Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to join forces to 'keep Sinn Féin down'?

SENIOR Fianna Fáil TDs have said they would be willing to back a Fine Gael minority government after the next general election in order to halt the growth of Sinn Féin. 

Fianna Fáil Social Protection spokesperson Willie O'Dea TD told the Sunday Independent he is "quite open" to propping up a Fine Gael government and his motivation would be to "keep Sinn Féin down". 

The party's Justice spokesperson, Niall Collins TD, also outlined his support for such an arrangement between the two largest centre-right parties – believing it would allow Fianna Fáil exert policy-making influence without being tied into a formal coalition arrangement.

● Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins and Willie O'Dea – open to propping up Fine Gael

Reacting to the comments, Sinn Féin Chief Whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD told An Phoblahct that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should simply merge into one party:

"There is no discernible difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael anyway. When Fianna Fáil were turfed out of office after wrecking the economy, Fine Gael just continued to implement their unfair policies of targeting working families and the most vulnerable in society.

"They really are two sides of the same coin and they should probably just merge and get it over with."