FINE GAEL has dismissed any rumours that the party was entertaining entering into a “Tallaght 2″ agreement that would see the party support the government on financial votes in the Dáil.

In a statement released this evening, the party said it would not “be bound by the decisions on particular expenditure cuts and tax increases which the Government may announce.”

“The matter of a second Tallaght strategy simply does not arise,” it added, explaining that “the context now is different from then.” It acknowledged, however, that the decision not to support such measures was a “difficult judgment call”.

The party’s 51 TDs would not support the current government, therefore, describing it as “discredited” and insisting it was near the end of its term of office.

The original Tallaght Strategy was agreed by Fine Gael in 1987 when the party agreed to support the Fianna Fáil minority government of Charles J Haughey in Dáil votes relating to financial reform.

“Under the original Tallaght strategy that minority Fianna Fáil Government agreed to implement Fine Gael policies. This Fianna Fáil-led Government, in contrast, has rejected and attacked Fine Gael policies.

“Had they agreed with Fine Gael on issues like benchmarking [of public service pay], Nama, Anglo wind-down and the need for a jobs stimulus plan, then the economy would not now be in crisis.”

Fianna Fáil back-bench TD and former minister Mary O’Rourke yesterday called for a so-called “national government” while the economic problems were top of the agenda, and for a “manifesto-based” election campaign thereafter.