The Fianna Fáil leader has tonight accused the Environment Minister of manipulating the redrawing of boundaries to assist Fine Gael and Labour in May's local elections.

In his opening address to the party's Ard Fheis in Killarney, Micheál Martin says this is the only thing Phil Hogan has been micromanaging in the Department of the Environment.

Micheál Martin told delegates the Government was big on talking about reform, but added that this is largely spin.

And he says Environment Minister Phil Hogan has been micromanaging protecting Fine Gael and Labour in May's local elections.

Mr Martin's accused the Minister of manipulating election boundaries:

"He’s completely changed local authority boundaries and seat numbers to try and save as many of their seats as possible.

"It is the biggest attempt to manipulate election boundaries in the 35 years since Fianna Fáil introduced independent Boundary Commissions."

And he didn't hold fire on Labour either - accusing Joan Burton of being as right-wing as any Tory, and saying her "get off the couch" move to cut young people's dole was the same as "get on your bike" from Norman Tebbitt.