A MAJORITY of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party would prefer coalition with the Progressive Democrats rather than Labour if they fail to win an overall majority in the next general election.
Senior Fianna Fail sources yesterday confirmed that opposition to the idea of entering government with Labour is widespread.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has not ruled out the possibility of coalition with Labour, adding that his preferred option at the moment in the absence of an overall majority - was government with the PDs.
Senior Fianna Fail sources said last night the media had seized upon the fact that Mr Ahern had opened up the possibility of coalition with Labour and had given the impression that "we are opting for that party". However, such an impression has provoked anger and unease in the organisation, the sources added.
Sligo Leitrim TD Mr John Ellis told The Irish Times "a Fianna Fail/Labour coalition is not something that people will be voting for ... they would not wear it, no way". As party leader, Mr Ahern was entitled to say as he wished, but if he had consulted his parliamentary party, he would have got "a totally different message".
"We are not going into power for power's sake. Those days are over. Labour would be no option for us. There is no trust since the last time when they dropped Albert Reynolds and did a fudge to get out of government with Bertie Ahern ... Labour, in the present situation, would be the very last option," Mr Ellis added.
The electorate realised that in ending the coalition with Fianna Fail, Labour had committed "an unforgivable" act. The rainbow coalition that replaced the alliance had "failed on Northern Ireland," he said. It had given an 11 per cent increase in social welfare while workers only took a 3 per cent pay rise.
"We all agree that people should be paid social welfare, but you cannot have Proinsias De Rossa running wild with money that is needed for education and health," Mr Ellis added.
Dr Jim McDaid said that Mr Ahern was "a supreme strategist" when it came to elections.
"People do not realise that he has gone into the figures that show we are at 25 per cent in 21 constituencies. The Progressive Democrats are apparently only running 14 candidates and all options should be left open. This, unfortunately, is not the way Bertie's message came across in the media."
Mr Ahern had made it clear his preference was an overall majority and his second choice would be government with the PDs.
Donegal TD Ms Mary Coughlan said Labour would not be her first choice. Her party was pursuing an overall majority and "there will be no pact before an election".