Coveney: Talk of Coalition split 'exaggerated'

on 04/09/2012 09:33:49

The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said any talk of a Coalition split is "exaggerated" and any suggestion of an early election is "not real".

Mr Coveney was speaking as the Cabinet prepares to meet later today for the first time since the summer break, amid reports of a split between the Coalition parties over €130m worth of health cuts.

Minister Coveney said there is a respectful relationship between Labour and Fine Gael Ministers, but he acknowledged there are differences of opinions.

Mr Coveney said: "Any talk of serious division within Government is exaggerated, what we need to do is to resolve what are significant challenges that the Government needs to face between now and the end of the year.

"There may be at times differences of opinion between the two Government parties in terms of how we do things, but there is no difference in terms of the resolve of both parties. Any talk of an early election, in my view, is not real."