The Taoiseach, in his head-to-head debate with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, has "forensically dismantled" the entire strategy of the alternative government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said today.
However, Mr Kenny's potential coalition partner, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, said the Fine Gael leader had put in an "assured" performance that had shown he could be taoiseach. Minister for Health Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats said both candidates had shown "strengths" but she believed Mr Ahern had "shaved it".
Speaking at a Fianna Fáil briefing on tax today, Mr Cowen said Bertie Ahern demonstrated that he is "by far the best equipped" of the two men to be the next taoiseach.
Brian Cowen
Accusing the Fine Gael leader of being capable of "five flip-flops a week", Mr Cowen said the Fine Gael leader "didn't know what he was talking about" and that he had shown a "flippant" approach to policy detail and figures.
Again repeating assertions made on several occasions earlier this week, Mr Cowen accused the two opposition parties of a "con job" in their election manifesto and said the figures in their programme simply did not "stack up".
"I don't think this country is prepared to repose trust and confidence in such a flippant approach. You need the detail.
"If you want to run one of the most sophisticated, open economies in the world and meet the challenges that we have to face, you need to know the detail and you need to know what you are talking about. Because I don't think you can expect other people to be led by you if you don't know what you are talking about. And I'm sorry, Enda Kenny didn't know what he was talking about," Mr Cowen said.
"When you have the future of four and a half million people in your hands and you have to get out there and work with them and make sure that we have a country that's prosperous and that can build on its achievements and that can get new jobs for the new people that are coming on stream and deal with the real public service challenges that we have and enforce budgetary discipline that will make the choices that are necessary to make that happen.....have a clear idea of how things work, what's important and what's less important.
"You need experience, you need mastery of detail, you need political skills to bring people with you and you need to be able to work the social partnership process in such a way that we can bring real reforms to this country.
Bertie Ahern, based on his achievements and based on his ambitions for this country over the next five years is by far the best equipped...of those two people to do that job. I think that was clear last night," Mr Cowen added.
He disagreed that Fianna Fáil had had an unlucky campaign to date and said the party was now "moving forward" and that the issues were now being dealt with.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said today that his potential partner in Government, Mr Kenny, had given an "assured" performance during last night's leaders' debate. The Fine Gael leader needed to show that he could be taoiseach and he had achieved that, Mr Rabbitte said.
Minister for Health Mary Harney said she thought each of the two candidates in the debate had "strengths".
"I think the Taoiseach's experience most certainly shone over all and that was the general view of those who observed it. But we all come to this with a prejudice and a bias, we all want to support our person to win and I'm no different but I did think the Taoiseach shaved it."
Mr Ahern and Mr Kenny clashed over health, crime and the economy in their TV debate, chaired by journalist Miriam O'Callaghan.
Mr Kenny made a confident start to the debate, but Mr Ahern later rallied to pick holes in the alternative coalition's policies on health and taxes. Both camps immediately claimed victory and predicted electoral swings in their favour in advance of polling day.
Mr Ahern said the country had been transformed since he took over, that the economy was strong and 600,000 more people were working. He also stressed that he had worked hard and came from an ordinary working-class background.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Mr Kenny rejected a claim that he had little experience for the job compared to previous party leaders. He said he had had a "long apprenticeship", and that "leadership is about decisiveness" and having a vision and ability to "pick your team".
In his opening statement, Mr Ahern said he believed that Ireland's hour has come. "We are building a new nation, more prosperous, more peaceful and more hopeful than ever before.
"In 10 years, we have moved from unemployment and under-investment to sustained economic growth."
Mr Kenny said that one of the problems so many people had with politics was that they believed nobody took responsibility.
"Well, I will because I understand that your lives and our country's future are much more important than my political career."
The issue of the payments made to Mr Ahern was raised by moderator Miriam O'Callaghan, but the Taoiseach insisted that he had done nothing unusual.
"To rent a house I hope is not a crime, to take loans that you pay back to personal friends," said Mr Ahern.
Mr Kenny refused to be drawn into the issue saying. "It's not for me to cast judgement on any man or anybody . . . I am not adjudicating on the integrity of Bertie Ahern."
The Taoiseach denied a claim from his opponent that health was the biggest failing of the Government. He insisted that the health service was not a shambles, but that there were some parts where there were "difficulties".