A number of economists are "absolutely wrong" in claiming there is a return to auction politics, according to Fianna Fáil's education spokesperson.
Thomas Byrne was responding to comments by Stephen Kinsella of the University of Limerick and The Currency, who said that a "dramatic escalation in electoral promises" which, he said, were not costed, risk "overheating the economy and adding to the national debt."
Economist Colm McCarthy has said the current rate of election promises is "utterly insane."
At the launch of his party’s education policy proposals, Mr Byrne said those accusations are "absolutely wrong."
He said: "We have not done that. What we have done is carefully considered every single option. We haven’t said what we want to do or what we would like to do. We have said all that we think we can do based on the money available".
Mr Byrne said the way policies are being proposed in this election is "totally different to what happened before" and that everyone needs to learn the lessons from the economic crisis.
"People really want politicians to mean what they say and follow through," he said.
Fianna Fáil is promising a freeze of third level fees as well as hiring more primary school teachers to bring the number of pupils per class down to 20 by 2025.
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fáil leader has ruled out a "grand coalition" with Fine Gael.
Speaking in Dublin, Micheál Martin said "people want change, they want Fine Gael out of office".
He said: "Fine Gael need to come out of Government, they have been there too long and they haven't delivered".
He was responding to a comment from Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar during last night's television debate in which he said his party would consider coalition with Fianna Fáil if that was the only option to deliver stable government.
Mr. Martin said Fine Gael has been attacking Fianna Fáil and demonising the party and then saying "hey presto, we'll go into Government with Fianna Fail."
He said it was "Jekyll and Hyde behaviour", which "doesn't wash with the public".
In response, Mr Varadkar response said allegations of acting like Jekyll and Hyde could also be levelled at Fianna Fáil.
He said if the numbers after the election do not give Fine Gael an overall majority then the responsible thing to do would be to work with Fianna Fáil to create a stable government.
Additional Reporting Fran McNulty, Vincent Kearney
