Those who can afford to pay the most tax should do so to protect the less well off, Gerry Adams said.

Workers who earned up to €100,000 would benefit from voting Sinn Féin, the party president claimed. The marginal tax rate under his party would be below 39% for those taking home below 30,000 euro and below 50% for employees paid up to 100,000.

Labour has claimed he tied himself in knots on the most basic details of his own tax policy during a broadcast interview.

Mr Adams said: "It is about those who can pay most paying most and getting back the satisfaction of knowing that other people have the benefit of protections which they are being denied under this Government and they themselves are getting value for money."

The Sinn Féin president was interviewed on RTÉ this morning.

Ged Nash, Labour's business minister, said the broadcast should make Irish people relieved Mr Adams and his party were not offering themselves for government. Mr Adams has ruled out being a junior partner in a coalition government.

He alleged: "Over the course of the interview he tied himself in knots on the most basic details of his own tax policy, which the interviewer had a much clearer grasp of.

"Mr Adams simply had not a clue about his own tax policy."

He said the Sinn Féin leader appeared to suggest his party would offer a "bonanza" to the highest earners through a 7% tax rate on earnings above 100,000.

"He also appeared to have little or no concept of the marginal tax rate."

Mr Nash said the government had to make ends meet.

"This seems to be an alien concept to Gerry Adams, who is completely out of touch with the realities of running a country, a family home or the challenges for job creators."

In a reference to his electoral rival's Twitter habits, Mr Nash added: "All told, Irish families would be better off if Gerry Adams retreats to his holiday home, his bath, his rubber ducks and his teddies, rather than be allowed anywhere near the national finances."

Mr Adams said he had no concerns about his tax policy.

"On average a middle earner in this state, 50% earned below 30,000 and they are the people, along with those up to 100,000, who will benefit from Sinn Fein's policies.

"The marginal rate for those will be below 39% and up to 100,000 will be below 50%, so I have no fear about all of that."