Parlon rules out coalition with Fine Gael

As Dáil parties bid to form the next Government, Progressive Democrats’ president Tom Parlon today appeared to rule out forming a coalition with Fine Gael.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern aims to lead the next administration with his 78 seats but Opposition leader Enda Kenny is also making contacts with parties and Independents.

Mr Kenny, whose party won 51 seats, needs support from the PDs as well as Labour, the Greens and Independents to win a Dáil majority.

Mr Parlon, whose Laois/Offaly seat was one of six lost by his party, said Mr Kenny had been in telephone contact with his acting leader Mary Harney.

However, he quickly added that he did not “personally see any major follow-up” to contacts made by Mr Kenny.

PD leader Michael McDowell and deputy leader Liz O’Donnell both lost their seats in the General Election.

The Taoiseach is in Berlin today for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel but it is believed that behind-the-scenes talks by Fianna Fáil are going on with other parties.

Asked about a possible Coalition deal with Fianna Fáil, Mr Parlon said: “It’s not about what we want to do at this stage. It’s the opportunity that is there.”

“There is an opportunity for the PDs to be involved in the next Fianna Fáil government if the proper terms can be negotiated,” he told RTE Radio.

Mr Parlon also said that serving in the Seanad would be a big honour if it became an option for him.

The 30th Dáil is due to meet a week from today.

The Green Party is holding a parliamentary party meeting this morning.

Laois/Offaly candidate and PD president Tom Parlon has said that Michael McDowell has "apologised for any of the mistakes that he made" at the meeting of PD election workers and candidates - at the Alexandria Hotel in Dublin.