Minister for Health Leo Varadkar on Sunday night reiterated his opposition to any coalition deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil even if it would mean the country avoiding a second general election after opinion polls showed the country may be heading for a hung Dáil after the election.

Mr Varadkar firmly ruled out Fine Gael doing any deal with Fianna Fáil even as a series of opinion polls showed that a Fine Gael-Labour coalition would be dependent on other parties and Independents as support for both Government parties either dropped or remained static.

Speaking in Cork where he launched the campaign of Fine Gael Cork South Central TD Jerry Buttimer, Mr Varadkar said the opinion polls clearly showed it was "still all to play for" in advance of the February 26th vote and it was essential Fine Gael retained seats such as that held by Mr Buttimer.

“I think the opinion polls indicate that it is all to play for - it has the potential government of Fine Gael and Labour in around 40 per cent and the potential alternative government of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin in around 40 per cent so it’s all to play for,” said Mr Varadkar.

“And that’s why I am in Cork tonight because the seat we are defending here in Cork South Central with Jerry Buttimer, is crucial - it’s most likely the last seat is between Sinn Féin and Fine Gael and we want to make sure we hang onto it.”

Fundamental opposition

Mr Varadkar went on to his explain his fundamental opposition to Fine Gael doing any deal with Fianna Fáil, irrespective of whether the two parties provide the only option for stable government to avoid a second general election later this year.

“A Fine Gael deal with Fianna Fáil is not on the cards and it’s really not on the cards for two reasons - firstly, because Fianna Fáil needs to spend more time in opposition - I don’t think they can yet be forgiven for the economic disaster they inflicted on this country.

“And also it is the same Fianna Fáil. It’s the same people at the top of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, Mary Hanafin trying to come back, some of their former ministers on the campaign trail - it’s the same old Fianna Fáil and I don’t think any form of coalition with them can be considered.”

Mr Varadkar said people read an awful lot into individual opinion polls at particular times when another one will appear in a few days’ time and there was a real danger they could be overanalysed.

“The public haven’t voted yet and that’s what the election campaign is about - and that’s why I am here in Cork tonight to support Jerry Buttimer and hang on to a very tight seat here in Cork South Central in a very tight contest with Sinn Féin.”