Party stresses peace accord goal

Brian Cowen outlines party policy to a news conference

The consolidation of the Good Friday Agreement is the "single most important challenge" for the next Irish Government, the foreign affairs minister has said.

Brian Cowen was speaking at the launch of Fianna Fail's policy document on Northern Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.

It was the fourth day of campaigning ahead of the 17 May poll.

The political parties focussed on key issues which are expected to dominate the four-week campaign.

Bertie Ahern's party has been in a coalition government since 1997

Mr Cowen described the negotiation and implementation of the 1998 peace accord as the "single most important political achievement of the last five years."

He said Fianna Fail wanted to see the voluntary disbandment of all paramilitary organisations and a satisfactory conclusion to work of the decommissioning body as soon as practicable.

Fianna Fail has been the majority partner of a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats since 1997.

Mr Cowen stressed again that his party would not go into government with Sinn Fein as long as the IRA existed.

In its policy document, Fianna Fail said the priority should be consolidating the Agreement, so that it had "firm unshakeable roots, rather than raising the possibility of a united Ireland".

The party re-stated its preference that a border poll should should only be carried out when there was a real prospect of change to Northern Ireland's position within the UK.

Canvassing

Meanwhile, the main opposition party, Fine Gael, was expected to expand on its crime policy on Sunday.

The Labour Party was also expected to focus on crime when it unveiled the third stage of its manifesto on Sunday afternoon.

The Progressive Democrats leader, Mary Harney, canvassed in Laois-Offaly.

On Saturday, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael accused each other of engaging in "voodoo or Enron economics" in an attempt to buy votes.

Fine Gael unveiled its housing proposals and promised that if elected to government it would give one euro to first time buyers for every three euro saved for a mortgage deposit.

In response, Fianna Fail said Fine Gael was "attempting to ruin the republic's economic boom".

Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael launched their manifestos, concentrating on how to improve the state's infrastructure, health and education services.