Fianna Fáil, stung by charges that it has breached promises made to voters during last year's general election campaign, has issued a strongly worded defence of its first year in power, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent.
In a 14-page document, it complained of "a concerted campaign to convince people that they were conned by Fianna Fáil on the economic situation prior to the election".
"Nothing could be further from the truth," it claimed.
The detailed defence, emerging days after a disastrous showing for the party in the latest Irish Times/ TNS mrbi poll, is an indication of the deep concern shared by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and other senior figures.
Privately, senior figures believe the public has already reached a verdict that election promises were broken and the Government can do little to change their minds.
The Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll revealed that the Government's satisfaction ratings are at their lowest since Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats entered office in 1997.
Even more worryingly, 92 per cent of the public believe the Government has broken promises to improve the health service, while 79 per cent are equally scathing about the Government's performance on the economy.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party is set to keep up the pressure on the Government during a Dáil debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, seeking more investment in health, education and social services.
In its document, Fianna Fáil said: "In government, Fianna Fáil is taking the path that we promised the people we would take if elected. This government is leading as it promised, not misleading as has been alleged. There has been a concerted campaign to convince people that they were conned by Fianna Fáil on the economic situation prior to the election. Nothing could be further from the truth."
Defending spending curbs, Fianna Fáil said: "We are exerting fiscal control neither because of a misplaced love of careful management nor an irrational fear of borrowing.
"In the changed economic circumstances we are in today, we are managing our economy prudently because it is in the national interest." It said it is "deeply irresponsible to talk down the economy for political ends".
From July 2001, the Government warned that "more difficult waters" lay ahead, while the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, "clearly signalled the slowdown ahead" when he produced the 2002 budget in December 2001," it said.