IT’S DAY EIGHT of the election campaign – here’s the latest:

• It was well-flagged but yesterday it became official – Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch will contest the general election as an Independent in the Dublin Central constituency.
• Taoiseach Simon Harris faced some questions by students on a tour of DCU and was also confront on the issue on homelessness on Capel Street.
• People Before Profit pledged free childcare, public transport and healthcare as part of its pitch to voters.
• It’s also another action packed schedule for campaign teams today, with Labour launching its health policy later, while the Greens will unveil its policies for improving transport safety.
• Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman will also be in Cork to launch his party’s campaign for Cork city and county. 
• People Before Profit meanwhile will call for free and frequent public transport in Dublin this morning, and Fine Gael will launch its plan for a “safe and secure Ireland” by strengthening gardaí and national security.
• Fianna Fáil are also getting in on the safety act and will unveil its plan to “tackle crime and keep communities safe”.
• The Social Democrats will launch its housing policy and outline its vision for healthcare in Ireland.

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