Bertie Ahern doesn't think there will be another election this year

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says he expects another general election in 2017, if Fine Gael forms a coalition based on independents and smaller parties.

Mr Ahern, who led a number of negotiations on the formation of Governments, says a deal between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be the last thing on either party's list of options.