Short answer: A party manifesto is a party's published set of election proposals and priorities. It differs from a programme for government, which is an agreement between parties forming a Government, and from an election leaflet, which is usually campaign material aimed at a voter or area. None of these documents is legislation by itself.
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Key takeaways
A manifesto states a party's election platform and priorities.
A programme for government is a negotiated agreement between governing parties.
An election leaflet may summarise claims but is not a complete policy document.
Use bills, budgets and official records to check what happened after an election.
What is a manifesto?
A manifesto is a document in which a political party presents the policies and priorities it is asking voters to support at an election. It may cover many subjects and can include broad aims, specific commitments and costed or uncosted proposals.
It is a statement by the party, not a law or a guarantee that every proposal will happen. Check its date and the election for which it was published before comparing it with later events.
What is a programme for government?
A programme for government is normally negotiated by parties that intend to form a Government. It sets out a shared basis for governing and can differ from each party's separate manifesto because it reflects agreement and compromise.
The document does not replace the constitutional and parliamentary steps needed for budgets, legislation and other decisions. Its proposals still need to move through the relevant processes.
What is an election leaflet?
An election leaflet is campaign communication, often aimed at a constituency, local issue or particular group of voters. It can tell you what a candidate or party chose to emphasise, but it may be selective and is rarely a complete account of a party's policy.
Where a leaflet makes a factual claim, look for the cited source and date. For a party's fuller stated position, consult its published manifesto or policy material.
How should I check delivery?
After an election, follow the relevant bill, budget, departmental publication, programme and parliamentary debate. A promise, a Government announcement, a bill and an enacted rule are different kinds of evidence.
Keeping those records separate makes it possible to assess a claim fairly without treating campaign language as proof of a completed outcome.
A party manifesto is a party's published set of election proposals and priorities. It differs from a programme for government, which is an agreement between parties forming a Government, and from an election leaflet, which is usually campaign material aimed at a voter or area. None of these documents is legislation by itself.
A manifesto is a document in which a political party presents the policies and priorities it is asking voters to support at an election. It may cover many subjects and can include broad aims, specific commitments and costed or uncosted proposals.
A programme for government is normally negotiated by parties that intend to form a Government. It sets out a shared basis for governing and can differ from each party's separate manifesto because it reflects agreement and compromise.
An election leaflet is campaign communication, often aimed at a constituency, local issue or particular group of voters. It can tell you what a candidate or party chose to emphasise, but it may be selective and is rarely a complete account of a party's policy.
After an election, follow the relevant bill, budget, departmental publication, programme and parliamentary debate. A promise, a Government announcement, a bill and an enacted rule are different kinds of evidence.
Follow what happens after the promise
DáilDex links parliamentary activity to the official records behind policy claims.