Enda Kenny stepped up Fine Gael's election campaign this morning with the signing of a Contract for a Better Irelandat his party's election headquarters in Dublin.
The document contains a number of promises from the party, including pledges for better health services, safer streets and fairer taxes.
Enda Kenny
Speaking this morning, Mr Kenny said: "It's time for a government that keeps its word and delivers the public services that people need and deserve. That's why I'm offering the Contract for a Better Ireland. That's why I'm putting my own neck on the line and won't run again as Taoiseach unless I deliver it."
"The choice in this election is simple and stark. People can vote for more of the same broken health services, rising crime and waste of money. Or they can vote for the contract that will deliver health services that work, safer streets, and accountability in public spending."
"Starting today I will be taking the contract to every county in Ireland and asking the people to sign the contract, vote Fine Gael and build a better Ireland," the Fine Gael leader said.
However, Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan claimed this afternoon that Mr Kenny's contract with the people of Ireland has already been broken.
The Minister said that although Fine Gael has promised to hire 2,000 more gardaí, the party had not budgeted for this properly.
"As Fine Gael has been informed in the Dáil repeatedly, there are currently 13,178 fully attested gardaí - which will rise to 14,000 when the gardaí currently in training complete their courses at the end of this year," said Mr Brennan.
"Yet in their economic framework they provided money for only 15,000 gardaí by 2012. So, they are already planning to be 1,000 short of their solemn pledge - or 178 short if you accept a daft excuse that they will count in those we have already budgeted for."
"The contract is a con," the Minister said.
