Varadkar says Fine Gael-Sinn Féin coalition ‘out of the question’

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he believes that forming a coalition government between his Fine Gael party and Sinn Féin is “simply out of the question”.

Asked by reporters in Co Cork if he would work with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald after the next general election, he said: “Happy to work with Deputy McDonald on certain issues but forming a government is very simply out of the question.”

Mr Varadkar has previously described Sinn Féin as an “ultra-nationalist, radical left, populist, euro-critical party”.

He has said their policies are anti-business and would be a “disaster for Ireland”.

A Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll published over the weekend showed that support for Sinn Féin is down four points to 31 per cent while Fine Gael is up two points to 21 per cent.

Fianna Fail was up one point to 18 per cent, while Labour, the Green Party, and Social Democrats saw no change at 3, 4 and 5 per cent respectively. Aontú and Solidarity-PBP were both at 4 per cent.

Speaking on Monday, the Taoiseach said the idea of a new coalition is not something he is “giving much consideration to at the moment”.

He said the current coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party is doing well in building more houses, making sure that the economy is strong and having “influence in the world”.

Asked if he would walk away from politics if the election results meant there had to be a Sinn Féin-Fine Gael coalition, he said: “Not going into government doesn’t mean walking away from politics so I think that answers it.”

He added: “There isn’t going to be a coalition between Fine Gael and Sinn Féin after the next election, I think that’s clear.”