Fianna Fail's director of elections Billy Kelleher has told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the recovery in the economy over the last five years has not been evenly spread and has left many communities behind.
Mr Kelleher said that Fine Gael was "taking a €4bn punt or bribe" in this election and that Fianna Fáil offered a more "equal or fair" alternative.
He said people want a credible alternative and accused the last Government of being arrogant in expecting a "coronation" during the election.
He defended the introduction by Fianna Fáil of the USC starting with those on incomes as low as €4,000. He said he accepted huge pressure was put on families across the country but said "something needs to be done now to ensure the recovery benefits more people".
Mr Kelleher said the last Government had introduced cuts that were targeted at very specific groups such as those on low incomes and on State supports.
He said Fianna Fáil was offering a "prudent, fair manifesto" which targets those who most need it.
He added that the banking inquiry showed there was a range of factors, including external factors, which led to the economic crash besides just government policy at the time.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said while his party has acknowledged and learned from the mistakes it made in the past, this Government had not done so.
He pointed to the homeless crisis and the number of people on hospital trolleys.
Speaking in Cork, where he will spend today and tomorrow in his constituency, Mr Martin said his message to voters was that people need a change of government to ensure a fairer Ireland.
Asked if he backed the description by his health spokesman and Fianna Fáil director of elections Billy Kelleher on RTÉ's Morning Ireland that Fine Gael's promise to abolish the USC was a "bribe", Mr Martin said it was a naked attempt by Fine Gael to corner a certain section of the market.
