FIANNA FÁIL’S LEADER has refused to be drawn on his party’s possible preferences if they were to enter into a coalition government after the next general election.
Speaking to Today with Sean O’Rourke’ on RTÉ Radio 1 today, Micheál Martin said he was “not happy” to get into the debate about who will be in power in two-and-a-half years, a line he has repeated many times over the past few months.
The party is currently “not contemplating going into power”, he said, claiming it was more focussed on “ideas, policies and what type of society [it] wants”.
“Franky, it is premature for us to be talking about forming the next government,” he added.
However, he did tell the presenter that Fianna Fáil will let the electorate know about its preferences in advance of the general election.
“Our preference is to stand as an independent party…but I think people are fed up about the idea of who fills the chairs.”
Asked specifically about any potential coalition with Sinn Féin by a listener, Martin said he would have “major problems” but refused to dismiss the idea altogether.
Explaining the statement, he said he believes that if Sinn Féin’s economic policies were implemented at the beginning of this Dáil session, then Ireland’s deficit would have doubled.
Responding to similar questions about a possible power-sharing government with Fine Gael, he said he would never rule anything in or rule anything out.
“It depends on the issues and policies that we put forward,” he concluded.
Today with Seán O’Rourke offered listeners the change to put questions to the Fianna Fáil leader, who was criticised by some callers for the role he played in the previous government when Ireland’s banks were guaranteed and an international bailout requested.
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