EDUCATION AND political reform have emerged as the key issues in negotiations on the revised programme for government between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, which are expected to continue through much of today.
The major education issue for the Greens is their demand for a restoration of a pupil-teacher ratio of one to 27 in primary schools. In last October’s budget, the figure was increased to 28.
Sources close to the talks said rolling back cuts in education had been “a bit of a stumbling block” and had caused a “hiccup” earlier in the week but the negotiations were now “back on track”.
It is understood there was a temporary breakdown on Wednesday night with Green negotiators calling a halt because they felt their Fianna Fáil opposite numbers were “not serious” about an agreement.
Sources said there had also been a difficulty with the Green demand for a reduction in the number of TDs which was being resisted by the Fianna Fáil talks team.
The talks are being conducted in the Leinster House office of Green Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan because his party feels that this prevents Fianna Fáil from having any territorial advantage.
As of last night the Coalition parties had been engaged in intensive negotiations for more than 40 hours over seven days. A Green Party spokesman said there was still “quite a bit to be done”.
Fianna Fáil sources said progress was being made “in key areas” and there were still some issues to be resolved but it was hoped these could be “sorted out”.
Green TD for Dún Laoghaire Ciaran Cuffe said ‘‘. . . we need to see real progress, and two of the areas that are important are political reform and education.”
Green Party spokesman on education Paul Gogarty said in a statement to constituents: “Rest assured, if our children’s education does not receive the priority it deserves, neither I nor my colleagues will be supporting this Government for one week longer.”
If an agreement is reached, it will be voted on by an estimated 800 Greens tomorrow afternoon.
A motion to remain in government on the basis of the revised programme for government will require a two-thirds majority. This will then be followed by a debate on a dissident motion calling on the Green TDs to reject the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), which also requires a two-thirds majority to be passed.
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It was disclosed last night that an amendment to the Nama Bill involving a legally binding bank levy in the event of Nama making a loss had been agreed at yesterday's Cabinet meeting, writes
STEPHEN COLLINS
The Green Party claimed the agreement to include the levy in the Bill was a major concession, which had been agreed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting despite “considerable reluctance” on the part of the Department of Finance.
A party spokesman said the amendment would be taken on the committee stage of the Bill in two weeks time.
Government officials confirmed that the amendment had been agreed but emphasised that the Department of Finance did not expect Nama to make a loss.