David Davin-Power: No shortage of costly pledges in parties' election manifestos

There’s no disguising the fiscal rivalry that lies behind these manifestos, launched within hours of each other. It ripples through every page of the glossy documents.

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney want us to see the 2020 contest in the context of Brexit and Paschal Donohoe warning that all their proposals are predicated on a smooth sundering of Britain’s link with Europe at the end of the year. Many voters however will simply judge both their party and Fianna Fáil by the many pledges and promises they laid out today.