Gilmore pledges election will be fought on issues

AS the ‘Gilmore Gale’ swept across counties on the first real day of campaigning, the Labour leader ruled out the election being a contest of personalities, and vowed that it would be issue-led with a lot of the electorate still to make up their minds on voting.

Fianna Fáil continued to expose policy differences between Labour and Fine Gael, but Eamon Gilmore fired back at the outgoing Government party, arguing that it had some “neck” doing so after “wrecking the country”.

Opening day one of electioneering with candidates in Dublin’s suave Gravity Bar overlooking the capital, Mr Gilmore was forced on the defensive after FF leader Micheál Martin suggested that disunity between Labour and Fine Gael would lead to a “tug of war government”.

Throughout the day, Mr Gilmore dismissed the comments, at one stage saying: “Fianna Fáil have a hard neck after the way in which they wrecked this country.”

Mr Gilmore again reiterated the party’s plans to renegotiate and push out the timeframe for the EU/IMF bailout and especially the 5.8% interest rate on Ireland’s borrowings.

“It is not acceptable that the institutions are making a profit at our taxpayers’ expense. The penal rate of interest is way higher than what those institutions are borrowing the money for.”

Mr Gilmore also said that EU members would see the need to revisit the deal for Ireland.

He again stressed that if the party was in power that there would be no new income tax for those earning below €100,000. Labour would also cut public service numbers by 18,000.

Commenting on the latest two opinion polls yesterday which showed support for Labour shifting between 19% and 26%, he said: “The difference in opinion polls is reflective that people have not made up their mind yet.”

The poll figures were not an indication of where parties would stand by polling day, he also warned.

Addressing the difference in polling showing 46% support for him as taoiseach but only 26% for Labour and a concern the election could turn into a personality-led contest, Mr Gilmore added: “It’s not about individuals, it’s not about personalities. Obviously there’s a leadership dimension to it. There always is in every election, but I don’t see it getting out of proportion.”

The Labour campaign with packed people carriers moved outside the capital yesterday, with Mr Gilmore making a flying visit to the five-seater constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny.

Grasping hands and pressing for votes, the party leader was whisked through the windy streets of the two towns where voters expressed concern over job losses and emigration.

But the ‘Gilmore Gale’ was at times stopped with some sad stories.

Pushing local candidates Ann Phelan and Des Hurley, Mr Gilmore met nurse Ann Brownlee who said she was leaving for Canada. “I can’t afford to live here with the costs. And we’re so short staffed at work, which is difficult when you’re 61.”

Mr Gilmore was also greeted by the singing of local Elvis Presley impersonator Myles Kavanagh who told him that Taoiseach Brian Cowen was all “shook up” and “crying in the chapel”.

Mr Gilmore will this morning set out the party’s fiscal policies , including proposed changes to the controversial Universal Social Charge, before setting out to campaign in Limerick.