FF rally:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has described Enda Kenny's so-called contract with the Irish people as "a fraud". He told a Fianna Fáil election rally attended by candidates and supporters that they had just four days left to expose it.
Mr Ahern also launched his strongest attack yet on the media since the election was called,claiming there was a "personally motivated campaign" against him.
Speaking at the rally in Dublin, Mr Ahern said a rainbow government would bring uncertainty, and take the country back to the bad old days. "Going back to the foundation of the State, rainbow governments have always been consistent. Consistently bad for the Irish people," he told about 200 party workers and candidates at its election headquarters.
"The problem with Enda Kenny's contract is not only the promises in it, but what he leaves out as well. No mention of pensions, of schools, of transport. Not a word about farmers, or the peace process. And nowhere do we even see the word 'jobs'," Mr Ahern said.
"Let me put it to you simply and let me put it to you straight: Enda Kenny's contract with Ireland is a fraud. It isn't worth the billboard it is written on. It's nothing but soundbite politics, said to win an election, empty promises that don't stand up to the light of day."
He added: "The time has come to tell Enda Kenny that Ireland won't be fooled by promises on posters. We need a government that will build on prosperity, not turn our back on it."
Earlier, in an interview on RTÉ Radio 1's This Week, Mr Ahern accused some elements of the media of being hostile and said the publication of confidential tribunal material was "abysmal".
Mr Ahern said people were "quite hostile" against his Ministers at press conferences and didn't want to talk about jobs and health. He strongly rejected a suggestion that he was invisible and seemed out of kilter early in the campaign. "Quite frankly I've been around long enough to know how things happen. The media in 2003 felt at the end of it that they were too easy on us. The media in 2007 decided no matter what we said they were coming out with a line. No matter what Fianna Fáil said they were coming out with rocks at us. You could see if at the press conferences."
Mr Ahern said details given confidentially to the Mahon tribunal had been circulated. "It has just been abysmally and appallingly dealt with by some people," he added. He said he would return to these issues on another day "and I will have lots to say".
On Fianna Fáil's record in government, Mr Ahern told the election rally that in just 10 years Ireland had moved from unemployment and under-investment to sustained economic growth.
"We have stopped the tide of emigration that was carrying Ireland's future to foreign shores. And, through hard work and perseverance, we have achieved the dream of peace in our time. Our record in government is second to none."