FG and FF maintain contact in bid to avert talks crisis

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are making preparations over the weekend for intensified discussion next week to resolve the crisis developing from the failure to form a government.

Under increasing pressure after creating a new record delay - day 48 and counting - the two largest parties are planning strategies for the talks as informal contacts continue between them on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, Labour ministers and TDs will speak to their constituency members this weekend about a possible return to government with Fine Gael. Following intensive discussions in recent days and renewed requests from acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny, senior Labour figures are increasingly convinced that they should explore a new coalition deal with Fine Gael and the Green Party.

No vote for taoiseach is expected on Wednesday, after three unsuccessful attempts in that record-breaking seven weeks since the February 26th election, unless there are significant developments in the formation of a government.

Instead, the Dáil will on Wednesday have a general debate on health and on insurance costs, while on Thursday TDs will discuss the EU and Brexit, and agriculture.

But there will be no debate on Irish Water and water charges. That has been postponed until the following week at the earliest. The issue was considered at a meeting of party and Independent whips, but Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit TD Mick Barry failed in his attempt to have it scheduled for next week.

It is one of the most difficult and sensitive policy matters for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, amid major fears that if the two parties cannot find common ground on charges and the operation of the authority, a general election next month becomes much more likely.

While both sides have said it is not the most significant issue, it is an important one and without agreement between the two largest parties in the Dáil, there will be no minority government.

Fianna Fáil has repeatedly said the issue was adjudicated on by the electorate and that the majority of TDs returned to the Dáil had indicated that changes need to be made on water policy.

Discussion of water charges will only reach the Dáil floor if an agreement is reached between the two largest parties in attempts to form a minority government.

Talks will resume formally on Monday between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael while Labour’s seven TDs will speak to their constituency members over the weekend about a possible return to government with Fine Gael.

Independent Alliance TD Finian McGrath, who called for Independents to have at least five cabinet seats, said they expected to have talks on Saturday with Fine Gael, but they are not now going ahead.

He said however that they were “coming to the end of the nitty gritty” of discussion on individual politicians’ “policies and projects” and it was time to “get on with it”.

Sinn Féin whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh said his party was in contact with Independents but they had had no contact from either Fine Gael in particular, or Fianna Fáil.

In the Dáil, meanwhile, the debate on agriculture is expected to include discussion of the rising number of farms and livestock being repossessed and sold off by financial institutions.

Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty TD has welcomed the scheduling of insurance costs for debate, at which he will put forward proposals to deal with the crisis in charges.

“It is clear to anybody that the dramatic increases in the cost of motor insurance are creating huge problems, with our young and rural communities worst affected.”

He said: “Correspondence I have received from the Central Bank points to a long term unsustainable way of doing business as representing the real reason behind the jumps in premiums.”

And a “deeper look at the business model underpinning the insurance industry in Ireland is required too”.

Party leader Gerry Adams welcomed the Dáil's approval of a Sinn Féin-initiated proposal to establish and all-party housing committee to "produce a report on solutions to the unprecedented housing crisis the State and citizen's in need of housing face at this time".

“We look forward to working with others to produce a report with practical recommendations and solutions that can contribute to providing relief to citizens languishing in emergency accommodation and those who have been waiting on housing lists for years.”