The Tanaiste has ruled out serving in the next government with Sinn Fein and suggested it would be impossible for Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein to agree a government programme.
Ms Harney yesterday described Sinn Fein's economic policies as "crazy" and said the party had not yet proved its commitment to democratic politics.
She said she would sooner leave office than serve with Sinn Fein ministers.
Ms Harney was responding on RTE's News at One programme to yesterday's Irish Times/ MRBI poll result showing 47 per cent would accept Sinn Fein as part of the next government while 41 per cent would not. Some 12 per cent expressed no opinion. Among PD supporters, 50 per cent would find it acceptable while 45 per cent would not.
She also ruled out an autumn election, despite the opinion poll's finding that the Government had its highest satisfaction rating for 21/2 years, and that the current Coalition was the most popular of the five most likely options.
The next election, she said, would be "post-Easter next year. Definitely".
She initially said her objections to Sinn Fein were not related to the party's past but to the party's economic policies. "It's not because of their past," she said. "I have strong views about their past but I welcome the fact that they are moving into the political system like everybody else does."
But later she said economic policy was not the sole reason for her objection. "Sinn Fein have a long way to go to prove they are committed to the democratic political process. When I see Sinn Fein embracing fully decommissioning, handing up weapons, abandoning the Armalite strategy entirely, then I may have a different view. It's far too early to come to that view yet.
Sinn Fein's economic policies were "extremely left-wing policies that have been abandoned by others", she said. "Their economic policies would destroy the country and the economy and create huge unemployment again. They are very anti-foreign investment, they want huge corporate taxes."
While the most likely scenario for Sinn Fein involvement in government is in coalition with Fianna Fail, Ms Harney said she could not see her present coalition partner agreeing a programme for government with Sinn Fein.