Taoiseach refuses to speculate on coalition

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday pointedly refused to speculate on coalition arrangements for Fianna Fáil after next year’s elections, saying he would begin to consider the matter only when the results come in.

The Taoiseach, speaking at the annual “think-in” of his party in Westport, would not be drawn on any possible deals with Labour and the Greens.

However, in a major policy development, Mr Ahern disclosed that the Government’s new target for renewable and alternative energy such as wind power is likely to be 30% of the national grid within 20 years. At present, less than 5% of our energy needs is supplied by wind power, and the current target for the next two decades is 13%, less than half the new figure.