Election will be called 'shortly', says Ahern

The general election will be called shortly, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

As speculation mounts about a possible announcement on Monday or Tuesday, an new opinion poll showed the alternative Fine Gael-Labour Government had moved four points ahead of a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat option.

"The election is shortly, the calling of it is just a technicality so people shouldn't be worrying themselves about it," said Ahern. "The election will be shortly."

Mr Ahern also defended the track record of his Government: "I think the economy is strong, the economy is doing well and employment is high. All of those big issues are gone, so there's a certain confidence."

In a sign the call is close, Fianna Fáil workers moved into their election HQ and the PD Party is due to unveil its manifesto in Dublin on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile Enda Kenny, who was campaigning in Co Galway, called for locals to be provided with free water as the cryptosporidium contamination crisis continues.

"In my view, there has been too much finger pointing and attempts to shift the blame and not enough focus on providing the people of Galway with the decent service that they deserve," he said.

In Dublin, Green Party TD Eamon Ryan accused Tánaiste Michael McDowell and the PDs of "standing for nothing except lies".

Mr Ryan was angered by a PD leaflet distributed to Dublin homes in which the PDs slammed the environmental party's policies.

He said: "Their slur tactics call into question what role is left for the PDs to play in Irish political life. They were set up to play the role of watchdog in Irish public life, but their tactics are now more Haughey than O'Malley."

Mr Ryan said the Greens were offering them honest politics.

"We are happy to stand by our policies in a robust political debate but we cannot allow the PDs or any other party deliberately distort what we stand for.

"It is a sad day for Irish politics when a political party becomes so infatuated with office and a sense of their own self importance that they are willing to send such lies through every door."

Sinn Féin also today released survey results which claimed that more people feel less safe in their homes and there is a huge demand for increased Garda patrols in local neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile, Labour launched the latest phase of its pre-election poster campaign: 'Change, For The Better'.

It follows the previous slogans: 'But, are you happy?'; 'It's time for a change'; and 'We're ready for change: are you with us?'