Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has challenged the Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to a televised debate before the June elections.
Mr Gilmore said that national issues were dominated by the European, local and bye-elections.
He added that the different policies of the three main parties should be set out before the voters.
When it was pointed out that Labour only had 40% of the Dáil seats of Fine Gael, Mr Gilmore said these were changed times.
He said these elections were about whether Labour or Fine Gael offered the real alternative to the current Government.
Asked if he would rule out forming a coalition with Fianna Fáil, Mr Gilmore said his aim was to get that party out of Government and into Opposition.
Cowen defends economic policies
The Taoiseach has defended his Government's economic policies and claimed that people want to see him getting on with the job of taking decisions that will see the economy recovering as soon as possible.
He was speaking at the launch of the Fianna Fáil European election campaign.
Fianna Fáil is defending its four European Parliament places but is under pressure in Dublin where the number of seats has been reduced by one.
The Taoiseach said at a time of crisis for Ireland and the world, the European Parliament was more important than ever before.
He said a vote for Fianna Fáil would be a vote for a full and positive engagement with the European Union.
