What happened yesterday.
Fianna Fáil
At a party briefing on health, Bertie Ahern voiced support for a proposal to appoint an international expert to arbitrate on nurses' claims for a 35-hour week.
The Taoiseach adopted a conciliatory note towards nursing unions, saying the nurses' proposals for changes in work practices had "great potential in my view in delivering important benefits for patients".
"I believe we should respond enthusiastically to the potential and recognise the leadership the nurses are showing in transforming the way that care is delivered."
Fine Gael
Enda Kenny campaigned in counties Kerry and Cork.
Mr Kenny said he had felt "the pulse of the nation" during his nationwide tour and the mood of the people was for change.
"They want this to be a referendum on the failure of this Government to deliver on health and public services and they're going to vote them out."
Labour
The party held a briefing on the problems young couples face in finding a home of their own.
Party leader Pat Rabbitte said interest rate increases had turned getting on the property ladder, from "a difficult task into one that is close to impossible".
"While it was once a reasonable aspiration for families on relatively modest incomes to own a home of their own, couples with what were once regarded as good salaries are now finding that basic homes are simply beyond their means or located so far from their places of work as to turn commuting into a nightmare."
Progressive Democrats
Transport spokesman Tom Morrissey said Dublin Bus had abandoned commuters who need transport between their homes and railway stations.
He promised to provide a free shuttle bus pilot scheme to transport commuters between Lusk village and Lusk railway station (in his Dublin North constituency) for the next two weeks.
"I want to use Lusk as a template to show how life could be improved for commuters if Dublin Bus took its responsibilities seriously."
Green Party
The Greens promised to improve quality of life for older people if elected.
Health spokesman John Gormley said older members of society had not benefited from the economic development they helped to create.
"High rates of relative poverty among older people will worsen as the population ages unless key steps are taken to address their income and housing inadequacy."
Sinn Féin
Education spokesman Seán Crowe said the party would oppose any State subvention for fee-paying schools if in Government.
Mr Crowe said parents were entitled to opt for private fee-paying schools if they wished, but the taxpayer should not be asked to provide any subsidy.
"Current Government policy has entrenched educational inequalities. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are still hugely under-represented at third-level," he said.
Socialist Party
The party launched its general election manifesto which commits to "a massive State building programme to develop quality social housing for all who need it, to buy or to rent".
Joe Higgins ruled out going into coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and said the Socialist Party would work in opposition to fight for workers' rights and improved public services.
"Can anybody tell the difference between any of the main parties in the Dáil now? No, they have all merged into one big grey blob."
What's happening today
Fianna Fáil:Mary Hanafin and party candidates from Dublin coastal constituencies will launch a plan for the future of Dublin Bay.
Fine Gael:Enda Kenny will campaign in Cork and hold a press conference on crime
Labour:Party leader Pat Rabbitte will issue a statement in Drogheda on Labour's plans "to ensure proper completion of housing estates and to control the activities of property management companies".
Progressive Democrats:Dublin South Central candidate Frank McNamara will launch the party's arts and culture policy
Green Party:Health spokesman John Gormley will present a position paper on asthma and allergies.
Sinn Féin:Party president Gerry Adams, and the North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will be in Dublin to mark the anniversary of the execution of James Connolly.
• In the first of a series of question and answer sessions with party leaders Green Party leader Trevor Sargent answered reader's questions on the ireland.com election website yesterday. You can read his answers at: www.ireland.com.
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