It would be disappointing, however, if the campaign becomes dominated by policy sideshows.

Reform of the stamp duty regime is worthy of action but it does not deserve political priority over tackling the inequities in the health services or providing a world-class education system for Irish children. The challenges in the health service, in particular, require much more than what either alliance is currently offering, as was dramatically illustrated by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his report last week on contracts available to hospital consultants. John Purcell found that the new contracts could cost the taxpayer more money without an increased workload or service improvement. The report concludes that, at the moment, private patient treatment in public hospitals impacts on public patients' access to treatment. That is a national disgrace and deserves the type of political energy that the various parties last week expended on stamp duty.