What happened yesterday
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil will not accept Sinn Féin support for a Fianna Fáil minority government in any shape or form after the election, three senior Cabinet ministers said. Mary Hanafin said: "We are giving a very clear message: that Fianna Fáil will not go into government with Sinn Féin, or go into government dependent upon Sinn Féin."
Fine Gael
Expressing his confidence of victory, party leader Enda Kenny said he had been confident of victory for quite some time. "A real catalyst in this election has been the alliance with the Labour Party." Asked about Bertie Ahern's declaration that coalition with Labour was still an option for him, he said: "I would say to the leader of Fianna Fáil, 'Dream on, baby'."
Labour Party
Private hospitals co-located beside public hospitals as proposed by the outgoing Government would cost at least €145 million a year, Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus alleged. "No proper estimates are available as to the potential cost and no assessment has been done of the impact on public hospitals or our existing private health insurance system."
Progressive Democrats
Voters will have elected a weak, inexperienced and divided government if they elect Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens, PD leader, Michael McDowell told a party rally last night in Dublin. "Uncertainty would lead to recession. The construction sector would experience a slowdown followed by a meltdown. The Rainbow would end in a crock but not of gold."
Green Party
To coincide with his party's launch of proposals for ethical reforms, Trevor Sargent placed a brown envelope, labelled "backhanders" and filled with notes, into a bin outside Leinster House. He said it was a symbol of the kind of ethical reform the Greens want to bring about in Irish political life: ". . . a change of government means a change of policies and if you were to ask Fianna Fáil to buy the ethical reforms that we're putting out here, that would be one hell of a change."
Sinn Féin
The party said it did not believe assertions of Fianna Fáil and others that they would not go into government with Sinn Féin after the election. The party's candidate in Dublin Central, Mary Lou McDonald MEP, said: "Frankly I do not accept the protestations of some parties that they simply will not look at Sinn Féin."
What happens today
Fianna Fáil:Ministers Brian Cowen and Micheál Martin will be highlighting Fianna Fáil's economic message while Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be canvassing in the northwest and in Cavan/Monaghan .
Fine Gael/Labour:The leaders of Fine Gael and Labour, Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte, will highlight the importance of the vote transfer pact between the two parties.
Progressive Democrats:Minister for Health Mary Harney will attend a press conference in Dublin where the focus will be on the party's "positive agenda for better healthcare for patients".
Green Party:Environment and energy spokesmen Ciarán Cuffe and Eamon Ryan will revisit the issue of climate change with other party candidates at a rally in Dublin on the theme "It hasn't gone away, you know".
Sinn Féin:Mary Lou McDonald is setting out her party's policies on neutrality and international affairs in Dublin.