Ahern denies any rift with FF’s coalition partners

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday played down suggestions of any rift with the Progressive Democrats, insisting that Fianna Fáil’s relationship with its coalition partners was “excellent.”

“They are our partners in Government, we work very constructively and very successfully with them,” Mr Ahern said.

He also rejected out of hand the contention that Fianna Fáil had sent out its backbenchers to the plinth in Leinster House to attack the influence of the PDs, or to suggest that their role in Government was responsible for their party’s poor election results.