Fine Gael's party's ardfheis resumed in Dublin this morning with party representatives outlining policy objectives in the areas of crime, justice, health and the economy.
Some 4,000 delegates are gathered at Dublin's City West Hotel for the ardfheis which is the last party conference before the nation goes to the polls.
Party leader Enda Kenny will set out his proposals for health, crime and the economy in his televised keynote speech tonight.
Earlier today, party members heard pledges on initiatives to fight the spread of the MRSA hospital bug, free medical insurance for all children under 16, reduced inflation and an end to taxation by stealth.
Speaking this afternoon, Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Phil Hogan promised Fine Gael would "end rip-off Ireland." He said "Fine Gael in Government will limit any Government or Regulator controlled price increase to the level of inflation."
The party would "review every State controlled charge that is currently levied. Every. Single. One," he said.
Deputy Hogan said the upcoming general election would offer the electorate "a new coalition of Fine Gael and Labour that will reduce inflation, end taxation by stealth and make this economy the consumer-friendly, competitive and lower-cost economy that it should be."
Earlier, Justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe TD claimed that his party would "turn around fully the problem of crime in this country" if elected in the upcoming election.
Mr O'Keefe, who outlined his proposals for a victims' charter, condemned the Government's record on crime and insisted measures such as electronic tagging and internet grooming adopted "as his own" by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell originated with Fine Gael.
Deputy O'Keeffe claimed his proposed charter would "keep victims informed at all stages of the criminal justice process, vindicate the rights of the victim at sentencing, provide improved access for victims to compensation, and provide Restorative Justice where possible."
He committed Fine Gael to extensive proposals to ensure convicted criminals pay compensation and promised reform of inconsistent sentencing practices in Irish courts "to ensure that dangerous criminals serve tough and lengthy sentences."
A Fine Gael government would "ensure the streets are again safe to walk, that people feel safe and safe in their homes and that the tide of crime goes out again," he said, adding that "first we must ensure that the tide goes out on this failed coalition."
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey told the ardfheis that MRSA will be addressed in the same way as the Foot And Mouth outbreak in 2001, if the party gets into Government.
Party leader Mr Enda Kenny opened the ardfheis last night with an attack on the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats coalition.
Focusing on the state of the health service, he claimed the Government was "to privatise the public health system by stealth" as part of a "social experiment driven by the Progressive Democrats."
He added the general election this year will be a referendum on this Government's handling of the health services and their failure to deliver a health system that works for the public.
Fine Gael , which lost 23 seats in 2002, is fielding a total of 91 General Election candidates, 37 of which are running for the first time.
The ardfheis is being run under the theme 'For A Better Ireland'.
The national gathering is the climax of eight pre-election rallies by Mr Kenny in Carlow, Carrickmacross, Carrick-on-Shannon, Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Castlebar and Mullingar.