Ahern insists PDs are preferred option

As speculation about his government intentions continue, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has insisted his favoured concept was a new political deal with the PDs, headed by his Tanaiste, Mary Harney.

He said: ’’I have always said that coalition with the PDs was my preferred option for Government.

‘‘They have been my very honourable colleagues in Government. Our relationship has been very good. We worked very well together, and we are very proud of the Government we led for a record period in the history of this state.’’

Mr Ahern revealed that he had already seen Ms Harney since the election. They met briefly when the pair both attended a function in Dublin Castle today.

But there was no time for any discussions on a return to coalition.

Mr Ahern reported: ‘‘We just congratulated each other and exchanged good wishes.’’

He added, however: ‘‘I have no doubt that we will be talking again,’’

Apart from Fianna Fail and the PDs - who increased their parliamentary representation by 50% - the big election winners were the Greens - and Sinn Fein.

The IRA-allied party have now made big political inroads on both sides of the border, and their latest successes could have a knock-on effect for Northern Ireland.

In the wake of the hard-line republican advances, Mr Ahern and Ms Harney repeated the need for the IRA to disband if Sinn Fein is ever to serve in ministries in Dublin.

Meantime, the big losers from the poll, Fine Gael were tonight still licking their wounds.

The election ended with a drastic reduction in the party’s share of the national vote and a dramatic drop in their parliamentary strength.

The setbacks were so severe that leader Michael Noonan instantly announced his resignation after losing several members of his frontbench in an election slaughter at the hands of Fianna Fail.

Tonight, former minister Richard Bruton, one of the few top Fine Gael personnel to survive the count, said no one in the party had anticipated the scale of their defeat.

‘‘I think people were prepared from the opinion polls for the fact that we were going to be in difficulties.

‘‘But it has been very wounding. It has come as a huge shock to us. There is a lot of hurt out there that has to be overcome.’’

He added: ‘‘I don’t think there is any single cause for the collapse and we are going to take time out as a party to find out what lay behind that.’’

Mr Bruton is the brother of former Taoiseach John Bruton, who was ousted as Fine Gael leader by Mr Noonan after a series of poor opinion poll showings.

:: Counts and recounts of Friday’s votes were continuing in three constituencies tonight, with just a handful of the 166 seats still to be decided.

The state of the parties was Fianna Fail 79, Fine Gael 30, Labour 19, Progressive Democrats 6, Greens 6, Sinn Fein 5, Others 14.