A spat over public service pay broke out between the two main parties in the middle of the election campaign when Fine Gael pledged average annual pay increases of 2.5% in the four years following 2020, while accusing Fianna Fáil of planning a pay freeze.

Four parties – Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, the Greens and Social Democrats – give unequivocal support to the full implementation of Sláintecare in their 2020 election offers. Fianna Fáil and Labour give partial support, while Solidarity/PBP give no clear support for the policy.

The Labour Party, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have expressed their support for a new funding model for ‘Section 39’ agencies, under which community and voluntary sector organisations are funded to deliver care and other services by the HSE.

Fórsa has reached an agreement with the HSE on the introduction of an ‘assessment of need protocol,’ which outlines how children’s needs will be assessed under the terms of the Disability Act (2005).

Fórsa is to ballot members in a number of ‘section 39’ service providers, with a view holding a one-day strike on 21st February.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) recently launched its feminist manifesto for Ireland as part of an effort to make women’s equality a key feature the election. Party leaders were invited to answer four questions, and there were some interesting results.

As the general election campaign entered its second week, most political parties were caught off-guard by the emergence of the pension age as an election issue. Currently the age at which workers can claim the state pension is 66. It’s due to rise to 67 in 2021, and to 68 in 2028.