FG steps up election battle with billboard campaign

THE battle between the political parties, to buy off the electorate, stepped up a level yesterday when Fine Gael unveiled its new advertising campaign.

Billboards, planned for approximately 300 key sites nationwide for the next month, detail four “fundamental building blocks” which Fine Gael says are necessary for “a better Ireland”.

Three of the promises would involve massive government spending — 2,300 more hospital beds; free health insurance for all children under 16 and 2,000 more gardaí on the streets.

The fourth — tougher sentences and tougher bail for criminals — is an effort by Fine Gael to reinforce its image as the ‘law and order’ party.

Each poster carries one of the commitments in large type under the heading “Your Contract for a Better Ireland”. There are no images apart from the Fine Gael logo and very different to Fianna Fáil’s current advertising campaign.