Political analysis:For the past week, Fine Gael and Labour have faced criticism for failing to lead calls for information from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about the purchase of his house.
Yesterday, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, bizarrely, chose to blame Progressive Democrats leader, Tánaiste Michael McDowell, for leaking some of the details. The attack, even allowing for some of the childishness that has marked the campaign over recent days, does Kenny little credit. For whatever else McDowell can legitimately be blamed for, he most certainly is not guilty of that charge.
One week into the campaign Fine Gael still does not know how to handle the affair. Party leaders are concerned the issue is drawing oxygen from their campaign, while Fianna Fáil is accusing them of being among the plotters.
In reality, Bertie Ahern's affairs are not the issue of most interest to voters in most constituencies, even if he has failed to explain discrepancies. Instead public services, particularly the state of the health service, dominate the agenda and Fine Gael believes this is a debate that it can win if only it could get it started.
The atmosphere in the Royal College of Physicians for the manifesto launch was curiously flat for a group of people who believe they will soon be in power. Admittedly, it was difficult to create a moment of high drama given it has produced a series of joint positions with Labour in recent months.
Like every other major party, Fine Gael favours lower taxes, better public services, and the green agenda, including more energy-efficient homes. Indeed, the commonality of viewpoints on the broad issues facing society is a feature of Election 2007, and one that makes it hard for voters to discern differences where they do exist, and they do.
Up to now in this campaign, Kenny, who has spent the past week in vigorous on-the-road campaigning, has deferred to his finance spokesman, Richard Bruton, on issues of finance and the economy. This has raised questions about Kenny's command of such matters and his general level of experience despite his 33 years in the Dáil.
Ironically, the Fianna Fáil assault on his reputation would be even more vocal were it not for the Ahern saga. Yesterday, Kenny took more of the questions, deferring only occasionally, and while he was comfortable on political issues he did little, or at least not enough, to convince that he has a strong grip on policy issues.
Talking about supplying 2,300 hospital beds, he said it would be done within five years while his party's own policy document lays down a seven-year timetable. Both are ambitious given past failures.
His insistence that poorly performing ministers will be sacked will be thrown back at him if he ever occupies Government Buildings. Richard Bruton, on the other hand, continues to be one of the main stalwarts of the party's election, managing both to be prudent, enthusiastic and well-briefed.
Following years of high State spending increases, Bruton argues a Fine Gael/Labour coalition would be able "to manage down" spending rises and yet provide better services.
However, Kenny was careful to insist his "Contract With The Irish People" covers only half of the party's planned spending commitments. The caution may be well advised, given his promise not to seek re-election if he fails to meet his pledges, if the economy slows.
In the face of Fianna Fáil charges, Fine Gael insists it has agreement with Labour on overall budgetary figures, even if some of the detail will not be hammered out until after the election.
House stamp duties would be cut immediately on election, Fine Gael now promises, though it had initially argued such changes would have to be phased in over three years.
Undoubtedly, Fine Gael has targeted "the couples' vote" in the campaign, offering free GP visits for children under five, free health insurance for under-16s and an extra 100,000 medical cards.
Though well targeted, the promises are potential minefields. Extending medical card cover in the past, when it was given to all over-70s, was fraught with difficulty, when doctors ended up getting better paid to treat wealthier patients, rather than poorer ones.
Fine Gael is appealing particularly to one-income families, who have lost out badly since Charlie McCreevy introduced individualisation. The party also makes a strong pitch to reform public services. However, it has taken a "softly, softly" approach to the the nurses' dispute.