Fianna Fáil and the two main Opposition parties traded extraordinary abuse and insults yesterday at the outset of what may become the longest general election campaign in recent memory.
As Fine Gael and Labour moved to increase their profile as a possible alternative government, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance described them as advocates of economic policies that would destroy the economy and bring back high unemployment and emigration within a short period.
With nervous Fianna Fáil backbenchers meeting in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, to hear various presentations on policy, Mr Ahern dismissed Labour as a "tax and spend" party addicted to borrowing.
He described Fine Gael, meanwhile, as opponents of social partnership, Civil Service pay rises and consensus.
The last time Fine Gael and Labour were in government, he said: "We had 17 per cent unemployment, the debt/GDP ratio was 122 per cent - worse than Ethiopia or Sudan.
"People had had enough of them after 2½ years. Imagine if they were around again for five years. Sure we'd be back in the Third World in jig time."
For his part, Enda Kenny earlier attacked Fianna Fáil for trying "its conversion to socialism", and reshuffling the Cabinet "with the same old faces around the table." But just as Mr Ahern, Brian Cowen and Micheál Martin attacked Fine Gael and Labour for producing no agreed policies, the two parties surprised them by publishing the first in a promised series of policy positions.
As Mr Kenny and Pat Rabbitte met in Mullingar to highlight their alternative government alliance, they declared that future benchmarking pay increases to civil and public servants must only be paid in return for "meaningful" reforms.
The document is significant in that it marks a clear policy shift from both parties in the interests of compromise.
Fine Gael was in the past bitterly opposed to benchmarking, while Labour has been slow to criticise the benchmarking pay increases. The parties said they would publish documents in other policy areas in the coming months.
Mr Rabbitte dismissed Fianna Fáil criticism that they had not produced detailed policies.
They would publish their "common policy positions" to ensure the "optimal impact" and not to respond to the jibes of "political giants such as Micheál Martin", Mr Rabbitte told The Irish Times.
The Taoiseach said the Opposition offered only "uncosted pledges and empty promises".
Their "irresponsible economic policies would threaten hard-won progress on job creation, tax reduction and economic growth".
Fianna Fáil, however, "will never take risks with the economy. The Government will never put at risk the prosperity that the Irish people are building".
In contrast the Fine Gael/Labour policies "would threaten hard-won progress on job creation, tax reduction and economic growth.
"On vital social issues like health and education they would refuse to take the tough decisions required for needed investment and reform".
As Mr Ahern spoke, Mr Kenny and Mr Rabbitte yesterday held one hour of talks, along with their respective deputy leaders, Richard Bruton and Liz McManus in Belvedere House outside Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
"The public is tired of a Government that will be in office for 10 years shortly, tired of the broken promises, tired of the failed health service, tired of being ripped-off," Mr Kenny said.