Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will claim at his party's 77th ardfheis in Dublin today that it is possible for his party to form an alternative government.

“The fundamental message I will give is, there is clear choice in the general election between a Fine Gael-led government and a Fianna Fáil-led government,” he said last night. “We have 70 candidates contesting the election, by far the largest list of any Opposition party.”

Mr Martin contradicted comments made late last year by the party's director of election Billy Kelleher, who said it would be unlikely for Fianna Fáil to enter government.

The party has ruled out any coalition arrangement with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin, precluding the most obvious combinations numerically.

Strong results

Based on its strong results in the 2014 local elections, Mr Martin he claimed Fianna Fáil had the potential to be the biggest party after the election.

“There is a choice between us and a Fine Gael party, the entire philosophy of which rests on looking after the wealthiest in society to the neglect of public services,” he said.

Mr Martin claimed public services had descended into chaos. He said the recent figures from Irish Water show the utility, far from being independent, was a significant cost to the Government.

Rising homelessness

He said the health service was under-financed and rising homelessness was the worst crisis since the foundation of the State.

“The Government took its eye off the ball on this issue and has refused to listen to the constant warnings about the crisis over the past few years.”

He said his party would restore the National Treatment Purchase Fund to reduce waiting lists, and also create 1,000 new GP posts. It would also create a ministerial position for disability.

Several thousand delegates are expected at the one-day convention in Citywest. Among the speakers will be UK political scientist Prof Tim Bale.