The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday his preferred coalition partner after the next general election would be the Progressive Democrats.
Asked to clarify his position on coalition, Mr Ahern said if Fianna Fail did not win an overall majority he would be "very happy" to stay with his current Government partners.
"It is the result that would be our preferred option," Mr Ahern said at the close of the two-day Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting in Kilkenny.
He criticised Fine Gael for ruling out coalition options in advance of the next election.