Fine Gael has pledged to keep wages rising and to create 200,000 new jobs between now and 2025.

Speaking at the launch of the party's economic plan,  Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar promised responsible management of the economy and to end the cycle of economic boom and bust.

The plan also aims to increase investment on infrastructure.

Paschal Donohoe said better jobs will require the best Brexit deal and only Fine Gael has the team in place to achieve this.

The General Election 2020 campaign is focusing on Brexit and the economy after the first day of campaigning was dominated by housing.

Fianna Fáil has accused Fine Gael of being good at spending money but not "getting value for money".

Reacting to Mrl Donohoe's claim over how Fianna Fáil will manage public spending, the party's finance spokesman Michael McGrath said: "When you look at the stinging criticisms, not just from Fianna Fáil but from the independent watchdog, Fiscal Advisory Council, they have been highly critical of Fine Gael's spending record in recent times, the overruns in Department of Health and the HSE and other departments as well.

"I think he's (Mr Donohoe) just making that up as he goes along. That is not the Fianna Fáil way.

"I think it annoys Fine Gael that Fianna Fail is taking a very responsible, cautious and prudent approach to the Irish economy.

"They would rather it were different.

"Fianna Fáil will manage the Irish economy responsibly and do a better job at the public finances than Fine Gael have been doing." 

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Fianna Fáil wants a renewed focus on the SME sector across the regions.

It is also seeking to enhance the Rainy Day Fund and will today call  for further reform of the insurance sector. 

Labour party leader Brendan Howlin has called on the party to be more humble on the role it played in the Brexit negotiations to date.

Mr Howlin said it had got consistent all-party support and had the backing of some of the finest public servants in Europe.

Sinn Féin, meanwhile, will commit to halting planned increases to the age at which workers are entitled to a pension and will bring the pension age back to 65 years. 

Additional Reporting PA