Taoiseach won’t rule out Fianna Fáil coalition

Taoiseach Enda Kenny failed to rule out entering a coalition with Fianna Fáil, despite saying the opposition party has “no credibility” and that handing over the economic recovery to rival groups could throw Ireland back into a recession.

The Fine Gael leader took the position at the launch of his own party’s election manifesto yesterday, which has itself been criticised for making more than €4bn worth of promises to voters which may not be met if there is a fresh financial downturn.

In a 12-minute speech in which he referenced the word “recovery” 22 times —the equivalent of once every 40 seconds — Mr Kenny said the economic stability achieved under the coalition is “fragile and incomplete” and cannot be “taken for granted.”