MAJOR differences in policy emphasis have emerged between Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats in advance of the general election.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has concentrated on reassuring employees in the State sector that there will be "no ideological drive to sell off state companies in any government led by me, regardless of what anyone may think."
Meanwhile, the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, has made radical tax reforms her priority, promising income tax rates of 40 and 20 per cent over five years, along with significant cuts in capital gains and corporation taxes.
At a party meeting in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, last night, Mr Ahern dismissed as a phony debate" the suggestion that the choice in the election would be between a centre-left and a centre right government. The present Government, he said, had not deviated "in any significant way" from the 1992 Fianna Fail/Labour Party programme for government.
In her speech to the Institute of Taxation in Dublin, Ms Harney said that even after cuts in taxes and spending, rapid economic growth would still leave money over to spend on social welfare, education, health and crime control.