increased support for carers with and human rights of people with
greater access to advocacy and autism.
information services
Tackling Drug and
• Access to suitable respite
Alcohol Addiction
provision for the individual being
cared for. Increasing usage of alcohol and drug
addiction cause major problems for our
• Provision of services that promote
society.
good health and reduce the
negative impact of caring on carers’ • Secure additional resources for
health. the implementation of the Drug and
Alcohol strategies and adequately
resource public awareness
campaigns on binge drinking.
16 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressDelivering Quality
Education for All
The present time is one of SDLP Goals: Acknowledging Special Needs
uncertainty in which politics
Education Reform • Ensure effective implementation
and political bargaining are
of the Special Educational Needs
threatening to take priority over • Implement the findings of the
our children’s future. The SDLP Order to enable children with a
Costello Report affording all
supports positive education disability to attend mainstream
children the right to unrestrained
reforms but will protect schools secondary, primary and pre-schools
access to wide ranging education
and communities from arbitrary if desired.
and not be stigmatised by early
school closures. The education experiences of rejection. • Oppose cuts in education
system is under immense spending that would see a
pressure with declining pupil • Invest in educational reforms that
reduction in funding for SEN
numbers and post primary will develop well-balanced and
services rather than an increase as
arrangements. highly skilled citizens of the future.
experienced in England and Wales.
• Ensure the end of academic The bureaucracy involved in
The SDLP views a high quality
selection by opposing efforts to securing SEN should be cut, not
education as a human right.
use new pupil profiles and the funding of services.
Schools should be allowed to
Computer Adaptive Testing as
retain their ethos, whether that • Support the development of
academic selection by the back
be state, integrated or faith- increased teacher-training and
door and ensure profiles are
based and the SDLP supports classroom support in mainstream
the right of parents to choose designed to achieve their objective
schools to ensure that the
what environment their child is to help parents make an informed
enrolment of children with a
educated within. decision about their child’s
disability works in the interests of
educational future.
child, teacher and other pupils.
We want to deliver an agenda for • Develop all-ability, co-educational
progress which is transparent and • Support the introduction of an
school system based on the
gives confidence to parents and Autism Act for Northern Ireland
availability of a common curriculum
to help ensure that children with
teachers about the shape of the and a wide spectrum of choice suited
autism spectrum disorders receive
post-primary education system. to each pupil’s particular needs.
the services they need throughout
We brought this debate to the heart
• Replace A-Levels with a broader life. Also, advance the opening of
of Westminster.
Post-16 curriculum that would the Centre of Excellence for Autism
offer all young people wider career at Middletown in County Armagh.
The SDLP has a proven track record
options and life pathway choices.
on education. Our engagement with • Invest in improved services for
teachers unions and parents • Develop an agreed future young adults with learning
associations has given voice to those Sustainable Schools’ Policy disabilities (post 19), to connect
most informed about the pressures through collaboration between the health and employment with
and potential for progress in today’s Minister for Education and training provision and making better
education system. education providers, which serves use of existing facilities.
the community and upholds
parental choice with attention to the
Bain Independent Strategic Review
of Education.
• Invest in a safe and comprehensive
school transport system that will
provide for equal rights to ‘home to
school transport’ for all pupils
particularly those in rural areas.
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 17Investing in Early Years • Ensure the effective implementation Supporting the profession,
& Primary Education of a schools’ policy to support managing change
ethnic-minority children who have
• Invest in and develop integrated • Invest in support for teachers,
English as an additional language to
early years care for 0-6 year olds prioritising health and well-being
ensure that all children reach their
incorporating the complete range of issues for our teaching
full developmental potential.
services including breakfast clubs, professionals through effective
educational provision, child care implementation of the Curran
Irish Medium Education
and after school clubs, 2 years Report Part II proposals for
funded pre-school access for those • Build on commitments in the Good improved working conditions.
who need it and investment in Friday Agreement to Irish Medium
• Secure fair pay for teaching
Children’s Centres as a means of (IM) Education through the
professionals by restoring pay
tackling child poverty and establishment of a 10 year
parity with England and Wales and
disadvantage. development fund.
seek the inclusion of Northern
• Implement the Foundation Stage • Increase funding for the Comhairle Ireland in the terms of the legislation
Primary Curriculum and the Play na Gaelscolaíochta to support protecting teachers in cases of false
Policy for Northern Ireland parents to develop IM Education allegations.
alongside a strategy to create through preschool, primary and
• Increase funding to colleges in the
physical environments for young post-primary education.
