Kelly: FG-Labour government one of the best in Irish history

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has claimed the Fine Gael-Labour coalition is "probably one of the best in the history of the State" because of the "simple fact" it has achieved what the country could "only have dreamed of" four years ago.

Speaking to reporters as Labour's annual conference prepares to open this evening, the deputy leader of the junior coalition member issued a staunch defence of its time in power and insisted "false revolutionaries" in the opposition should not be trusted.

In a remark that will surprise lone parents who are facing cuts to their allowances, people who lost discretionary medical cards and critics of the Irish Water charges, Mr Kelly argued his party's time in Government should be seen in the context of achieving a "turnaround" from crippling austerity that most nation's in the situation "have never seen before".

He said this has been achieved without damaging vital social services, and insisted Ireland is better off with Labour in power and "best served by returning" the coalition after the imminent general election.

When asked about the likelihood of a second term in office, which recent opinion polls are increasingly suggesting Labour will struggle to achieve without the aid of Fine Gael, Mr Kelly said he and his colleagues will go into the vote as "an independent" party.

He said it was "too early for speculation" on the possibility of bringing certain Independents into the fold to shore up Government numbers after the general election, adding the increasingly common coalition response that there is a "long way to go" before the public has its say.

When asked about the ongoing vocal opposition to those in power - as witnessed by the growing number of pop-up protests and the noticeable security presence at the Glen Eagles Hotel where the Labour conference is taking place - the party's deputy leader said there are "false revolutionaries" involved.

While stressing that he accepts the wide variety of protests targeting various elements of Government include "some genuine people", he said there are others who are taking advantage of this and will "blatantly abandon" people in need when they in turn enter power and their "utopian society" does not emerge.

Meanwhile, Mr Kelly has appeared to open the door slightly for a future return to the parliamentary party for Ann Ferris TD, who stepped down earlier this month over her decision to back Independent TD Clare Daly's abortion bill.

Ms Ferris's decision was the second time she had broken the Labour parliamentary party's whip system in a fortnight, after her decision to vote against Government in relation to Magdalene laundry victims support services.

As Ms Ferris remains a member of the wider Labour party, she is entitled to attend this weekend's conference if she so chooses. When asked about likelihood of the possibility - which would be likely to again put the glare of publicity onto an internal party push for abortion law changes - Mr Kelly said "maybe so".

However, the Labour deputy leader stressed he has "already spoken to Ann on a couple of occasions" since her departure, and "will speak to Ann again" in the future.