THE VAST MAJORITY of people do not believe Micheál Martin when he says he will not lead Fianna Fáil into a coalition with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin.
According to the latest Claire Byrne Live/Amárach poll, just 18% of people take Martin on his word.
Of those surveyed 64% responded ‘No’ to the question:
Michael Martin says he won’t lead Fianna Fáil into coalition with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin after the next election – do you believe him?
Another 18% said they did not know whether they trusted his claim or not.
Party leaders on all sides have been facing questions about the possible make-up of the next coalition for some months.
Martin remains steadfast in his view that he is the only alternative Taoiseach to Enda Kenny and has definitively ruled out coalition with Fine Gael, describing them as too right-wing.
However, despite these consistent claims it still remains the bookies’ favourite outcome when the country votes in the next general election.
Martin has also been heavily critical of Sinn Féin in recent years and has ruled out going into government with Gerry Adams’s party, although some in Fianna Fáil believe the possibility should not be ruled out.
There have been mixed messages from several of the party’s TDs, with some making known their wish to be back in power while others are not keen on the idea.
Former minister Willie O’Dea said last month that a coalition with Fine Gael would be the “end of Fianna Fáil as we know it”.
Another possibility that has been raised privately by some in recent months is that Fine Gael could lead a minority government with support from Fianna Fáil on vote-by-vote basis.
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