Labour hits out at Government parties for talking about coalition partners as distraction from their failings

TD Duncan Smith said Labour was not in favour of propping up 'the old ways' and aimed to talk to other parties on the left to create a bloc

Labour Party transport spokesperson Duncan Smith said the MetroLink would be a red line issue for Labour in any government coalition talks and the aim was to have work on the project 'well progressed' in the course of the next government. Picture: Gareth Chaney / Collins Photos

Labour has accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of using the topic of potential coalition partners as a bid to distract the public from their shortcomings.

Although polls place the Labour Party as the favourite — among party leaders and the public — to join a coalition with one or more of the major parties, TD Duncan Smith said Labour was not in favour of propping up "the old ways".