It's that time of year again, when politicians you haven't seen since the last election are shaking your hand on the street and dropping leaflets in your door. It all gets a bit confusing. So I've decided to write this article to show you un-decided voters what each party is promising this time round, and what they've done in the past.

1) Fianna Fail: the largest political party in Ireland, Fianna Fail has been in power with the PD's for the last 10 years. They have greatly strengthened the economy in that time. They have created thousands of jobs in their time of power, decimating Ireland's emigration figures. They have worked together with Northern Ireland to establish power-sharing there. However there are concerns about class sizes in Primary schools, Fianna Fail TD Mary Hanafin being in charge there. Also, Fianna Fail has been spending a lot of money without return. The e-voting system costs the tax-payer 1 million and the Spire cost 4.4 million. The Port Tunnel cost 752 million but that's up to you whether or not it was worth it. The M50 is seen as a failure in the eyes of many, although much of its cost (which I cannot find figures for) was spent on legal procedures due to protestors. However the Luas is widely seen as a success by voters. Martin Cullen (Fianna Fail) is the Minister for Transport.

Finally, Fianna Fail has had some corruption scares over the past year or two. Ivor Callely used Government funds to pay for his decorating costs for his house, and Bertie Ahern was accused of using his position as Taoiseach to earn money in Manchester when he was Minister For Finance (which he isn't allowed do.) And finally (although this applies to both Fianna Fail and the PD's) government pay rises have reached shocking figures. The current Taoiseach, Tnaiste and Cabinet Ministers have received 24 pay rises in the past 10 years. Bertie Ahern now earns 140% more than he did when he took office in 1997, and the average industrial wage has gone up by less than 60%. Make of it what you will.

This time around Fianna Fail is promising 300 per week pensions. They are promising to recruit 2,000 more Gardai. They will introduce a community payback scheme requiring offenders to perform real services to the communities they've harmed, and they will invest in prevention and rehabilitation measures if re-elected.

2) The PD's. Having been in power with Fianna Fail, they are also partially responsible for the strengthened economy. They have created thousands

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