For at least ten days after the launch of the Fianna Fáil manifesto earlier this year, much to the chagrin of many commentators and members of Opposition parties, we concentrated on the economy. A great deal of the debate took place at press conferences held at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., which was much too early for some journalists to attend. Had they been present, they would not have made such outlandish comments during the past six months about what was or was not promised.