Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said the party is still on course to win over 50 seats in the election and be the largest party in the Dáil.
Mr Gilmore said the election would be a watershed as it would be the first time in the history of the State that there was an alternative to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as the lead Government party.
"It is our objective to bring about a Government led by Labour after the election," he said.
The Labour leader was speaking to reporters after addressing party workers shortly after the Dail was dissolved.
He also denied that changes in policy positions by the party over the past week had been influenced by fears that it was been "outflanked" by smaller left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin.
In the past week, Labour has said it will no longer press for a new 48 per cent tax rate for those earning over €100,000 because the universal social charge introduced by Government had effected that change already.
The party also announced changes in its commitment to public deficit reduction, saying it would cut €2 billion less and seek an extra year to achieve the goal.
"We have been consistent on what we have been saying. Austerity measures that are too deep would damage the country's recovery prospects for growth and for jobs," he said.
The party is running 68 candidates in the 43 constituencies and is aiming for a minimum of one TD in each, Mr Gilmore said.
