Coalition starts push for second term

The Coalition has fired the first shots of the next general election and pushed for a joint second term.

As the Government faced criticism of its four years in power, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he would not destabilise the country by agreeing to calls for an early general election next year. But he also said the Coalition had made mistakes.

His defence comes as gardaí prepare to mount a ring of steel around Leinster House today ahead of a protest against water charges.