Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has ruled out a pre-election pact with any other party in advance of the next election and has again ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin in any circumstances.
Mr Kenny denied claims by former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent that he had asked Mr Sargent to approach Sinn Fein after the last election with a view to supporting a Fine Gael led rainbow government.
"If I had been prepared to do business with Sinn Féin after the last election I would have been Taoiseach for the past two years," said Mr Kenny.
He added that it was absurd to suggest he would ask another party leader to approach another party about the formation of Government. "If I have anything to say to another party I will say it directly," he added.
A statement released later by the Fine Gael press office pointed to a quote in The Irish Times in June 2007 where Mr Sargent said in the Dáil: "If you wanted to be in government you would have talked to Sinn Féin. You do not want to be in government."
Speaking at Fine Gael's final press conference before Friday's elections, he said the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government would not be able to ignore the results of the vote. "I believe the people will deliver their verdict on this coalition and vote for change. The Government cannot ignore the sovereign will of the people," said the Fine Gael leader who added that he expected a general election would take place sooner rather than later.
He forecast that Fine Gael would have an outstanding election and would win more than 300 council seats and be the biggest party in local government in Ireland.
"This Friday, the people of Ireland have a stark yet simple choice. Do we want change or do we want more of the same? Do we want a new team, a new vision and a fresh start or do we want the same tired bunch - the same failed approach that has run the country into the ditch and has no idea how to get us out?" he asked.
Mr Kenny said that tough times had been made tougher by a Government that had put bankers and developers first; tried to tax its way out of a recession and was now desperately clinging to power.
"Ireland deserves better, so much better. Ireland deserves a new team and a fresh start. So to those people in Ireland who are looking for change, for a better, fairer economic future, I ask you to vote Fine Gael this Friday. We have the plans, the ideas and the team to get Ireland working again," he said.
Mr Kenny said that 100,000 people could be got back to work through an €11bn stimulus package for major investment in new infrastructure and another 80,000 jobs in small & medium businesses could be saved by making government work for them rather than the other way around.
He also said Fine Gael would end the two-tier health system and provide free-GP care for all, by adopting the best of the Dutch health care model in Ireland. "We can do all these things. We can make real change. We can create a fairer Ireland. But only if we choose the candidates of Fine Gael. For Fine Gael is the one Party that, with your support, can guarantee a change in government.
"This change starts Friday, with fresh candidates like Paschal Donohoe and George Lee in the by-elections for the Dáil. They will be key parts of this new team and I look forward to working with them as we take on the tough challenges ahead.
"This Friday, in hundreds of elections all over this country, you can send a message demanding change, a new team and a fresh start by voting for Fine Gael," said Mr Kenny.
