Ahern: Election is not in country’s interests

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has described calls for a general election by Fianna Fáil backbencher Jim McDaid as "nonsense".

Speaking in Dublin today, Mr Ahern said an election would not be in the best interests of the country.

That sentiment has been echoed by former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald.

However, current Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said yesterday that he believed an election would be good for the country as it would lead to a stable government with a mandate to implement the changes necessary to mend the public finances.