Enda Kenny: talks with FF would shut down other negotiations

Opening negotiations with Fianna Fáil would effectively shut down Fine Gael’s current talks with Independents and smaller parties, acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told his TDs and senators.

The Fine Gael parliamentary party has given its assent to Mr Kenny to continue negotiations on forming a government.

Acting Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney gave an update to the meeting on the talks he and other ministers have been holding with a view to forming a government, and said Fine Gael now wants to enter “structured dialogue”.

The next phase will be a roundtable discussion on Thursday involving interested parties.

Mr Coveney told the meeting Green Party leader Eamon Ryan was nervous about engaging in such a process but believed he would eventually do so.

“Ryan is nervous of getting into something he can’t get out of,” one TD at the meeting said.

“The (Kerry TDs) Healy Raes don’t want a deal like (their father) Jackie got in the past. They want to contribute to the reinvention of rural Ireland.”

Mr Coveney said Fine Gael’s aim was to get the support of 70 or 71 TDs, without talking to Fianna Fáil.

This would allow a Fine Gael led minority government rely on others, such as the Labour Party, to provide support from the opposition on a case by case basis, rather than be reliant on Fianna Fáil.

The meeting heard concerns that constituency deals could be done with some Independents but Mr Coveney said negotiations were focused on national policy.

Cork North West TD Michael Creed said he was glad to hear there would be no “Dart to Dingle” and TDs asked that the parliamentary party be made aware of any local deals with Independents. One deputy, however, said the likelihood of such arrangements being made public was slim.

Wexford TD Michael D’Arcy asked why contact had not been made with Fianna Fáil. Mr Kenny told the meeting that doing so would mean others currently talking to Fine Gael ending their negotiations.

Fianna Fáil, however, is preparing for eventual negotiations with Fine Gael on an agreement that would underpin a minority administration led by Fine Gael. Sources in both parties expect contact between the two parties after Easter.

Several Fine Gael ministers and TDs believe that any agreement would have to guarantee stability for a period of at least two years, which they say requires a commitment from Fianna Fáil to back the next government’s budgets.

Fianna Fáil sources say that the party would be willing to discuss support over a number of budgets as well as agreed programmes on housing and homelessness and, crucially, on the future of Irish Water.

Mr Coveney told Fine Gael TDs the party would share government with Independents and smaller parties, adding any programme would be negotiated with input from all those interested. Fine Gael would also share cabinet and junior ministerial positions.

While it was initially planned that TDs would be given a document outlining Fine Gael’s priorities in government negotiations, Mr Kenny instead told the parliamentary party his five main issues.

It is understood these were: managing the economy; spreading job creation around the country; prioritising rural Ireland; housing; and health.

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party was briefed on Tuesday by Micheál Martin on recent negotiations with independents but with momentum moving towards Fine Gael in the race to form a government, there is an increasing acknowledgement in Fianna Fáil that the choice it faces will be between facilitating a Fine Gael-led minority administration and precipitating another general election.

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness told the meeting the party must challenge “unsubstantiated reports” about their policies. He said the party should publicly address the incorrect assertion that Fianna Fáil had done a u-turn on water charges.