"It's showtime," Fianna Fáil's director of elections, PJ Mara, declared this week as his party unveiled its election manifesto.
But the document, like some others released to date amid great fanfare, failed to match the hype.
Most of the pledges "announced" by the various parties had been well-flagged at recent ardfheiseanna. What proved more interesting than the manifestos was what was left out.
Fianna Fáil's document ran to 86 pages without once mentioning the word "borrowing". Instead, it spoke of the National Development Finance Agency, "a radical departure for the financing and delivery of major infrastructural projects".
The PDs ditched a string of policies that got them into trouble five years ago, including the slashing of 25,000 public sector jobs, new measures aimed at discouraging single parenthood, and phasing in water meters to all households.
Yet the party decided to commit itself to the equally risky plan of privatising ESB, Aer Lingus and Bord Gáis in order to fund, among other things, a further cut in the top rate of tax.
Fine Gael's document, Towards a Better Quality of Life, provided the biggest surprise, with promises of a new 30 per cent tax rate for moderate wage earners, and a national profit-sharing scheme. These novel concepts accompanied already well-publicised pledges such as refunding Eircom shareholders and free off-peak bus travel for Dubliners.
Labour's economic manifesto drew plaudits for its honesty, even though it meant IBEC hitting the roof at a proposal to reverse last year's cut in employers' PRSI to pay for childcare services. As if to rub salt in the wounds of the employers' body, the party then announced plans to legislate for two additional public holidays each year.
Interestingly, while IBEC took issue with Labour, the trade unions were among those quickest to criticise the PDs over its election pledges. The dichotomy was noticed by Labour's finance spokesman, Derek McDowell, who asked listeners on one radio show to "spot the difference between the employers and the PDs".
What they said about Fianna Fáil's "big idea": "We believe that the time has come for a radical departure." - the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, avoiding the "B" word.
"I don't think we should deal with national debt on it disappearing in a puff of smoke into some kind of agency and being off-balance-sheet. That's what got us into trouble in the '80s with Mr Haughey and it looks as if we're going down that road once more." - the Fine Gael leader, Michael Noonan.
What they said about Fine Gael's manifesto: "If pain was the test of viable polices Matt Talbot should have been taoiseach." - Mr Noonan, defending his pleasurable package of pledges.
"It looks like the Fine Gael party decided that they must give commitments to every particular pressure group. . . It just doesn't add up." - the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy.
What they said about the PD's privatisation plan: "We believe it would be dishonest to pretend that we can do everything that is required for the infrastructural needs of this country over the next couple of years without finding this alternative source of funding." - Ms Harney.
"It's a straightforward return to the policies promoted by Margaret Thatcher in Britain in the 1980s and they are still trying to recover from that" - SIPTU vice-president, Jack O'Connor.
What they said about Labour's PRSI proposal: "I say to them: hands off." - IBEC's director-general, Turlough O'Sullivan.
"If other's don't like our plans, let them be clear what services they intend to deny the Irish people." - the Labour leader, Ruairí Quinn.
Recycled pledge of the week: There was a sense of déjà vu to much of Fianna Fáil's manifesto: the promise of 3,000 new hospital beds, some of which had already been announced last year; the pledge to ensure all new asylum applications would be finalised within six months, something the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, promised several years ago; and so on.
But perhaps no promise was more familiar than that to establish a voluntary driver-training scheme for young motorists, which would yield them lower insurance premiums. The same initiative was promised by Fianna Fáil three weeks before the last general election in 1997.
Missed promises: In its 1997 manifesto, Fianna Fáil pledged, among other things, to "develop a long-term national crime strategy. . . adopt a zero-tolerance policy on all crime. . . protect our tourists from criminals. . . create a woman-friendly health service. . . address the special health needs of the young, the elderly and of men. . . extend the vote to emigrants. . . make a radical attack on students dropping out (of school). . . make recycling a reality in waste management. . . wage war on litter. . . regenerate public transport in Dublin. . . speed up the completion of LUAS."
Yet what had the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to say this week on his party's policy record since 1997: "It proves that, for Fianna Fáil, promises made are promises kept."
Heard any promises in your area? E-mail them to promises@irish-times.ie