IRELAND: Irish PM Ahern noses into lead on eve of election

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail party is favourite to lead a new Irish government for the first time since campaigning began but its main rival is still close behind ahead of Thursday's (May 24) vote, according to bookmakers. With many of the tax and spending policies of the main parties similar, voters looked to other issues to determine whom they would vote for. "The main thing that I would be looking for is that the crime we are seeing on the rise is being addressed" said Dublin resident Anna, who also added that she would like to see a drop in tax. Ahern supporter Tommy Clark said he was mainly concerned with continuing the current economic path. "The main issue on my mind would be stability and continuation of the present economic climate." he said, adding that the health service was an important issue. "A lot of money has gone into it. I know its not an easy issue to tackle, but I know the present government is going to do a good job on it." Dublin resident Seamus believed that whichever party won power, but said there would be problems ahead. "I think any government that is going to come in is going to have major problems to handle, to do with employment, to do with health services, to do with public transport, all those kinds of issues." Seamus said. Ahern's bid for a third term overseeing Ireland's thriving economy got off to a shaky start amid questions over his personal finances but publishing receipts cleared the air and an assured television appearance last week boosted his ratings. "Well, right at the moment it looks like Bertie Ahern might just get back in," said bookmaker Paddy Power. "I suppose public opinion has swung towards him in the last few days and the betting as well. That indicates he is back favourite. But only three or four days ago Enda Kenney was favourite. This is the closest election we've had for 20, 30 years maybe, so its really quite exciting." Ireland's politicians began their final day of campaigning on Wednesday (May 23) faced with a traditional media blackout preventing broadcasters from reporting on them. With little to chose between the tax and spending policies of the main parties, Ahern has stressed his credentials as a statesman, including helping broker peace in Northern Ireland. Opponents have responded by attacking a "shambolic" health system and failure to implement past pledges. Paddy Power ws offering odds of 9-4 that Ahern's Fianna Fail would end up in government with the Labour Party despite the fact that Pat Rabbitte, leader of the left-leaning party, has said repeatedly he will not share power with Ahern. It is expected that voter turnout is will be quite low says Paddy Power, but he disagreed. "Well, all the experts are saying that we are going to have a poor turnout at this general election," he said. "But it's so close this time I just can't see how they're right. We are offering betting on what the turnout would be and we are going favourite- hot favourite six to four that we are going to have more than 60 six percent of the people out." Labour is running on a joint ticket with Ireland's biggest opposition party, Fine Gael, in a bid to unseat Ahern. They are joint second favourite to win but only so long as they secure the backing of the so-far unaligned Green Party. Rabbitte's preferred "rainbow" coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens has been given odds of 3-1, but a tie-up between Ahern's Fianna Fail party and the Greens is seen as equally likely. The expected closeness of the vote means there is a wide range of possible coalition options and commentators believe days of horse-trading between parties trying to cobble together a majority are likely once results are in. STREET SCENES

ITN Source | May 24, 2007

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