Fine Gael has momentum for election win - Kenny

Fine Gael is on target to win the seats necessary to help form the next coalition government with Labour, party leader Enda Kenny claimed today.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael has the momentum to succeed in the next General Election.

At the party's autumn think-in taking place in Sligo, the Mayo TD said the party would fight the General Election with determination, coherence and confidence to win the extra seats needed to help form a new government with Pat Rabbitte's party.

"We'll provide the electorate with a clear and better alternative at the next election. Fine Gael and Labour will be the only prospective Government to publish an agreed programme in critical areas before that election," Mr Kenny said.

"Since the summer, Fine Gael and Labour have been working together on three areas of outstanding public concern: health, crime and the economy. We've made substantial and significant progress."

At the two-day gathering of TDs and Senators, party chairman Tom Hayes said the main Opposition party was confident it could reach its target of 30 extra Dail seats at the next General Election.

Mr Kenny claimed after 10 years of the Fianna Fail/PD Government people both wanted and needed a change.

With the next General Election due to take place within nine months, Mr Kenny said the party would be publishing detailed and substantial policies on critical issues in Irish society over the next few weeks and months.

"We'll make no false promises. We won't offer anything we do not believe we can deliver over the lifetime of the next Government. Therefore, when we say we won't increase taxes, people can trust us to keep our word.

"When we bring forward proposals for better policing and reform of sentencing, people can trust

us to implement them. When we say that we will not waste taxpayers' money, we will show, exactly, how we intend to do that," he said.

"Fianna Fail and the PDs want 15 years in power. After 10 years, they've given us 500 patients on trolleys, crime rates on the up and the highest cost of living in Europe."

Guest speakers at the party's think-in include journalist and author Paul Williams and barrister Paul Anthony McDermott on crime.

Ireland's future energy needs will be discussed with ESB chief Padraig McManus and Bioverda boss John Mullins, and IDA chief Sean Dorgan and Friends First chief economist Jim Power will be exploring Ireland's future economic prospects.