Bertie Ahern casts doubt on Fine Gael coalition claim as he refuses to rule out Áras bid

Former taoiseach says Fine Gael’s insistence that it won’t enter government with Sinn Féin should be taken with a grain of salt

'I never rule anything in or out, I’m too long around to know that,' Bertie Ahern told Irish Examiner Political Editor Elaine Loughlin at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Bertie Ahern has cast doubt over Fine Gael’s insistence that it won’t enter government with Sinn Féin, saying people should “take with a grain of salt” what is said ahead of the general election.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, the former Taoiseach has also refused to rule himself out of a tilt for Áras an Uachtaráin, revealing that he loves walking around Phoenix Park.