Ahern rules out Sinn Féin coalition

THE Taoiseach last night insisted he would rather go into opposition after the next election than cut a deal with Sinn Féin.

Mr Ahern also hinted at modest tax cuts in the upcoming December budget as he used a slickly managed Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis as the spring board for a lengthy poll campaign.

He admitted if Sinn Féin kept up its momentum, it was set to win "a lot more seats" in the Dáil, but gave his clearest rejection yet of any future pact with them.

"I think if Sinn Féin were to get the vote they presently have then they will have a lot more seats and that is inevitable. For us in Fianna Fáil our job is to make sure that doesn't happen and make sure it isn't our seats," he said.

The Taoiseach added he would rather sit on the opposition benches than work with Sinn Féin, insisting the parties differ on practically every major policy area.

"I can't answer the question about what the situation in the next Dáil will be. But I can answer the question: 'Will Fianna Fáil be in a coalition government with Sinn Féin?' - the answer to that is no," he said.

Though fearful of being squeezed by a resurgent Sinn Féin, Mr Ahern made it clear the economy will be the main battleground of the next election as he branded Fine Gael and Labour high tax parties.

"We don't believe we need to raise any taxes for the foreseeable future in this country.

"There's not much more room to bring down taxes, but there might be a bit of room," the Taoiseach told TV3's The Political Party.

Meanwhile, in his leader's address at the Ard Fheis, Mr Ahern signalled he was determined to bulldoze through wide-ranging reform of public services.

He warned trade unions and interest groups like consultants they would not stand in the way of change.

Clearly concerned the electorate is not seeing improvements in frontline health services, the Taoiseach admitted there were serious problems in the system and tried to shift the blame.

Marking his battle lines for the partnership negotiations which resume today, Mr Ahern painted his critics as opponents of modernisation holding Ireland back.

"We are determined to address the issues and to sort the problems in A&E. We are investing in health, increasing resources and developing new services, but new resources must be matched by radical reform and full participation by all the partners in the health service. It is clear, very clear that in many accident and emergency units, we have not yet got it right."

Mr Ahern said he was putting forward a progressive public service agenda.

"We have no desire to depress the living standards or cheapen the working conditions of 350,000 public servants. We want the best for them provided they deliver the best for society."

Mr Ahern made clear he stood by Health Minister and Tánaiste Mary Harney despite the battering she has taken over her handling of the portfolio.

In the most personal part of his speech, the Taoiseach declared peace in Northern Ireland and prosperity in the south marked the "birth of a new republic". In echoes of Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech, Mr Ahern said Ireland had emerged from the shadow of the gunman.

"I always believed that dream could come true. Tonight, I can tell you that it has. The guns are silent and Ireland is at peace," he said, prompting a standing ovation.

Turning to the thorny issue of transport, Mr Ahern said the long awaited 10-year plan to get Ireland moving would be unveiled "in the coming weeks".