The Taoiseach predicted an economic upturn in Ireland and praised the State's international role in a new year message yesterday which avoided any mention of the impending General Election.
However the main Opposition leaders focused strongly on the election in their new year statements. The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, and Labour leader, Mr Ruair∅ Quinn, said the people will face a clear choice between radically different visions of society when they go the polls.
The Taoiseach maintained the Irish economy was entering the new year "in a very strong position", despite the slowdown in the global economy.
The introduction of the euro was "a great achievement for the 12 members participating." He said that through chairing the UN Security Council in October, Ireland had shown it could play a role on the world stage. He said he also looked forward, "as does the rest of the nation, to our soccer team flying the Irish flag in Japan and Korea in June".
Mr Noonan said in the election "the people will have a clear choice between two radically different ways of moving forward". Mr Quinn said "the Irish people will be asked to make fundamental choices about the society they wish to live in".
Both highlighted what they depicted as the squandering of the fruits of the economic boom by the Fianna Fβil/Progressive Democrat Coalition.