At a glance

What happened yesterday.

What happened yesterday.

Fianna Fáil

The party held a briefing to underline its commitment to keep the rate of corporation tax at 12.5 per cent.

Brian Cowen said measures that would require Ireland to increase corporation tax were being pushed by the European Commission.

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"Fianna Fáil in government and in the European Parliament will use all necessary means - including the use of the national veto - to prevent these steps on the road to corporation tax harmonisation," he said.

Fine Gael

On a visit to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin and Mullingar Hospital in Co Westmeath, party leader Enda Kenny chose to highlight the issue of hygiene. He said a range of measures was needed to improve hospital cleanliness.

"I believe that the public's confidence in our hospital system cannot be restored until we tackle the level of infections in hospitals."

Labour

The party promised to declare St Valentine's day a public holiday as part of a plan to increase the number of annual public holidays in Ireland from nine to 11.

Spokesman on Enterprise and Employment Ruairí Quinn said one year's notice of the new holidays would be given to employers.

"What is the point in being one of the richest nations in Europe if we don't have the time to be with our children and to share it together?"

Progressive Democrats

The PDs launched a poster campaign which claims they are the party that will guarantee long-term prosperity.

Party leader Michael McDowell said Sinn Féin in government would set off alarm bells in foreign boardrooms.

"A vote for Sinn Féin is not a vote for economic prosperity. It's a vote for a decline into the student politics of the 1960s - Marxist-dream stuff which has nothing to do with the modern, progressive, prosperous Ireland of today."

Green Party

The Greens published their Dublin manifesto. Party leader Trevor Sargent proposed a docklands "eco-town", the removal of traffic from College Green, and a maximum waiting time of 30 seconds for pedestrians at city centre crossings "to put the pedestrian first".

"The Green Party wants to revolutionise Dublin's city centre, making it a vibrant commercial, social, artistic and civic area promoting pedestrian, rather than motorised, traffic," he said.

Sinn Féin

Environment spokesperson Arthur Morgan launched proposals for a government-led housing programme.

He said any reduction in stamp duty would be pocketed by developers.

"It is time that housing policy was changed radically from one driven by developers and speculators to one led by the government in the interests of the people."

What's happening today

Fianna Fáil:Party leader Bertie Ahern will canvass in Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Limerick.

Fine Gael: Richard Bruton will host a briefing on "broken promises", while Enda Kenny will canvass in Wicklow.

Labour:Pat Rabbitte will campaign in Cork East where he "will issue a keynote statement on delivery of change in the health service".

Progressive Democrats:Mary Harney will hold a briefing on hospital beds "and other key health issues".

Green Party:Party leader Trevor Sargent, transport spokesman Eamon Ryan TD and Mayor of Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin will launch the party's national transportation policy in Galway.

Sinn Féin:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin will publish the party's "key commitments for the delivery of a strong public health service".