Mark Hennessy
The Fine Gael Waterford TD, Mr John Deasy, has insisted that his party should never serve in coalition with Sinn Féin, despite such a call by fellow FG frontbencher, Mr Michael Ring.
Proposing a possible coalition involving Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin, Mr Ring, a Mayo TD, has said he would enter into government in the Republic with Sinn Féin. In a radio interview, Mr Ring said politicians in the Republic could not say to Sinn Féin that it is fit to serve in government in Northern Ireland, but not fit to do so in the Republic.
"If Sinn Féin continues to work the peace process and continues to work the democratic system in this country, I see no reason why they can't be in government."
However, Mr Deasy strongly opposed this line of thought yesterday. "I am saying never, not for as long as I am a Fine Gael TD. I do not believe that the majority of our party share Michael Ring's view.
"There should be no equivocation in my party about Sinn Féin. They represent people who are involved in criminal activity. They are aware of that, and they are not too worried about it."
Last night, a spokesman for the party leader, Mr Kenny, said: "Before the last general election, Fine Gael made it clear that it would not enter into talks with Sinn Féin as long as it had a military wing. That position has not changed. However, the matter could be reviewed in the future if there is a fundamental change in the status of Fine Gael."
Mr Ring's suggestion should "not be entertained or discussed" by the Fine Gael frontbench, or Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, he said.