THE Taoiseach has said he will not be seeking the support of Mr Michael Lowry in the Dail vote to form a new Government.
As Fianna Fail continued to insist that Fine Gael and Mr Lowry are to all intent and purposes "the same political entity," the former Minister said yesterday that he will support Mr Bruton in the vote for Taoiseach.
Canvassing in his North Tipperary constituency, Mr Lowry confirmed again that he had given a commitment to Mr Bruton to support him in the Dail vote to elect a Taoiseach, and that that pledge remains.
However, Mr Bruton said that Fine Gael would not be seeking his support and if he did vote for him, "we will not he offering him anything in return."
Fine Gael's national press officer, Mr Niall O Muilleoir, said that the dispute about whether or not Fine Gael will "accept" Mr Lowry's vote is "totally phoney" since there is no mechanism by which a member of the Fail can be prevented from voting.
But Fianna Fail continued to highlight Mr Lowry's willingness to support the Taoiseach. According to the party's spokesman on the environment, Mr Noel Dempsey, "He really is John Bruton's forever friend" and the two politicians were "now umbilically linked."
Mr Lowry's confirmation of support "clears the air on an important political issue," the relationship between the two. Fine Gael had "flipflopped" on its intentions regarding the former Minister, Mr Dempsey said.
Speaking in Cork, Mr Bruton said he would not elicit Mr Lowry's support after the election. It was up to every member of the House how he or she voted.
When asked about reports that one of his junior ministers, Mr Bernard Allen, had been subsidised in his travel arrangements by the Olympic Council of Ireland, Mr Bruton said he had discussed the matter fully with Mr Allen and was satisfied that it had also been dealt with.
Mr Bruton said the coalition's plan was to create a net increase in employment of 200,000 jobs over the next five years. With the Government's new provision for lower interest rates the plan was achievable, he added.
Mr Bruton said that another priority, once his administration had been returned, would be greater State investment in education to ensure that a primary degree - which would become a big requirement for entry to the jobs market in the future - would be available to everyone no matter what their background.
He added that the abolition of third level fees would have a long term effect in bringing this situation about. The move was almost as important as the abolition of second level fees by the late Mr Donogh O'Malley.
A further aim of the Government, the Taoiseach went on, was to see to it that everyone in the State received an increase in take home pay and that physically fit young men who were sitting at home - which was neither good for them nor the country - would be offered a job or a training course.
The Government also wanted to ensure that in future those who worked overtime were rewarded by a much greater amount of money in their pay packets.
He said that the production of their own policy documents on issues such as jobs and taxation by the three partners in the coalition did not mean that they were at loggerheads.
There had been careful discussion between the partners on such policy matters, and the 21 point plan for government amounted to a single policy.