The Labour Party says it will provide much-needed balance in the next government - and will treat compromise 'as a national duty' if elected.

The comments came as it launched its general election manifesto in Dublin this morning, including a promise of full employment by the end of 2018.

It also includes a plan for state support to help buyers save for a deposit, with up to €6,000 paid to savers over five years, and to raise the national minimum wage to the 'living wage' of €11.30 per hour.

The party says Fine Gael and Labour are the only viable option for a stable coalition - while other parties, even if they were to form a stable government, have not fleshed out their policies on the likes of Irish Water.

The party also says any falling popularity is the result of having to make the difficult decisions it has been forced to make in power, but that it now stands prepared to finish the job it claims to have started.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: