Six things we learned from the election campaign trail today
For With Apologise Harris Carer Again Was Sunday Rté Forced Taoiseach News Simon Charlotte To Last Friday His Fallon Picture: Interaction On
It's all blue skies for Sinn Féin as Mary Lou McDonald said the mood on the ground is now "very reminiscent" of the last general election, during which Sinn Féin enjoyed a surge in support.
“I think the weather reflects our mood. You know, this might be a winter election, but we have sunshine today.
“I know, talking to people, particularly over the last week, this sense of purpose now, this sense of energy has come back very, very strongly."
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Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman braved the cold alongside Patrick Costello at the Luas Red Line terminus at the 3Arena on Sunday morning, making it clear that a €10 billion investment in public transport will be an essential commitment in any government formation talks.
A Luas system for both Cork and Galway, metropolitan rail services in Limerick and Waterford, Dart West, as well as increased local links around the country, are key demands.
"This is a red line issue for us. For too long in the previous decade, public transport was the poor relation when it came to transport spending in this country. We can't allow backsliding on these big projects that are going to make such a difference to people's lives," Mr. O'Gorman said.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was forced again on Sunday to apologise for his interaction with carer Charlotte Fallon last Friday.
Speaking in Mayo, Mr. Harris said he was "holding his hands up" on the incident but was not "over-analysing" it.
"I'm human; I make mistakes. But you know what I do when I make a mistake? I own it. I mean, there have been far too many occasions during general elections in this country and abroad where something goes wrong on the campaign trail, and people dilly-dally and debate for days. I put my hands up. I got it completely wrong. I was wrong, simple as."
Asked if he was worried about the incident overshadowing his candidates, the Taoiseach said he was focused on the campaign itself.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has roped in his family to support the Fianna Fáil election campaign.
His son, Micheál Aodh Martin, has taken a leading role in a video posted on the party's social media, talking about his father and pucking about on the GAA field with him.
Describing his father, he said: "Am I allowed to say he is late for everything? That's probably one trait.
"He's very hardworking; that's probably one thing he has tried to pass on to us. There is no such thing as a day off in his job, and that's the way it has been for as long as I can remember.
"The last thing is, he's probably fairly calm."
The general election race has tightened just days out from polling, as Fine Gael's support drops in a new poll.
The Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll shows that Fine Gael is down four points to 22% support, with Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil on 20% each.
The poll also shows that Independents and others are up three points to 19%, while Aontú is up two points to 5%.
The Social Democrats drop one to 5%, Labour remains unchanged at 4%, the Greens drop one to 3%, and Solidarity-People Before Profit stays at 2%.
Labour has launched a children's charter, with party leader Ivana Bacik hitting out at overdue assessments of need, homelessness figures among children, and child poverty rates. Given the level of exchequer surpluses being recorded, she said the government’s record was “shameful.”