Kenny seeks to quash Fine Gael Fianna Fáil coalition talk

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has moved to rule out in a more definitive way a possible coalition arrangement with Fianna Fáil.

Mr Kenny said on Monday that he was the first party leader to rule out the possibility of a coalition with the party's traditional rival. "I've ruled them out on at least ten occasions in the last fortnight and I do so again now, very clearly," he said.

Mr Kenny was responding to a question about remarks he made on Sunday at the launch of the Fine Gael manifesto. Mr Kenny said he was “not contemplating” any such arrangement with Fianna Fáil following the election. They were received as the Taoiseach softening his stance and leaving the door open to a possible coalition with Fianna Fáil.

But responding on Monday he criticised that interpretation. “I thought people in the media are very careful about records.

“I was the first party leader to rule out Fianna Fáil,” he said.

Mr Kenny has said his preferred government is a continuation of the Fine Gael and Labour Coalition that has been in power since 2011.

He was speaking at the launch of Fine Gael’s health policy document at a new purpose-built primary care health centre on the Navan Road in Dublin 7.

Earlier, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said he would have a problem going into government with Fianna Fáil.

He was responding to a question on the possibility of a Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil coalition during which he was asked about the comment he made in January in a newspaper interview in which he stated: “I don’t have any ideological problem with forming a coalition with Fianna Fáil. There are a lot of good people in Fianna Fáil. I could work with them”.

However, on Monday, Mr Coveney said: “What I said was I don’t have any hangover from Civil War politics. But I do have an issue with going into government with Fianna Fáil.