Simon Coveney stands over his coalition remarks

Simon Coveney, the agriculture minister, has defended his remarks about a possible Coalition with Fianna Fáil following bitter criticism, both publicly and privately, from senior Labour figures.

One of his own Fine Gael party TDs even went as far as to suggest anybody supporting the idea of forming a government with Fianna Fáil after the next general election “would want their head examined”.

The backlash for Mr Coveney, tipped as a possible future leader of Fine Gael, came after his interview with the Irish Examiner this week in which he said he could work with Fianna Fáil in power.