Kenny asks Martin to take part in partnership government

Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night formally asked the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to participate in a “full partnership” government along with Independent TDs.

Both leaders will bring the proposal to their parliamentary parties today but Fianna Fáil sources say the party is unlikely to abandon its repeated commitment not to enter a coalition with Fine Gael.

Although several Fianna Fáil front benchers are known to be willing to consider such a deal favourably, Mr Martin and the party’s organisation remain opposed.

The offer came at a meeting in Leinster House last night, and took Fianna Fáil by surprise. Mr Kenny had earlier told his Ministers of his intention to make the offer, following another day of inconclusive votes for taoiseach in the Dáil. Mr Kenny failed to secure the support of any Independent TDs, with the exception of Michael Lowry.

Cordial

Sources on both sides said the meeting between the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil leaders, which lasted for an hour last night, was cordial, and they are likely to have further contacts today.

It is understood that Fianna Fáil will be prepared to support a minority Fine Gael-led government if Mr Kenny can command a Dáil majority with Fianna Fáil abstaining.

That means the Fine Gael leader needs to secure the support of at least seven Independent TDs before the Dáil meets again next Thursday to make a Fine Gael-led minority government supported by Fianna Fáil possible.

Dáil arithmetic means that a bare majority – with Fianna Fáil abstaining – is 58 votes. Between Fine Gael TDs and the Independent Michael Lowry, Enda Kenny has 51 votes, meaning he will have to persuade seven Independent TDs to support his nomination for taoiseach.

Only then will Fianna Fáil discuss a deal to support a minority Fine Gael-Independent government under a “confidence and supply” agreement, whereby Fianna Fáil would abstain on votes of confidence or finance matters.

Independent TDs who have been in discussions with Fine Gael for the past fortnight abstained on the vote for taoiseach yesterday, and there are mixed signals about their ultimate intentions. Fine Gael sources are increasingly sceptical about the willingness of Independent TDs to form a government.

Though Fianna Fáil still publicly maintains it is seeking to lead a minority government, all senior party figures concede privately that the only possibility is a Fine Gael-led minority.

Nominations

The Dáil met for several hours yesterday with, as expected, none of the nominations for taoiseach commanding anything near a Dáil majority.

Following the defeat of Mr Kenny’s and Mr Martin’s nominations, the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit group put forward Ruth Coppinger for the position, the first woman ever nominated, though she received only 10 votes.

Independent TDs expressed frustration that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had not commenced negotiations, while the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he would not allow his name to go forward because the process was a “charade”.