IN A tax package largely in line with the Fine Gael and Labour manifestos, Democratic Left has pledged itself to tax cuts of £1.5 billion over five years and has warned that evaders will end up in prison.
Doubling child allowance over the lifetime of a new government, introducing a carers' benefit based on PRSI contributions, and a 100 per cent increase in the income thresholds at which pensioners qualify for a medical card are among the provisions promised in the manifesto.
An assault on unemployment and a high level of investment in economic development are also included. More Garda accountability, tackling violence against women and a clampdown on drug smugglers and organisers of the drugs trade feature strongly. An additional 800 prison spaces will also be provided.
Unveiling the well flagged contents of his party's plan yesterday, Mr Proinsias De Rossa claimed that, if returned to office, his party "will be a guarantor that the social priorities are addressed urgently".
"I believe that Democratic Left has shown that a small, radical party can make a critical input to government policy, can deliver on its undertakings to the electorate and can represent the interests of people who have not traditionally enjoyed an advocate at the government table - people on low incomes, whether working or unemployed, and the socially excluded."
As with their Rainbow partners, Democratic Left's proposals on tax reduction focus on low and middle income earners and include a specific commitment that nobody will pay tax on the first £107 per week. The party insists that, while the lower paid will benefit most, all taxpayers will benefit from the changes.
At present, a single person on average industrial earnings pays 27 per cent of his or her income in tax, PRSI and levies. A married person pays 20 per cent if the other spouse is at home. Democratic Left says it will reduce these figures to 20 per cent for single persons and 14 per cent for one earner married couples.
Increasing taxfree allowances, widening the standard rate band and adjusting exemption limits, levies and PRSI allowances are identified as the means of achieving targets. The party suggests reductions in the standard rate "if possible".
Specifically, the party proposes to "dramatically" increase the personal taxfree allowances so that people "on very low incomes are freed of all tax, PRSI and levies. The proportion of gross pay for a single person on average earnings will rise, after statutory deductions, from 73 per cent to 78 per cent. The corresponding improvement for married people will be from 80 per cent to 86 per cent.
According to Mr De Rossa, child benefit is a fairer way of assisting with childcare costs.
Warning that there will be "no tolerance" for big tax evaders, Democratic Left insists that jail sentences will be handed down for breaches of this law.
Claiming that the party led the most sustained attack on drugs ever, the Minister of State, Mr Pat Rabbitte, accused the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, of not "lifting a finger" to fight the problem in his own constituency of Dublin Central.
On abortion, Mr De Rossa said there should not be another referendum. There had been four abortion related referendums since 1983.
People wanted the X Case judgment to stand and legislation would have to be put in place so that the Supreme Court decision could be implemented.
It was "extraordinary" that the same people who opposed sex education also wanted abortion banned and criticised help for lone parents who kept their babies.