Micheál Martin insists party can get into power alone

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has ruled out going into coalition with any of his party’s main political rivals — despite insisting he is still aiming to become Ireland’s next Taoiseach.

Speaking on the final day of the opposition party’s two-day conference in Roscommon, Mr Martin said he had no intention of entering government with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin should the opportunity arise, and dismissed Labour’s relevancy in any future general election campaign.

The strong words come at a time when Fianna Fáil languishes on 18% in the latest opinion poll — behind Fine Gael on 28%, Sinn Féin on 23% and independents/others on 23% — meaning they will almost certainly need to join a coalition if they are to have any chance of forming part of a future government.