It's been a long week of campaigning ahead of the general election on February 8th, with policy launches, TV debates and lots of canvassing.
While today was dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's manifesto launches, politicians were still on the ground across the country - knocking on doors and trying to win votes.
In Wicklow, Fianna Fáil's Stephen Donnelly is contesting an election under the party banner for the first time - having been elected as an independent in 2011 and as a Social Democrat in 2016.
Canvassing this evening, Mr Donnelly spoke with 10-year-old Conor from Greystones - with the schoolboy expressing his concerns that people are just "sitting on trolleys" in Irish hospitals.
"It's not good enough" - 10 year old Conor from Greystones shares his concerns about the trolley crisis with FF Health spokesperson @DonnellyStephen #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/t2c4D9MfOR
— Niall Colbert (@NiallColbert1) January 24, 2020
The Fianna Fáil politician pledged to work "night and day" to address such issues if he's re-elected.
'General strike'
In Dublin earlier, People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett proposed a general strike to address the "disgraceful decision" to raise the pension age.
He argued: "We should take a leaf from the book of workers in France who've succeeded in protecting their pension age by getting out on the streets in massive demonstrations and a general strike."
People Before Profit's @RBoydBarrett calling for workers to take to the streets in a general strike to ensure their "pension rights and entitlements are not stolen from them." #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/h1PQwOnixo
— Niall Colbert (@NiallColbert1) January 24, 2020
'The focus is just in Dublin'
Ahead of the Fine Gael election launch, meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar canvassed in the Grafton Street area of Dublin - where he was confronted about the housing and homeless crisis.
One man said he wanted to go back to live in his hometown of Cork - but suggested the policy and economic focus is "just in Dublin" at the moment.
He argued: "I've actually worked in the Oireachtas, so I've seen it first hand... there's just a massive disconnect."
He also highlighted the major role of tech giant Apple in Cork, adding: "There's a massive dependency on Apple - if Apple was to disappear tomorrow... you'd have a bigger issue on your hands."
New: Taoiseach is confronted on the homeless issue on . Also requested to focus on regional areas. #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/0Vcl4IFQK0
— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) January 24, 2020
