PRE ELECTION jousting is continuing, with the Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, outlining the key policy differences which she says will make it "impossible" for her party to do business with Labour.
She said in Roscrea yesterday that she looks forward to a "head to head debate" with the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, during the election campaign. The PDs and Labour were "poles apart" on many issues.
"For instance, the Labour Party very reluctantly supported the changes in our bail law because they favour the softly, softly approach to criminals and believe those who commit crimes are victims first and foremost.
"We believe the law abiding citizen's rights come first, and that the least they can expect is that those who commit crime should be caught and punished appropriately."
The parties also differed hugely on taxation policy. While the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, recently announced there was "no real appetite out there for radical tax reform", she said that her party remained committed to bringing the two rates down to 40 per cent and 20 per cent "over the next few years".
The "dependency culture" which had been built up in Ireland over the last 25 years had ruined thousands of lives and damaged people's dignity and self respect, she said. The social welfare safety net should be primarily for those who could not work, but should not be a disincentive to taking up work.
The Democratic Left TD, Mr Eric Byrne, at a convention which selected him to contest Dublin South Central, said that what was offered by the PDs "and their acolytes in Fianna Fail" held little for the residents of his constituency.