The Health Minister says he would like the 'very good partnership' between Fine Gael and Labour to continue.

Leo Varadkar has been speaking about potential coalition partners, after comments from Joan Burton that are being seen as hints of a possible link between the parties ahead of the next general election.

Earlier this year, Minister Varadkar compared a coalition with Fianna Fáil to same-sex marriage, saying it would 'seem wrong at first, but would probably work out fine in the end'.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Minister Varadkar played down those comments and says he has a clear preference.

He started by commenting on the latest reports that Fine Gael and Labour would be approaching the next general election as one entity: