Fianna Fáil rejects coalition proposal

Senior Fianna Fáil members have rejected a suggestion by Simon Coveney, the agriculture minister, that they could go into coalition with Fine Gael after the next general election.

Despite being 15 months out from the next planned election, the TDs yesterday insisted they would not prop up Fine Gael in any deal to keep the government party in power.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin rejected the proposal and dismissed what was seen as glowing compliments from Mr Coveney.