As the General Election campaign enters its final few days, political parties are focusing on housing, the economy and healthcare.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris will meet a number of small and medium businesses with his party focusing on the economy and the potential risks of a transatlantic shock hitting the country.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Harris said Fine Gael is setting aside billions each year to protect the country from economic shock.
"We are keeping current day-to-day spending at 5% which is the Department of Finance spending rule, and I think we are the only party committed to doing that," Mr Harris said, adding that his party's manifesto proposes setting aside €50bn as a buffer for future shocks.
"Some parties are choosing not to do that. I think that is reckless," he said.
The Fine Gael leader also said that no one is more annoyed with him than himself over his engagement with a care worker on a canvass in Kanturk, Co Cork, last Friday.
However, People Before Profit-Solidary candidate Mick Barry claimed that while Mr Harris projects himself as the "great listener" his track record is actually "very poor".
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said investment in public services is a priority for his party if returned to Government, adding that if external shocks come then "we will have to adapt".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said no one is expecting a recession next year but "we have to be prepared" and that is why his party in Government has invested in the Future Ireland fund.
"I’ve proven that I can lead through very difficult times and I will be in a position to do so over the next number of years," he said, adding: "But if a shock comes our way, I've said we have to adapt and all parties should agree."
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"Everyone's now creating a scenario that you're going to have a recession next year. I mean there's no one predicting that right now.
"And I think it's very legitimate for political parties based on the economic projections that we currently have to base our manifestos on that," he said.
"I've never, ever before seen manifestos based on the scenario that there's going to be an immediate recession after the election."
Fianna Fáil has this afternoon reiterated its promise to build 12,000 social houses and 10,000 affordable homes every year.
However, Sinn Féin is calling on Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien to, in their words, "come clean" and release the latest homeless figures in advance of the election.
Minister O'Brien has said that since 2020 the homeless figures have been published on the last Friday of the month. This schedule was agreed to depoliticise to the figures, he said.
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Speaking at the official opening of social homes in Dun Laoghaire, Mr O'Brien rejected Sinn Féin's call to bring forward the publication of the homeless figures, saying he does not control the figures, adding "nor should I".
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has that if the figures are published on Friday they would be lost in the news agenda. She has also denied that she is playing politics by calling for them to be published before polling day.
FF's Darragh O’Brien opens social homes in Dún Laoghaire. Says he won’t bring forward publication of homelessness figures due out on polling day. Denies Help-to-Buy is adding to property inflation now at 10% per annum. #election24 pic.twitter.com/JdWC0QEJtO
— David Murphy (@davidmurphyRTE) November 25, 2024
Ms McDonald will be campaigning in her Dublin Central constituency and will be taking part in a number of radio and television interviews.
She will also visit Deaf Village Ireland and an after-school programme on Sheriff Street.
The Social Democrats will publish its policy to provide greater supports for families while People Before Profit will outline its plan for universal free healthcare.
The Labour Party is launching its Dublin manifesto and the Green Party will announce details of the party's key priorities in the areas of arts and culture.
Aontú has vowed to keep the focus on accountability from government over what it terms the waste of tax payers' money.
Independent Ireland said that it will continue to highlight cost-of-living issues, housing and the challenges facing rural Ireland.
Tomorrow, the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Fine Gael will participate in a key RTÉ debate ahead of voters going to the polls on Friday.
Additional reporting Evelyn O'Rourke, Tommy Meskill, Paul Cunningham
