Day three of the General Election campaign has seen Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the trail for the first time since calling the election.
He laid low the day of and the day after his announcement, which many political observers called unusual for a man known for his ground game.
The Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil party are focusing on pensions, while Fine Gael is seeking to highlight what it claims are a series of broken promises by the Government.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said this has been the hallmark of the current Government.
Speaking near Athy, Mr Kenny claimed Fine Gael would give its word, and stand by its promises.
The Greens were first out of the traps this morning, with the publication of a policy document on tax reform, promising a reduction in PRSI and adjustment to income tax bands, as well as a 1% cut in VAT.
This would be paid for by a €200m bank levy, a 5% increase in capital gains tax, and a €500m carbon levy.
Fianna Fáil has pledged that if re-elected it would introduce a new SSIA-type pensions savings arrangement that could cost the State billions of euro annually, but has not provided any funds for the scheme in its budgetary arithmetic.
Fianna Fáil's Séamus Brennan said that the scheme would be made attractive particularly for low income earners and that it would involve the State contributing at least one euro for every four contributed by savers.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also said that increasing the State pension to at least €300 a week is a core part of Fianna Fail's election platform.
At the same time, Labour was publishing a document setting out ten areas in which it believes a change of Government would make a difference to ordinary families.
Labour says the difference between it and the current Government was that Labour wanted to continue economic growth in order to build a better society.
And Sinn Féin today launched its Leadership Tour, which will see its leading party figures visiting a number of constituencies over the coming weeks.
The Progressive Democrats are focusing on transport issues today. Outlining his party's policy, PD leader Michael McDowell attacked the Greens who he said would halt Ireland's ambitious road programme in office.
He also said he was 'deeply unhappy' about his Government's performance in cutting lists for driving tests.
In a reference to union objections to outsourcing, Mr McDowell said there had been an overemphasis of the principles of social partnership and that vested interests had prevailed over the national interest.
