Deal could be close if FF and FG reach water agreement

The merry-go-round of government formation could finally be coming to a halt. There have been many twists and the turns over the past eight weeks but the ride is seemingly reaching the end.

Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his Fine Gael negotiating team is willing to offer a suspension of water charges in return for the support of Fianna Fáil.

The shift in policy is a bold move by Fine Gael, who paid a heavy price in the election for the introduction of charges.

However it may be an acceptance that the House and the people, it seems, are against the party on this issue.

Had Fianna Fáil forced an election, or had the Dáil been given the chance to decide on the future of water charges, Fine Gael and its model would have lost.

At least 90 of the TDs elected to Leinster House fought the election on a platform of abolishing Irish Water and the charges.

However the war is far from over for Fine Gael. Its decision to suspend the charges will cause difficulties for the party in trying to court Independent TDs and other smaller parties.

Brutal backlash

The Green Party and indeed the

Labour

Party are in favour of charging for water. Labour, having suffered a brutal backlash from the electorate over the levies and their introduction,will be reluctant to support their suspension.

The proposal may also cause Fine Gael some difficulties with many rural TDs whose constituents have paid for water through group schemes for years.

Nevertheless Fine Gael knew no deal could have been agreed without concessions on this politically volatile issue.

However the party insists this would be a temporary move which would require a commitment from Fianna Fáil that the levies would be introduced in the near future.

Mr Kenny sought that assurance from the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at a meeting on Saturday afternoon.

It was not forthcoming from Martin, who insisted he could not commit to their reintroduction during the 32nd Dáil where the majority of TDs are opposed to the levies.

This is a crucial stage for Fianna Fáil and their leader. The party wrongly made the future of the utility and the charges its priority.

Many Fianna Fáil TDs acknowledge that and admit the party should have focused on housing and health rather than trying to steal the clothes of the rivals on their opposition benches.

However, it had moved so far to the left, the party had to face the unenviable choice of either suspension of charges or another election. Fine Gael has now made a giant leap to the middle ground. The question now is whether Martin and his party can meet them there.

Martin is eager to avoid a second election and he must know this is the best he can hope for.

Final shot

Fine Gael will want a series of commitments in return including a term limit and a promise the charges will be reintroduced.

Both leaders know this is their final shot. The two parties meet again on Monday to try reach agreement and, if movement can be made on water, a deal will not be too far away.

Just how long any agreement will last between the two rivals is another day’s work.