Howlin refuses to rule out FF pact

LABOUR’S spokesman on justice Brendan Howlin pointedly refused to rule out a post-election pact with Fianna Fáil last night as party strategists predicted a Dáil tally of 30 TDs after the next poll.

Mr Howlin, seen as a possible replacement leader should Pat Rabbitte refuse to cut a deal with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in the event of a hung parliament, branded Fianna Fáil and the PDs politically “promiscuous”.

Mr Howlin said while the Coalition parties pretended to be committed to each other in public, they were looking around for other partners behind the scenes.