Mary Harney has rejected Fine Gael claims that the Progressive Democrats are ambivalent about Fianna Fáil in Government.
Senior Fine Gael frontbenchers had claimed that the Progressive Democrats have to decide whether Fianna Fáil is fit to govern at all. Over the last few days, the Progressive Democrats have been warning about an overall majority, putting up election posters, saying "One-Party Government? No Thanks".
The Tánaiste said this morning that the issue was one of coalition government. She said people recognised it as being far better than any single-party arrangement.
Ms Harney said she would be opposed to any party ruling on its own, claiming that many Fianna Fáil supporters agreed with this.
Ms Harney also criticised Ruairí Quinn's refusal to take part in a television debate with her. She said the Labour leader had debated publicly with Gerry Adams and she could not understand his objection to engaging with the outgoing Tánaiste.
