A summary of events on the general election trail yesterday.
Fianna Fáil
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern canvassed voters in Blanchardstown shopping centre in west Dublin, as the focus of the campaign returned to the issue of his personal finances.
He stopped to speak to journalists, telling them he had no doubt there was an orchestrated campaign to damage him and Fianna Fáil. Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea weighed in with a call on Fine Gael to prove it was not behind the leaking of documentation designed to damage Mr Ahern. "The Taoiseach has gone to extraordinary lengths to answer questions about his private affairs; the same standard should apply to others."
Fine Gael
Measures to tackle crime and provide increased support for its victims were on top of party leader Enda Kenny's agenda.
Canvassing in Templemore, Co Tipperary, he reiterated Fine Gael's pledge to have an extra 2,000 trained gardaí on the streets by 2012. Earlier in the weekend he announced a Fine Gael proposal to a establish a victims' rights charter if elected to government. "It's appalling that in this day and age, our system puts criminals ahead of victims - we'll change that and put the rights of victims before criminals."
Labour
Dubliners could be enjoying bus fares of just €1 per trip within months, if Labour become part of the next government, party leader Pat Rabbitte said yesterday.
He told reporters the flat fee for journeys within a 25-mile radius of the city centre could be financed by government through savings in the estimated €2 billion loss that the State is suffering each year due to traffic congestion.
Progressive Democrats
A plan for the greater Dublin area, including direct elections for the office of lord mayor, was announced by the party at a press conference in the capital.
The plan includes proposals for improved public transport, better road infrastructure and a revitalised city centre.
Party leader and Tánaiste Michael McDowell said the PDs understood the strategic importance of a thriving capital city to the success of Ireland as a whole.
Green Party
The party warned that its participation in a coalition government should "not be assumed" unless other parties were willing to adopt some key Green policies such as radical changes to the current decentralisation programme.
Finance spokesman Dan Boyle said the Greens were totally opposed to the current decentralisation programme, as it was merely a plan to relocate offices.
Sinn Féin
Dublin South East candidate Cllr Daithí Doolan called on the Government to "come clean" on allegations that ambulance services in Dublin are to be privatised.
What's happening today
Fianna Fáil:Brian Cowen, Noel Dempsey and Séamus Brennan will hold a briefing on the economy.
Fine Gael:Proposed measures to assist families will be outlined by Brian Hayes, Olwyn Enright and David Stanton.
Labour:Liz McManus will announce the party's plan for ending the crisis in accident and emergency departments.
Progressive Democrats:Michael McDowell and Tom Parlon will outline the party's agriculture policies on a farm in Co Laois.
Green Party:John Gormley will publish the party's manifesto on health.
Sinn Féin:Aengus Ó Snodaigh will announce proposals to tackle the drugs problem.