Economic Justice, Jobs & Enterprise | Ceartas Eacnamaíoch, Poist & Fiontar:
Workers’ Rights:
Aontú is committed to justice in the workplace and the rights of all workers on the island of Ireland to get fair pay for fair work to allow fair living conditions. We affirm the dignity of work and the right of workers to equitable pay and working environment.
We seek to:
End and prohibit exploitive Zero-Hour contracts.
End the practice of bogus ‘self-employment’ to avoid employer Tax/NIC obligations.
Establish the right to Collective Bargaining.
Accommodate and further remote working where feasible.
Establish a right to a sustainable income throughout retirement.
Ensure the minimum wage is reflective of the living wage.
Introduce penalties for employers who sack domestic employees, to be replaced with workers from abroad working for slave wages, to prevent exploitation.
Tax Harmonisation:
In addition to devolution of fiscal powers from London to Ireland, we also need to see harmonisation of taxation across the island of Ireland. There cannot continue to be significant disparities in the levels of taxation depending on where you live. Corporations pay different levels of Corporation Tax dependent on whether they are in Belfast or Dublin. Excise Duties/Carbon Tax is applied to Solid Fuels in the South, whilst no Excise Duties/Carbon Tax and reduced VAT is applied to Solid Fuels in the North – leading to cross-border price differentials. It is time to converge our systems of taxation to harmonise the playing field both North and South.
Boosting All-Ireland Trade:
In 2021, €4 billion was exported from the North into the South whilst exports from the South to the North were worth €3.7 billion. 65% increase in all island trade, with €7.7 billion in goods being traded within the 32 counties is just the tip of the iceberg, and affirmation that a cohesive economy from Derry to Kerry is the path towards a united Ireland. An all-Ireland economy is the key to unleashing the full economical potential of this island. The building of the all-Ireland Economy must begin now.
Economic Sovereignty:
Aontú is the party of Irish political and economic sovereignty. We believe Ireland’s success in attracting FDI from both inside and outside of the EU benefits the island as a whole. Also, compared with the dominant EU states and Britain, Ireland has a small population. When decisions are made in London, Brussels and Berlin they are not made purely in Ireland’s interest. It is imperative, therefore, that we retain our limited policy instruments in the interests of our country. Aontú will defend Ireland’s right to determine economic and tax policy 100%.
Border Development Zone
The border runs for a total of 499 kilometres from Lough Foyle in Donegal to Carlingford Lough in County Louth. The creation of the Border had the effect of cutting off hinterlands from their market towns and cities and creating two separate economic jurisdictions where originally there was one. This region is also most affected by the Troubles and Brexit.
