The only stable government now available to the electorate is a Fine Gael/Labour coalition, the Labour party insisted today.
Briefing the media in Dublin on the 10th day of the election campaign, environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore said the current government was "now broken, and it is not going to be possible to put the pieces together again.
"The extraordinary events we witnessed since Friday last make it patently clear that the only stable government now available to the Irish people is the Alliance for Change made up of Labour and Fine Gael," Mr Gilmore said.
"Since Friday last we have seen the Tánaiste publicly question the honesty and veracity of the Taoiseach and apparently make a decision to leave government, only to be over-ruled by his colleagues from outside of Dublin."
Pat Rabbitte
Mr Gilmore said that even if the coalition partners "hang together" until May 24 th, and even in "the more unlikely scenario" of them having the required numbers post-election, Fianna Fáil and the PDs would not be able to put together a "credible and stable" government.
"In contrast to the fractured and embittered relationship between the leadership of Fianna Fáil and the PDs, Pat Rabbitte and Enda Kenny have developed a close working relationship that can ensure a stable government that will work together to protect and build on the great economic progress achieved through the efforts of the Irish people over the past 15 years," he said.
"While the emphasis in the media since the campaign started has been on the Taoiseach's finances this is not the only issue, by any means, that is preoccupying the Irish people. People are, of course, disturbed, confused and worried by the disclosures but there are many, many more issues coming up."
Speaking in Cork, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said his party would address "rising crime and anti-social behaviour" by trebling the number of community gardaí on the beat in neighbourhoods throughout the State.
"With the exception, perhaps, of health, there has been no greater failure in terms of policy and delivery on the part of Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats than in the area of crime. They have made lavish promises but have failed to deliver the security people want.
"Crime and anti-social behaviour needs to be tackled by a bottom up and top down approach. To deal with petty crime and anti-social behaviour we need to have far more visible Garda presence on the ground in local communities," Mr Rabbitte said.
The pledge to deliver at least 1,500 community gardaí living in their own communities is one of the Labour Party's five so-called 'commitments for change'
Labour also published its policy proposals for Cork today.
They include the devolution of more power to the Cork local authorities, to provide "stronger, more accountable" local government. Cork would also have a directly elected mayor under the plan.
On transport, Labour proposed a Cork Transport Authority to plan and manage the city's public transport network.
Labour also pledged to tackle overcrowding in classrooms in Cork city, where it said one in five children are in classes of over 30. In Cork county, the figure rises to almost one in three, Labour said.
The party also promised to deliver more hospital beds and extra community gardaí. It also proposed a full-time High Court judge for Cork.
On jobs, Labour also pledged to develop Cork as an "economic counterweight" to Dublin that would be "capable of attracting significant investment". The party also vowed to improve funding for the arts in Cork.