Days before the general election the leaders of the political parties are looking for votes.
As the 2002 general election draws closer, political party leaders continue to campaign for support.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was busy meeting mass-goers in Limerick. Bertie Ahern played down the results of an opinion poll published today which suggested that Fianna Fáil was running towards an overall majority.
Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan was campaigning in Dublin city centre after launching an attack on the government over the state of public finances. Michael Noonan also played down the latest poll results saying that they have under estimated support on the ground for Fine Gael. He said that the reports from the constituencies were totally divergent from the poll results.
This election is still a contest, a real contest, and I believe that the public are prepared to take Fianna Fáil out of office.
Labour leader Ruairí Quinn was campaigning in County Cork where he met patients and nurses at Kanturk Community Hospital where he listened to their concerns about the health sector. Ruairí Quinn believes that these people are not receiving the help and support they need from the Fianna Fáil government.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 May 2002. The reporter is Cathy Halloran.
