FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said yesterday his party was ready for an election at any time, and he promised policies that would be "tough but fair" to get the country out of the present crisis.
He said the people were now feeling a sense of "anger and desperation", and were looking to an alternative government led by him and Fine Gael.
Launching his party's post-Budget campaign in Dublin, Mr Kenny said he was going to bring his message to the people in a series of public meetings up and down the country.
He pledged to take the Fine Gael message of change to the people with the launch of a €100,000 "Government Mistakes. You Pay" campaign which includes 30 regional meetings and online video ads.
A new website (www.fairerbudget.com) has also been set up which outlines the party's alternative budget and includes an online feedback facility to receive comments and reaction from the public.
"Clearly there is a mood out there to change, and it's the challenge of the Fine Gael party in particular to rise to that challenge, and that's part of the reason why we're doing this campaign.
"We are taking our views to the country both to listen to their views and consult with them to tell them how we feel there is a better way to develop a much stronger level of involvement by people in our society, as distinct from merely an economic analysis."
Mr Kenny said he did not know whether the Government coalition would survive, but said the Fine Gael electoral machine was in place and that party members had been told to be prepared.
"This campaign exposes the Government's failings in the recent Budget and promotes our better alternative. It allows for both virtual and actual interaction between our party and the public," he said.
Mr Kenny claimed the Budget had done nothing to aid economic revival, but had instead placed the burden on the vulnerable.