The Fianna Fáil leader has accused the government of planning "the most negative re-election campaign" in the history of the state.

Micheal Martin made the claim in a speech at this afternoon's Sean Lemass commemoration at Deans Grange Cemetery in Dublin.

Mr Martin accused the coalition of attacking their opponents rather than the problems facing the country.

He claimed "the one and only thing" the government thinks about is re-election.

Referring to government, he claimed: "It is obsessed with trying to manage news headlines and it is more aggressive than any previous government when it comes to shutting down debate and hiding information."