Joan Burton rules out entering deal with Michael Lowry

Tánaiste Joan Burton has caved to pressure from her own ministers and ruled out a post-election deal with independent TD Michael Lowry, four days after the controversy erupted.

However, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, through his spokesman, again failed to rule out such a deal despite a host of Fine Gael TDs voicing their opposition to such a pact.

Yesterday, four Cabinet ministers — Ms Burton, her deputy leader Alan Kelly, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, and Health Minister Leo Varadkar — all belatedly moved to rule out a Lowry deal.