Radical tax reform in FF-PD plan for approval of parties next week

A NEW five year joint programme for government will be put for approval to the Fianna Fail and Progressive Democrats parliamentary parties on Thursday next.

Sanction of the programme by both sides will clear the way for the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, to choose his Cabinet and lobby the support of a number of Independent deputies.

Negotiating teams from the two parties are expected to conclude these talks by tonight and Mr Ahern and the Progressive Democrats' leader, Ms Mary Harney, will probably meet at the weekend to finalise the details. The document will not, however, be published until after the two parliamentary parties have endorsed it.

According to sources on both sides, the programme is an amalgam of "all the key priorities" in the two parties' respective election manifestos. It will "reflect the commitment to radically reform the tax system" and present pledges on the economy, crime, employment, the North, the environment and marginalisation.

"It will set out the tone of the government's major policy objectives but will not be a detailed tome," one source said.

A general review of the negotiations for the programme - which began on Monday - was delivered by Mr Ahern to a meeting of his front bench yesterday. He gave an upbeat assessment of progress to date, reporting that the talks were going smoothly and would conclude shortly.

Following the completion of the programme and a final decision on the fate of the fourth seat in Dublin South East, Mr Ahern will turn his attention to securing the support of Independent deputies.

However, the Independent Fianna Fail TD for Donegal North East, Mr Harry Blaney, has ruled out the possibility of supporting Mr Ahern in the vote on June 26th for Taoiseach, if he goes a head with coalition with the Progressive Democrats. Mr Blaney said Ms Harney's view on the future of Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution was simply unacceptable to him. He could not discuss the matter of his support unless Fianna Fail distanced itself from Ms Harney's standpoint, he said.

The Independent TD for Dublin West, Mr Joe Higgins, has said he will vote for neither Mr Ahern nor Mr Bruton as Taoiseach.

Mr Ahern's attention is therefore likely to focus on the other Independents Mr Tony Gregory, Mr Jackie Healy Rae, Ms Mildred Fox and Mr Tom Gildea.