For the first time since the start of the 2007 General Election campaign, the parties were able to focus on the issue they wanted to focus on.
Sharp exchanges between Fianna Fáil and the main Opposition parties over the future of Ireland's low corporation tax regime dominated day 11 of the campaign.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny insisted he would veto any move to introduce uniform tax rates across the EU.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, the PDs, the Greens and Sinn Féin all now support keeping Irish corporation tax at 12.5%, in the belief that it is good for foreign investment and good for jobs.
But Fianna Fáil today devoted an hour-long news conference to claiming that the Opposition could not be trusted to resist moves towards harmonising tax rates across the European Union.
Finance Minister Brian Cowen called on the Opposition to give clear and unambiguous commitments to veto any such plan.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny did just that, while Labour's Ruairi Quinn pointed out that he was Finance Minister when the 12.5% rate was agreed by Government.
Although Fianna Fáil hit back with arguments about who did most to bring the low rate in, their attack on the Opposition on this issue appears to have misfired.
As its campaign continues, Labour published a plan to improve labour standards, while leader Pat Rabbitte focused on carers during a visit to Kerry.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny handed out hygienic hand gel outside Dublin's Rotunda Hospital to highlight the need for cleaner hospitals, and campaigned in Longford and Westmeath.
The PDs launched a poster campaign on long-lasting prosperity, the Greens published manifestos for both Dublin and Cork and Sinn Féin announced proposals for a major government-led housing strategy.
