Tánaiste Micheál Martin has declared that he will lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election, saying: "Yes I will be, absolutely."
Speaking to the media after his party's parliamentary party meeting in Tipperary, he contended that a "whole range" of Sinn Féin policies were "incompatible" with Fianna Fáil and regarding possible future coalition options, he said: "They wouldn't be our first choice, at all."
Mr Martin accused Sinn Féin of being "anti-enterprise", warning that the party is also "anti the entrepreneurial culture that has been central to the economic development of this country over decades".
He claimed Sinn Féin was "anti-European" and would "reach for the tax weapon" if there was an economic crisis in the future.
Mr Martin also derided Sinn Féin's climate change credentials claiming the party was "particularly two-faced" and "lacking any commitment" to the issue but instead preferred playing politics.
The Tánaiste also accused Sinn Féin of being "very, very slow to bring closure to the victims of Provisional IRA violence".
Mr Martin said that the electorate will decide "the numbers" but his party will "stick to its policies".
Govt to 'reflect' on nitrates meeting with IFA
Mr Martin said he and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue had a "constructive" meeting with Irish Farmers' Association leaders at his party’s think-in, adding that they would now "reflect" on the discussions.
The meeting was arranged after protesters from the farming organisation refused to talk with Mr McConalogue over nitrates reductions and late farm payments.
Mr Martin said they would examine what help they could provide to "certain farmers who are in derogation but who have fulfilled a lot of their obligations".
He said the big challenge would be "leading into 2026" when the Government would be seeking "the retention of the derogation at 220[kg of nitrates per hectare]".
Mr Martin added: "That will need all of us to work together on measures that will ensure water quality is at a level that sustains and supports the retention or our derogation long-term. That's really the key mid-term strategic objective."
Asked what assistance the Government might provide to the impacted farmers, he said there were "a variety of measures" that could be used to help.
IFA President Tim Cullinan told RTE News, "Reflecting is not good enough. I need to hear they are going back to Brussels... and they need to get payments out".
Mr Cullinan said the IFA will continue to protest outside the think-in venue until tomorrow evening and they will also protest outside Fine Gael's think-in in Limerick on Friday.
Since 8am, protesters from the IFA assembled outside the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Tipperary, to voice their anger about cuts in nitrates derogation limits, farm payments and other matters.
Mr McConalogue came out of the venue to discuss the issues but Mr Cullinan told him to go back into his think-in as he would not engage with him.
Mr Cullinan said they wanted to meet the Tánaiste along with the minister. Mr McConalogue defended his record fighting for farmers' interests but said they could meet Mr Martin, and an IFA delegation entered the hotel a short time later.
Following his attendance at the the Fianna Fáil think-in, Minister McConalogue departed on an agri and economic trade mission to west Africa. The visit to Nigeria and Senegal is focused on developing political and economic relationships in the region.
He had been due to undertake the trip last Saturday but delayed his trip in order to further engage with farmers over the ongoing nitrates and farm payments controversy.
'We will act to help' energy prices - Tánaiste
The think-in ahead of the new Dáil term is considering the party's Budget priorities, with the main speakers being Mr Martin and Minister for Finance Michael McGrath.
Mr Martin said the Government will act to assist householders with high energy prices in next month's Budget.
Addressing the meeting, Mr Martin said: "While there have been some energy price reductions made - prices remain too high. We know people are still facing pressure and we will act to help them again."
Without specifically referencing a new round of electricity credits, Mr Martin said: "We have to act with a combination of action to help people with major price increases and action to try to reduce pressures pushing up prices."
It is understood Fianna Fáil is pushing for a possible cut to the Universal Social Charge, however, with the Budget several weeks away, the coalition has not finalised any decisions.
USC was introduced in December 2010 at the height of the financial crash.
It applies to all earnings for those receiving a gross income of over €13,000.
Minister wants free contraception available to all women
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that he would like to see free contraception, currently limited to under 30s, to be made available to all women.
"Ultimately I would like to see free contraception available to all women. That's my policy position. A very clear position," he said.
However, he declined to say if he was seeking funds to deliver on such a policy in this year's budget.
Separately, Mr Donnelly disclosed that the HSE was €600 million over budget by the end of July, but that significant efforts are under way to reverse the trend.
He said the two reasons for the overrun was that the HSE was spending in areas that it should not be, such as like overtime and agency hire; and the number of patients who are presenting is higher than what was predicted, there had also been significant price inflation.
When asked if the health budget was too high given it consumes one in four euro of Government spending, Minister Donnelly said on a per capita basis Ireland was ranked 9th of 14 assessed EU Member States.
Separately, Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien is expecting to give a progress report on Housing For All at the Fianna Fáil think-in tomorrow morning.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime programme, he said that the biggest challenge is homelessness, but the focus is on increasing supply to meet demand.
"Everything is trending in the right direction in relation to housing delivery.
"So it provides an opportunity to update colleagues on that and also to seek their input pre-budget on areas like the renter's tax credit ... also looking at what can be done to further help help those first time buyers that are out there, such as the extension of the Help to Buy grant."
The minister said he was hopeful of social and affordable targets being met this year.
Additional reporting Joe Mag Raollaigh
