Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday repeated his call for a tightening of the bail laws, but distanced himself from controversial views expressed by his party's candidate in Dublin North West, Dr Bill Tormey.
Launching the second phase of the Fine Gael billboard campaign "Ireland Deserves Better", Mr Kenny said Dr Tormey's views were his own, as a medical expert, but they were not party policy.
On RTÉ's Late Late Show on Friday, Dr Tormey backed calls for the legalisation of drugs and mandatory HIV testing for people entering Ireland from sub-Saharan Africa, including missionaries.
While dissociating himself from Dr Tormey's views, Mr Kenny defended the new party policy on crime, including the tagging of people on bail, which he outlined in his ardfheis speech last weekend.
"I, and my party, are determined to make the criminal pay for their crime - at the moment there is a diminishing prospect of him even being caught, never mind being punished," he said.
"I have also outlined plans that will end the scandal of patients on trolleys in A&Es. Finally, I am committed to making ministers more responsible for the taxpayers' money they have under their control. Ministers in my cabinet that are reckless with the public's money will be sacked," he added.
Mr Kenny added that these were the messages on which the latest party billboard campaign was being built. A series of public meetings at which the party leader will be the main speaker are planned as part of the campaign.
"Through this type of mix of activity I am convinced that Fine Gael's approach to tackling the problems that affect Irish people on a day-to-day basis will prove persuasive and secure the type of support needed to put our party, with Labour, in a position to replace this tired Government with a better alternative," he said.