Kenny and Rabbitte meeting:The Fine Gael and Labour leaders yesterday strongly rejected Fianna Fáil criticism of their "alternative government" economic policies.
Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte were on separate visits to the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency, but attended a hastily-arranged press briefing outside the entrance to Kilkenny Castle which was immediately dubbed "the Confederation of Kilkenny Mark II" by Fine Gael Senator John Paul Phelan.
Mr Kenny said the parties had "already set out what our main plans cost", and that these had been "costed and analysed by economic analysts".
He said the "over-reaction" by Brian Cowen was a sign that Fianna Fáil was "getting desperate".
Mr Rabbitte said he found it "very difficult to understand Brian Cowen complaining" because "Fianna Fáil has gone twice into government with the PDs and on neither occasion did they agree anything before they went into government".
He said Fine Gael and Labour have "taken the big areas of health, policing and the economy, and settled those main areas".
Their joint economic proposals had been "tested and commented on by every financial commentator". They had not been "found wanting", he said.
Mr Rabbitte continued: "We will be able to agree after the election on the outstanding issues that are close to the hearts of both parties."
Speaking earlier to The Irish Times, Mr Kenny said he was "looking forward" to Thursday night's television debate with the Taoiseach.
Asked if he was nervous about it, he said: "Not in the slightest - in this business a clear conscience is a formidable weapon."
Using a golfing analogy, he described it as "like facing into the 18th with a nine-iron from 157 yards with no fear".
He said 10 years was long enough in office for a Taoiseach. He would "say the same about my own party if we were in government that length of time" because "it's inevitable that you become fixed in a rut of complacency, and the rawness and passion is not there anymore".
While he had "given Bertie credit for the good things he did", he believed Mr Ahern's "earlier years were his best years".
Mr Kenny said the debate would be an opportunity to present "my credentials and my competency to lead the nation".
Asked how he would dress for the occasion, he said he would wear a shirt in "a light shade of blue" and "she who determines these things will choose my tie".