People Before Profit: We Need a Left Government
The capitalist system places the profits of the few before the needs of the many. Some parties defend this profit system openly, while others wish to reform and regulate it. However, as James Connolly said “The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system; it must go.”
That’s why we fight for a left government with socialist policies; one willing to stand up to the corporate landlords and the billionaires, and take the wealth of the few to meet the needs of the many. We need free and high-quality public services without church control. We would establish an All-Ireland National Health Service and remove all costs for education and childcare. We need a State Construction Company to build the tens of thousands social houses to solve the housing crisis.
Some will say this is not possible, that we “cannot afford” such public services. This is a lie, told by those who are simply unwilling to tax the rich through a millionaires tax, raise corporation tax and tax the very high earners.
Too often so-called ‘progressive’ parties have limited their horizon to what could be agreed in coalition with right-wing parties, north and south. We reject that trap, and fight for a genuinely left government which mobilises the power of working people to build a socialist future. That's why we have given a firm commitment never to go into government with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.
Ecosocialism
The drive for profit is destroying our planet. We stand for radical action to achieve zero emissions by 2030 while improving people’s quality of life. Taxes and charges on ordinary people is not the solution, we need system change to end fossil-fuelled capitalism.
We need free and frequent public transport and improved infrastructure for cycling and walking; massive investment in retrofitting to cut emissions and reduce energy costs; a ban on data centres; end the for-profit mandate of the ESB and take the energy system into public ownership to drive the transition to renewables; reduce cattle numbers and introduce a farming for biodiversity payment for small farmers.
For Workers' Rights
People Before Profit is a socialist party which believes workers have the capacity to fundamentally change society so that it is run in the interest of the many.
We want a Living Wage and an end to discrimination against young workers and apprentices. We would abolish the gender pay gap and introduce sick pay to cover 100% of earnings when workers are sick.
People Before Profit members are active in their unions, organising rank-and-file movements to ensure workers have a voice and that unions fight for their rights. We support the right to be in a union and have pushed for a guaranteed right to collective bargaining. We oppose the restrictions, such as the 1990 Industrial Relations Act in the South, on the right to take effective strike action, and fight for real democracy at work.
Against All Forms of Oppression
We oppose all forms of oppression whether based on race, gender or sexual orientation.
People Before Profit stands for a radical improvement in the lives of women, men, and non-binary people. We are proud to fight for a society free from sexism, racism, misogyny, and exploitation. Ireland will not be liberated until women, trans and non-binary people are fully liberated, fully supported, and fully included.
People Before Profit members have also been centrally involved in the fight for full reproductive justice and the fight to eradicate gender-based violence. We demand free, accessible, GP-led trans healthcare, based on informed consent.
We also fight for the rights of people with disabilities and believe resources should be allocated to allow them to fully participate in society. We have been to the fore in fighting for a cost of disability payment.
No To Racism and the Far Right
People Before Profit has stood firm against racism and the growth of the Far Right. Rather than hate and division we work to unite all workers to fight oppression and exploitation.
We stand against discrimination and racism against Travellers and call for the full formal recognition of Traveller ethnicity.
We welcome refugees and migrants. Refugees and migrants did not cause the housing crisis. The blame lies with the government and their developer friends. We want to end the system of direct provision and would grant refugees the right to work.
People Before Profit wants to build a mass anti-racist movement and also oppose the Far Right when they mobilise on the streets to intimidate people of colour and migrants.
Against Imperialism and War: Defend Irish Neutrality
The world is an increasingly unstable and dangerous place due to imperialist rivalry, mainly between the US and China. Across the globe there is a drive to militarise and spend more and more money on arms.
We oppose the current practice of our government kowtowing to US imperialism and cheerleading European militarisation. We defend Irish neutrality and the maintenance of the Triple Lock. We want to end the use of Shannon by the US military. For us, neutrality is not just about staying out of NATO. It should be a positive policy to promote peace and oppose all military interventions.
We stand with the people of Palestine against the horrors of the genocide in Gaza. We want to see full sanctions against Israel.
We oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine but reject all attempts to turn the conflict on to a proxy way between NATO and Russia and its allies.
For A Socialist United Ireland
People Before Profit opposes partition. As James Connolly predicted, it has led to a “Carnival of Reaction”. Loyalist domination in the North was mirrored by a Catholic Church-dominated state in the South. Partition divided workers in the interests of conservative forces North and South.
In order to achieve a United Ireland we need to offer a radical vision for a new socialist Ireland. It's not just a matter of bolting the six counties onto the twenty-six with its high levels of homelessness, long hospital waiting lists and church-dominated schools. A united Ireland will come about only if we can promise all working people a better life.
We are for a border poll to end partition but also a constituent assembly to found a Socialist United Ireland.
Making Change Through People Power
People Before Profit wants to build movements of people power to truly change society. It's through the power of collective action in the workplaces and communities that real change can be delivered. Our members have played central roles in building movements to Repeal the Eighth, to defeat water charges and stand up against sectarianism and racism North and South.
While we run in elections and campaign hard to get our candidates elected we do this as part of a wider strategy to build people power. Our TDs, MLAs and councillors use their positions to highlight the issues facing working people and to build campaigns for real change. They only take the average worker's wage and use the rest of their salary to build campaigns locally and nationally.
People Before Profit is run and controlled by its members. Our members and branches are the backbone of the party. That means everyone has a role to play. Membership of People Before Profit will put you at the centre of the fight for change. Joining will allow you to help shape and lead the party we need for the future.
If you have any queries about joining or any of our policies, please email info@peoplebeforeprofit.ie