North to teach and examine the
children which meets their
• Ensure oversight and delivery of the Irish language teaching qualification
developmental needs.
10 year plan to establish a network to remove barriers to the
• Invest in the training, registration of Irish Medium post-primary movement of teachers between
and professional development of provision in key locations initiative the North and the South of Ireland.
the workforce dealing with early by the establishment of an IM
• Develop a cross-border General
years provision through the delivery satellite of Coláste Feirste in
Teaching Council to develop a
of a Transformation Fund Cookstown.
coherent approach to teacher
emphasising recruitment and
qualifications, superannuation
working conditions so as to Citizenship
entitlements and the movement of
overcome low levels of pay. • Support the Young Enterprise trained professionals between
• Develop an effective literacy Fund designed to strengthen links jurisdictions.
strategy through promotion of a between schools and businesses to
• Ensure that change is managed in
structured language framework work with schools in devising an
partnership with teachers, parents
based on the model describing active citizenship programme that
and governors, supported by the
knowledge, understandings and will complement the citizenship
development of a North-South
skills appropriate at each year curriculum.
Consortium to deliver a coherent
from Primary 1 to Year 10. • Build on the success of existing and integrated approach to School,
• Promote plans to explore the schemes, to promote an awareness Youth and Teacher exchanges.
possibility of introducing modern of social responsibility,
languages at primary school and participation and the beneficial
devise a coherent language strategy use of leisure time among young
to prepare our children for full people.
participation in a global economy • Include personal budgeting,
of the future. financial awareness & consumer
rights within the citizenship
agenda.
18 Let’s Deliver Real ProgressDelivering Economic
Growth & Jobs
The island of Ireland must SDLP Goals: • Extend the brief of InterTradeIreland
recognise and react to the to include the development of
Economy
challenges presented by overseas investment opportunities.
globalisation. In the North there • Continue to press for a single all- InterTradeIreland has successfully
has been a legacy of Ireland corporation tax regime at pioneered innovative programmes
underinvestment in our 12.5%. such as Fusion and Expertise Ireland
infrastructure and we have which have created trade and
become too reliant on the public • Place a cap on industrial rates
with a menu of reliefs or business development networks
sector. It is imperative that the
exemptions to take into account across the island. InterTradeIreland
Assembly address the direct
areas of high unemployment. together with Invest Northern Ireland
rule era of neglect and develop
and the IDA, should develop a
local solutions that will attract • Establish targets for economic common strategy to attract
foreign direct investment, growth, job creation and all-
promote private sector growth investment from overseas,
Ireland business co-operation promoting the island as a whole and
and value the work of small to
and resource a proper strategy to working with individual companies to
medium sized businesses.
achieve this. tailor specific packages to help them
• Establish an all-Ireland economic take advantage of separate and
The Comprehensive Study on an all-
policy unit under the auspices of shared strengths of the different
Island economy and the National
the North-South Ministerial Council. regimes North and South.
Development Plan demonstrate how
North-South collaboration can produce • Develop a North-South strategy to • Establish a Cross-Border
benefits for all people on the Island of maximise overseas investment. Economic Development Zone to
Ireland. The SDLP has embraced this promote development in the Border,
vision and has developed policies that • Create a new “Enterprise Growth Midland and Western Region and
will enhance the competitiveness and Fund” comprising a loan fund and the western counties of Northern
growth of economies North and South. equity fund to work together to Ireland.
The NDP offers unprecedented increase the number of business
start ups, promote social economy • Work with Enterprise Agencies with
opportunities in terms of co-operation
enterprises and also to enhance the a view to increasing measures to
on infrastructure improvements,
all-island business co-operation enable those from low income
research & development and innovation
model. backgrounds with sound business
“these projects and initiatives will
benefit the entire island of Ireland • Implement IBEC-CBI Joint Business proposals to become self
…they will benefit the entire community Council’s 20 key actions for employed (see also Employment
in Northern Ireland on the basis of economic co-operation and & Learning).
sound economic principles and international business.
equality” 2. The SDLP will work to
create the political stability that is
required to make Northern Ireland an
attractive place to invest in.
“SDLP economic plan may cure
North's malaise. The document's
range of vision is unprecedented.”
Marc Coleman, Economics Editor, Irish
Times, 13 February 2006, following the
launch of ‘North South Makes Sense’
2 National Development Plan 2007-2013 Transforming
Ireland a Better Quality of Life for All
SDLP Manifesto Assembly Elections 2007 19You can also read
