The Taoiseach is due to make the keynote speech of his Fianna Fáil party's General Election campaign today. Yesterday, Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan made a passionate attack on the Government's record on the economy and health.
The campaign shifted up a gear yesterday as Fine Gael responded to the third disappointing opinion poll since the election was called. It put Fine Gael down one point on 20 per cent to the gain of Fianna Fáil, which had 49 per cent.
Mr Noonan responded by calling on party activists to keep canvassing, and attacking the "blatant lies" of Fianna Fáil's election pledges on health.
He accused the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat coalition of leading the country towards a "fiscal crisis", and warned that the only alternative to a Fianna Fáil-led government was one led by Fine Gael.
The Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, and Labour leader Mr Ruairí Quinn will be in Dublin today.
Ms Harney was giving a morning press briefing before canvassing with the youngest of all candidates to stand, 21-year-old Mr Bob Quinn, who is contesting Dublin South Central.
Mr Ruairí Quinn will appear on Pat Kenny's radio show before canvassing in his own constituency, Dublin South East, where he topped the first preference votes in the 1997 election with 18 per cent.