Election campaign quotes of the day

The more notable quotes from politicians during the second day of campaigning in the general election included:

‘‘The people now have the opportunity to choose between two kinds of Ireland’’ - Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan, outlining their manifesto.

‘‘It seems to me that Fianna Fail is adopting the Enron approach to running the country - hiding liabilities off balance sheet’’ - Mr Noonan relating his opponents’ plans to a recent US financial scandal.

‘‘There is no trickery and this is not borrowing by a different name’’ - Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy on Fianna Fail plans for a new infrastructure agency.

‘‘The private sector is very anxious to invest money and this new agency will marry it to suitable public sector projects’’ - Charlie McCreevy.

‘‘The country is prosperous, so we start in Prosperous’’ - Tanaiste and Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney, explaining why her party chose a Co Kildare village called Prosperous to launch their campaign.

‘‘It’s probably a good job they did not go to Termonfeckin’’ - an unnamed Opposition politician, pointing out why it was a good thing the PDs did not pick a spot in Co Louth instead of Prosperous.

‘‘The Progressive Democrats are the only party who are guaranteeing there will be no new taxes on jobs’’ - Mary Harney.

‘‘As this election campaign commences, a sound economy is threatened by out-of-control expenditure’’ - Fine Gael finance spokesman Jim Mitchell at his party’s manifesto launch.

‘‘For far too long, we have had to put up with a public health service where the speed and quality of access to health care has been determined largely by a person’s ability to pay’’ - Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus on her party’s plan for health service reform.