Fine Gael press conference:Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said yesterday the party had identified a possible 60 seats it could win in the forthcoming general election.
Speaking at the Fine Gael election headquarters in Dublin hours after the announcement of the dissolution of the Dáil, Mr Kenny said the party was "in the hunt for every vote and every seat that we can get. We mean business this time".
"The trends in recent public opinion polls for what they are worth show there is tiredness out there and weariness amongst people for change and we hope to build on that with the Labour Party."
Mr Kenny said yesterday marked "the beginning of the end of 10 years of broken Fianna Fáil promises and complacency".
"The people of Ireland know this Government will not deliver in 15 years what they failed to deliver in 10. They know that they won't deliver health services that work, they won't deliver safe streets. They know they won't spend our money wisely, their time is up. That's why I believe it is time for a decisive government that will take action to provide public services that people deserve."
Mr Kenny said he was prepared to offer his contract for a better Ireland and that was why he would put his own neck on the line to show how serious he was.
"Therefore people can take their destiny into their own hands and vote for change and vote for Fine Gael and Labour."
Mr Kenny said he heard about the election yesterday morning at 6am and flew to Dublin on an Aer Arann flight from Knock. Asked if he thought the Taoiseach should have announced the election in the Dáil, he said: "It is the Taoiseach's prerogative when to call the election."
Asked if he would make a better taoiseach than Mr Ahern, he said: "Well, I am going to have to prove that over the next five years and I look forward to that and that's why I am excited about this election. I am up for the job, believe you me."
On the address by Mr Ahern to the joint houses at Westminster, Mr Kenny said he hoped it would be a success. "We have always supported the peace process and I am very happy for the Irish people north and south that we are where we are. I hope it's an outstanding success."
He said Fine Gael would fight the election on the political issues of the day and on the Government's failure to deliver public services and on the waste of taxpayers' money over the last 10 years.
Mr Kenny said his top three priorities would be the delivery of public health services, the protection of the economy and the delivery of public services.
"We have rebuilt the engine of Fine Gael and have tested that in the local elections, the European elections and the by-elections and we have been honing that engine for the last two-and-a-half years and we are very willing to test it over the next three weeks."
He said he looked forward to a debate with Mr Ahern "anywhere, any place, anytime, and in English or Irish. He knows that too".