FF leader rules out deal with SF in event of hung Dail

THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has ruled out any discussions with Sinn Fein on the formation of a new government on the grounds that this would send the wrong signals to unionists in the North.

Indicating that he was applying rules to Sinn Fein which he would not apply to any other party, or to Independents, in the event of a hung Dail, Mr Ahern stated categorically that he would neither enter into an alliance with Sinn Fein nor hold prior discussions with any Sinn Fein TD to form a government. His officials and advisers would also be precluded from seeking Sinn Fein support.

In a last minute pitch at the electorate to prevent a hung Dail, Mr Ahern even refused to dismiss the prospect - three days before polling - that Fianna Fail might decide to go into opposition rather than do half a dozen deals to get into government.

Mr Ahern told political correspondents that he regretted and condemned in the strongest possible way all the things which had occurred in the past few days in the North - the killing of an RUC constable and the discovery of an IRA landmine in Belfast. "I still believe that, at this critical juncture, the Government should continue to explore talks with Sinn Fein at official level," Mr Ahern said. "There is clearly an opportunity there to make progress and progress is, I understand, being made between British government officials and Sinn Fein."

The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, had said after the discovery of the bomb in Belfast that he would have to "think very hard" before allowing further contact between Government officials and Sinn Fein. However, Mr Ahern believed the indications were that an unequivocal IRA ceasefire in the short term could still be achieved. The British government was saying that it was not going to wait around forever for an answer to that question - "and rightly so". Mr Ahern added: "If we are in government next week, I will be saying the same thing."

Pointing to the difficulties of the Northern marching season, Mr Ahern said: "We are going to have to see movement fairly sharply."

Asked if he would consider a three party coalition with the Greens in the event of a hung Dail, Mr Ahern said that, after the election, it was a matter for all the parties to look at the situation. However, doing deals and giving things to individuals would not be the way to bring stability to the State for the next five years.

Asked how Fianna Fail, in government, would handle the Northern peace process, Mr Ahern replied: "You can take it that certainly in the initial period, if I am elected, I am going to personally handle the issue with whoever is Minister for Foreign Affairs." He added that he was going to "give it one genuine try over the next couple of months".

Questioned further about his attitude to Sinn Fein support in the event of a hung Dail, Mr Ahern insisted that he would not enter into discussions with Sinn Fein, nor would anybody else do so on his behalf. This would send out all the wrong signals, since he intended very soon after the election to engage himself in discussions with the unionists.