Parties prepare to drop curtain on their campaigns

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny will blitz several Munster constituencies today as the General Election campaign enters its final 48 hours.

Mr Kenny will visit Waterford, Cork East and Limerick West, and will deliver a keynote speech on his health commitments.

He will stick to Fine Gael’s core message that the election should be viewed as a referendum on the health services, and reiterate his pledge that he will not seek re-election as Taoiseach if he does not deliver on his commitment to deliver 2,300 more hospital beds.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte will host his party’s final press conference of the campaign at the party’s headquarters in Dublin.

He is expected to address transport and infrastructure issues, and will be joined at the press conference by the party’s transport spokes-woman Roisin Shortall.

Also in Dublin, Green leader Trevor Sargent will gather with party candidates for a final campaign photocall, involving a large, green “number one” to emphasise the “power of one vote”, according to his press office.

Mr Sargent, deputy leader Mary White and chairman John Gormley will then deliver an overview of the party’s election campaign, as well as a reiteration of the party’s key messages.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams will be joined by candidates Mary Lou McDonald, Sean Crowe and Joanne Spain for his party’s final press conference, also in Dublin.

Mr Adams will reflect on his expectations for the party both on polling day and after the election.

Tánaiste and PD leader Michael McDowell will be joined by deputy leader Liz O’Donnell to deliver a “key pre-election message” in Ms O’Donnell’s Dublin South constituency.

The event will take place on the platform at the Dundrum stop on the Dundrum Luas bridge — “a symbol of modern Ireland’s prosperity”, according to the PDs.

The final press conferences are being held today because of the 24-hour moratorium on broadcasting election coverage before polling day.

The moratorium requires TV and radio stations to “ensure that broadcast output does not include any material which relates to election candidates including their activities/policies or material which relates to the activities/policies of any party. This includes comments or statements by candidates or parties and comments or statements by programme contributor”.