Independent TDs will this week outline their concrete demands for participation in the next government, as politicians from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are set to hold discussions on the ceann comhairle position.
The Regional Group of Independent TDs – which has emerged as the favoured group to go into government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – has nominated Wexford TD Verona Murphy to be ceann comhairle, and is seeking the support of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in advance of this Wednesday’s Dáil vote on who should get the role. However, there are a number of candidates in Fianna Fáil who are understood to be interested, including John McGuinness and Michael Moynihan. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are expected to thrash the issue out in separate parliamentary party meetings on Tuesday.
A source in the regional group said, however, that while they want to see support for Ms Murphy’s bid for the position of ceann comhairle, government formation talks will likely proceed in any event.
Strategists within the regional group have been preparing a full document of policy issues that the group would want to see implemented if talks are successful. This document will likely be finalised and approved at a meeting of the group’s TDs, also on Tuesday. A source said the three main topics covered off in the document are housing, health and access to disability services. “I think things will move quicker than a lot of people think once there’s agreement on those policies,” an Independent group source said on Sunday night.
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Meanwhile, the Labour Party will meet on Monday with Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and his negotiating team of Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe. Party leader Ivana Bacik and her team will also meet Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on Tuesday.
Sources in Labour said the party’s red lines include the introduction of a living wage that would be tied to 66 per cent of median hourly earnings, and a greater role for the State in the building of homes.
[ Labour Party ‘unlikely’ to enter government but not out yet, says BacikOpens in new window ]
Despite the planned meetings, sources in the government negotiating teams view the chances of Labour participating in government as increasingly slim.
On Sunday, party TD Ciarán Ahern said his party wanted to be in government – but not if it meant “stewarding through someone else’s policies”.
“We have some leverage, maybe we have more leverage than some people may give us credit for.
“But we do need to see the colour of their money. We have put proposals [and] given both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael our asks.
“In any negotiation someone has to put something on the table, there has to be an offer on the table,” he told RTÉ's The Week In Politics.
“At the moment we have nothing, no offer from the government parties. If they are serious about involving us, if they want us in government, it can’t just be vibes.
“They have been flirting with us for the entire election but they have come with no concrete offer.”
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have 86 TDs between them and would need outside support in order to have a majority in the 174-seat House. Both parties are also expected to hold further meetings with the Social Democrats this week as well.
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