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.