Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has said health will be his party's first priority if it is in Government after the election.
Addressing party members in Cork, Mr Rabbitte claimed that Mary Harney had failed in the Department of Health.
He claimed Labour would build extra hospital and community care beds, reform Accident and Emergency departments, support family doctors, and ensure that hospitals are clean.
The party has predicted that it can win 30 seats at the forthcoming General Election and is repeating its claim that there is now a clear and realistic alternative to the current Government.
Asked about PD leader Michael McDowell's plans for tax cuts, Mr Rabbitte repeated his pledge that taxes would not go up with Labour in Government.
McDowell addresses party members
Earlier Mr McDowell promised what he said would be 'radical new programmes' on taxation, energy and agriculture from his party.
Speaking at his party's 'think in' in Malahide, the PD leader said his party aimed to double its Oireachtas representation at the next General Election.
He also said the Progressive Democrats were committed to addressing the level of stamp duties, claiming that the State did not need what he said was the 'massive level' of funds the measure generates.
Stamp duty will generate 2.6 billion this year and Mr McDowell said the Government did not need the inflow given the current exchequer buoyancy.
He pledged the party would address the issue as a priority in its policy programme.
Today's meeting was the first formal opportunity for Mr McDowell to address his party since he took over the leadership earlier this month.
When he was elected, the Minister for Justice said he would use the meeting as a jumping off point for their election campaign.
