FG-FF talks to resume as Labour considers position

Talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on a framework for the operation of a minority government will resume today as pressure grows for a resolution of the political impasse which has lasted for 53 days.

Fine Gael will also meet with the Independent Alliance today, while contacts will continue with a range of other Independents open to supporting a minority government.

However, a fourth vote on the nomination of a taoiseach is unlikely to take place when the Dáil resumes on Wednesday, and may not even take place this week.

One reason for the delay is that acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny wants to give the Labour Party time to reconsider its post-election decision to go into opposition. Mr Kenny needs 58 votes to be elected taoiseach in the event of Fianna Fáil abstaining, but Fianna Fáil says it would only abstain when it becomes clear that he has the required support.

Mr Kenny would ideally like the Labour Party and the Greens to participate in a minority government, along with some Independents, rather than simply supporting him in the vote for taoiseach.

Mixed views

Labour’s seven TDs consulted members and supporters over the weekend and there were mixed views, according to party sources . The one common view was that no decision should be made until there is an agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

“Some TDs may now see a return to government as the least-worst option, but none of them will come to a final decision until Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael do a deal on how a minority government can work,” said one senior Labour source.

He added that the TDs and members were considering three options: to go into opposition, to support a minority government from opposition, or to go back in to office.

‘Written guarantee’

Most of the party’s TDs were reluctant to speak publicly but Westmeath TD

Willie Penrose

told

The

Irish Times

yesterday: “There would have to be some sort of written guarantee from Fianna Fáil about how a minority government would work before I would even consider supporting a return to government.”.

Mr Penrose said the Dáil should not vote again on a taoiseach until there was a realistic prospect of someone being elected. He said if Labour was to go back into government it would need commitments from Fine Gael on issues such as a national housing plan, improved workers’ rights and a referendum to ensure that Irish Water remained in public ownership.

“Labour must focus on the issues that materially affect people and we will need firm commitments from Fine Gael on these issues before we can agree to anything,” he said.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin yesterday said the party was could support a Fine Gael- Labour minority government. “We are prepared to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government which would be led by Fine Gael, plus others,’’ he said.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said yesterday he expected to talk to Fine Gael negotiators this week about offering support for a minority government from the opposition benches. He said that he would not rule anything out but added the Greens always felt that they would be serving from the opposition. Mr Ryan forecast the talks would not be completed by Wednesday.