Alternative coalition would be a disaster, says McDowell

THE alternative coalition is radically divided on core policy issues and would prove a “disaster” for the country if elected to Government, the Tánaiste claimed last night.

In a broadly negative speech, Michael McDowell issued a strong rebuke to Labour and Fine Gael and warned that if Sinn Féin was to enter government the State’s political and economic prospects would “take a decided turn for the worse”.

Marking his first national conference address as leader of the Progressive Democrats, Mr McDowell said the alternative coalition would amount to “weak government” with Enda Kenny as Taoiseach, Pat Rabbitte as Minister for Finance and Trevor Sargent as “Minister for Ending the Motorway Programme”.