Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night assured Independent TDs a minority government led by his party would last. Mr Kenny attended a meeting with the Independent Alliance, along with Ministers Simon Coveney, Simon Harris and Paschal Donohoe.
The meeting in Government Buildings took place directly after talks concluded between the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil negotiating teams on a deal to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government taking office next week.
The Independent Alliance – comprising Shane Ross, Finian McGrath, Kevin "Boxer" Moran, Seán Canney, Michael Fitzmaurice and John Halligan – is being courted by Fine Gael as part of its attempts to form a minority government.
Mr Ross, Mr McGrath, Mr Moran and Mr Canney attended the meeting.
No hanging around
Mr McGrath said the Independent Alliance wanted to “get stuck in” straight away. “We won’t be hanging around like the big parties.”
The group had called for Fianna Fáil to commit to supporting or facilitating three budgets that would be implemented by a Fine Gael-led minority government.
In recent negotiations, Fianna Fáil gave Fine Gael such a commitment and, on that basis, Mr Kenny is understood to have told the Independents any government led by Fine Gael will last.
He said he would have to agree a time frame with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, but this was likely to be a formality.
Garda review
Commitments in the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil deal include a review of Garda resources, understood to include Garda stations; the extension of mortgage interest relief and an examination of standard variable mortgage rates.
Another element is a rise in rent supplement of up to 15 per cent in targeted areas, as requested by Fianna Fáil. Fine Gael said any increase would be in the context of the further rollout of the Housing Assistance Payment which people can keep when they go back to work.
Negotiations between Fine Gael and the Independents will continue over the weekend and more structured talks will begin with the Independent Alliance on Monday.
