Ahern insists relations in coalition are good

There are no tensions between the coalition partners, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said today.

There are no tensions between the coalition partners, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said today.

"Relations are good and we are working progressively with them [the Progressive Democrats]," Mr Ahern told reporters.

Reports of a rift in the coalition partners arose following Fianna Fáil's poor performance in local and European elections last week.

Relations are good and we are working progressively with them
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern

Mr Ahern was speaking at the official launch of a €1 billion health and education development in Grangegorman in North Dublin. A quarter of this sum will be invested in care facilities for children with disability with the remainder funding the development of a new central campus for DIT.

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The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, was also in attendance. He denied that yesterday's four-hour Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting was acrimonious.

"It was constructive and positive," Mr Dempsey said. "There was broad agreement on how the party should move forward," he added.

During the meeting, the Taoiseach rejected a call from Dún Laoghaire TD Mr Barry Andrews to reshuffle Cabinet earlier than September.

He did however, offer to meet backbenchers over the coming months to discuss their criticisms of the Government's performance in the wake of the party's worst election since the 1920s.