The second week of election campaigning begins today as the party leaders continue their tours of the country.

Fine Gael will launch its policy on improving public services, while Labour will reveal its tax plans - including the phasing out of USC for those earning under twice the average wage.

Sinn Féin meanwhile will be outlining its own tax plans of another sort, explaining how it would fund the abolition of property tax.

Fianna Fáil’s Micheal Martin is on home turf in Cork, handing in his nomination papers in the city this morning.

Elsewhere the Right2Change campaign will present its full list of candidates who oppose the water charge.