The Labour leader, Pat Rabbitte, has ruled out a coalition with the Progressive Democrats after the next election.
Mr Rabbitte was speaking at a party function in Dún Laoghaire in south Co Dublin last night.
Mr Rabbitte accused the PDs of breathtaking arrogance in suggesting that they might form part of an alternative government involving Fine Gael and Labour.
Mr Rabbitte said there was no precedent in Irish politics for a party in Government making an application to the Opposition to be considered for inclusion in the alternative government.
He said Labour wanted to work towards the creation of a fair society, and said there was nothing even remotely similar in what he called the hard-faced, market driven politics of the PDs.
Mr Rabbitte accused Michael McDowell of incessant self-praise and of producing a spray of promised legislation worthy of a garden hosepipe, but of actually delivering little reform.
