THE leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, has refused to comment on remarks by the Fianna Fail chief whip, Mr Dermot Ahern, that his party would be "in the driving seat" in a future coalition with the PDs, who would have an "insignificant" say.

Speaking on Louth Meath FM radio yesterday, during a heated debate with the Fine Gael TD, Mr Jim O'Keeffe, Mr Ahern said that it was obvious that the policies of the Progressive Democrats were different to those of Fianna Fail in relation to the North and to privatisation.

However, while Fianna Fail policy was at variance with what Ms Harney had said in relation to Northern Ireland, he had no doubt but they would be "reconciled" in coalition. "Fianna Fail would be in the driving seat in that situation," he added.

Similarly in relation to the two parties' policies on the semi states, Fianna Fail would be "an extremely good halter" on the Progressive Democrats' "strident views ... that they would willy nilly privatise". If in coalition with Fianna Fail, the Progressive Democrats would have an "insignificant" or "very little say" because his party was by far the larger.

His party was facing the electorate "on its own two feet" and was not necessarily going into coalition with the Progressive Democrats, Mr Ahern said.

Mr O'Keeffe immediately claimed that Mr Ahern's mindset betrayed the fact that Fianna Fail was "pathologically" opposed to coalition.

The two men had been involved, earlier this week, in angry exchanges after Mr Ahern said in an RTE television interview that, if Fianna Fail was in a post election situation with no majority, it was duty bound to critically analyse the policies of all the other parties willing to do business with it.

Last night Mr Ahern - said his party was approaching the election without any pact arrangements and on the basis of its own policies. It was primarily trying to establish a single party government.

It was clear that the Progressive Democrats "are not the same as us and there will be different policies". Fianna Fail's track record in previous coalitions showed it was "in the driving seat" on Northern Ireland.

"Our view on the North would be in the ascendancy in a coalition arrangement with the PDs. But I do not regard it as an area of grave differences. I would not envisage differences," Mr Ahern said.

In relation to the economy, the Progressive Democrats represented a relatively small percentage of the population, while Fianna Fail was clearly larger with policies that were "not as insular" as the PDs.

"Privatisation is a very small element. They have a much more pro privatisation view and that is acknowledged. There is no doubt that, obviously, a compromise would have to be reached."

Meanwhile, nobody should take Fianna Fail for granted in a post election situation. His party would only consider coalition with the party it believed would implement its policies and this might very well involve compromise in "in the areas of conflict", he added.