The Tánaiste has accused the media of cheerleading Sinn Féin ahead of the next election.

Micheál Martin was speaking from the Fianna Fáil think-in in County Tipperary as the party meets to discuss budget priorities and election plans.

Following the Electoral Commissions boundary review, published last month, many commentators believe the numbers after the next general election dictate a coalition between Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil.

‘You guys need to stop cheerleading them on … We don’t do coronations in Ireland.’ Micheál Martin on whether Fianna Fáil would consider a coalition with Sinn Féin after the next election.

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However, the Tánaiste has suggested he is not in favour of entering into government with Sinn Féin, arguing that their policies do not align with Fianna Fáil’s.

"Maybe you should be putting it to other people who they're considering going into Government with," he told journalists at the think-in.

"As far as I'm concerned, the three parties in Government at the moment, we have a mandate to fulfil [and] we're going to fulfil it. I think we've tackled really hard problems head-on.

"I already said, I believe there's a full range of policies that are incompatible between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. They would not be our first choice at all.

"The people will decide in terms of the numbers, but we will stick to our policies and we will negotiate on the basis of our policy platform.

"My sense of where Sinn Féin stands is, their policies are incompatible with us."

'Cheering on'

Tánaiste Martin said the media commentary around the upcoming election is reminiscent of previous elections.

"What I would urge you to consider in the commentary because I've already seen it, the commentary reminds me of the commentary before 2016, where everybody was convinced it was going in one direction, and it didn't go in that direction," he said.

"I just think everyone who is commentating on this and taking an analysis really needs to reflect a bit more and be a bit more, I think, cautious."

"You guys need to stop cheering [Sinn Féin] on. It's as if it's a slam dunk; it's not, it's very fragmented, and the options are very wide.

"I just want to make the point, because I'm resisting the trend that all of you are at.

"I'm serious, we don't do coronations in Ireland – we fight elections."

'Fragmented'

Tánaiste Martin said there is "increased fragmentation" within Irish politics.

"That's very clear from the composition of the current Dáil, where you have a large number of independents, quite a significant number of smaller parties and three parties that are close enough in terms of numbers," he said.

"So, I think in the aftermath of the next general election, you will have a similar, fragmented situation, but it's wide open."