A senior member of Fianna Fáil has ruling out a second general election this year.
Brendan Smith has said neither the party nor the electorate wants to go to the polls again - despite political commentary suggesting we may be faced with a second vote.
Behind the scenes negotiations are continuing with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael attempting to shore up enough support to cobble together a coalition.
Deputy Smith who is addressing the SDLP conference today has said the country needs a stable Government and not another election: “Most definitely not and the public at large do not want a general election, nobody wants a general election, and I don’t see how the result would change much from the end of February election.
“I believe a Government will be put in place that will provide stability, for the next four and a half to five years, for our country and that is needed.