Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has warned that the Opposition threaten to bankrupt the State.
In a blistering attack he questioned Fine Gael and Labour's credibility to govern. At an informal meeting of finance ministers in Berlin at the weekend, Mr Cowen said Fianna Fáil's economic policy would make Ireland practically debt free by 2012 while the Opposition parties would increase the State's real debt burden.
"This did not happen by chance, it happened by choice . . . it was Fianna Fáil that took the decisions often in the face of howling opposition," said Mr Cowen.
He said this was a "critical difference" in the upcoming election rather than proposals on stamp duty, which made up less than 2 per cent of total tax revenue.
"It is absurd that Fine Gael and Labour say it is a central plank of this election," said Mr Cowen, who added that this claim demonstrated they were not fit to govern.
However, he would not reflect on why Opposition parties had prioritised stamp duty reform while Fianna Fáil had so far refused to address it.