06/04/2009

Kenny 'To Be Next Taoiseach'

The Fine Gael opposition leader, Enda Kenny, has said he expects to be the next Taoiseach.

Speaking on RTÉ's currtent affairs programme This Week, Mr Kenny said his party will be the largest party in the next Dáil and the Labour Party would be their desired coalition partners.

He said that while there is no voting alliance in place for the local and European elections, he would ask Fine Gael voters - as he did in the last election - to pass their preference votes on to the Labour Party candidates.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael is now the party of ideas.

In his keynote address at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis this weekend, Mr Kenny said under his leadership, Fine Gael would "step up to the mark".

"It's time for a new Fine Gael Government to take Ireland in a new direction," Mr Kenny added.

Also during the address, Mr Kenny said his party planned to create 100,000 new jobs by the end of 2013 and return the public finances to health by 2012 - without increasing the standard and current top rates of income tax.

(DW/BMcC)

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