The Fianna Fáil leader has accused the Coalition of "bribery" in advance of the election.

His comments come after it emerged the coalition plans to spend as much as €1.5bn in bailouts to Departments such as Health to make up shortfalls in funding before the year end.

That is on top of extra money for spending next year and tax cuts to be announced in Tuesday's budget.

Micheál Martin says he is left with the impression that Fine Gael and Labour now plan to try and buy the electorate:

He added that whenever Fine Gael and Labour stop the bickering and call the election, his party is ready for them.

He says Enda Kenny's rhetoric of people voting for stability or chaos is wearing thin and that the chaos is in fact what the coalition is delivering in vital public services.

In a speech that was intended to be addressed to a Fianna Fáil fundraising dinner in Dublin last night, but was cancelled due to the tragedy in Carrickmines, Mr Martin once again challenged Enda Kenny to a debate, saying it can even take place at a Fine Gael meeting in Mayo.

Enda Kenny, he claims, is wriggling out of such a debate with stage-managed speeches and short interviews.

Mr Martin says there should be a proper 90 minute debate and, if the Taoiseach wants, to even let Michael Ring be the moderator and ask the questions.

He says Fianna Fáil is election ready, and has appointed former Minister Pat Carey as the party's director of elections.

Mr Martin says Enda Kenny needs to stop the campaign of saying a vote for the Coalition or the end of the world.

He opened his speech last night by offering his condolences to families of those who died in yesterday's tragic fire in Carrickmines, and thanked emergency services for their work.

Mr Martin said the country's heart goes out to everybody affected by the tragedy: