FF, PDs see power slipping away, says Spring

THE Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats tax measures are a "desperate attempt by two parties who see power slipping away from them", the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, claimed.

At his final preelection press conference yesterday, Mr Spring also expressed confidence that the Rainbow coalition would achieve a working majority. He urged voters - and women in particular - to support Labour.

He said the Progressive Democrats' credibility was seriously undermined by the reversal of their policy on cutting 25,000 public service jobs.

The Fianna Fail/PD decision to abandon this policy demonstrated "why the so called alternative government couldn't be trusted with the political and economic management of this country".

Mr Spring was speaking in Limerick near the end of a helicopter tour of seven constituencies.

"We have 25 women standing in this election. I would particularly appeal to women voters to come out and support Labour," he said.

Senator Jan O'Sullivan, who is a Limerick East candidate along with Mr Jim Kemmy, said it was a "particular concern that we never had a woman TD in Limerick East and I feel that I am best poised to take that seat".

Mr Spring criticised the latest Fianna Fail/PD tax plan as an attempt to woo undecided voters with another unspecified bribe", which he claimed would cost £600 million in the first year alone.

The tax package raised "a serious question mark about the judgment of Mr Ahern in terms of auction politics".

He added that it was only a matter of time before Fianna Fail and the PDs were back to one party. The PDs "could not sustain credibility by abandoning a policy document 10 days after publishing it".