Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday made light of comments by Tánaiste Mary Harney that she would welcome a coalition deal with Fine Gael and that many PD supporters would favour such a deal rather than going back into government with Fianna Fáil.
In an interview with the Sunday Tribune, Ms Harney said she did not have a preference regarding a potential coalition with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. She said she had no preference either in relation to working with Mr Ahern or Mr Kenny as taoiseach.
However, Mr Ahern appeared to give little credence to the comments when questioned by journalists in Cork yesterday morning.
"I think at the end of the election, the people are going to have to decide. I think everyone is going into government with everyone - it looks like we're going to end up with a national government, the way were are going," he said.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny dismissed the comments as pointless, unless the Progressive Democrats decided to leave Government.
He said the PDs "need to make up their minds. They are part of Government and, as far as Fine Gael is concerned, we want to 'knock them out'."
A spokesman for the Tánaiste said her comments were no different from those she made earlier this month.