Election fever flourishes again as canny Bertie keeps voters on a promise

IT was a weekend of promises — just like the last time Fianna Fáil was preparing for a general election.

On Saturday night, the Taoiseach promised 2,000 extra gardaí, more spending on health and education and higher pensions.

In March 2002, with that year’s election just a couple of months away, Mr Ahern had promised 2,000 extra gardaí, more spending on health and education, and higher pensions.