FG-FF talks unlikely until Dáil resumes

A stand-off between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is likely between the end of the counting of votes and the first meeting of the new Dáil on March 10th, sources in both parties have said.

“There will be no indecent haste to do any kind of deal with Fine Gael,” said a Fianna Fáil source. “It is the same with us,” a Fine Gael source said. “We will not be rushing into a political bed with Fianna Fáil.”

However, it is being privately conceded by both parties that some kind of alliance is inevitable if another general election is to be avoided. Sources in both parties admitted public pressure would be intense if the alternative to a coalition arrangement was another general election.

Supporting a minority Fine Gael government is being firmly ruled out by Fianna Fáil.

A number of Fianna Fáil TDs have said the party should talk to Labour, the Social Democrats and Independent TDs, while others have said all TDs in the Dáil should be involved in the drafting of legislation and budgets.

“It is wishful thinking,” admitted a Fianna Fáil source, while a Fine Gael source said: “Fianna Fáil and ourselves will have to talk, but not right now.”

The real talking

The sources, on the basis of anonymity, said the real talking would only begin after, as is expected, the new Dáil fails to elect a government when it meets on March 10th.

“We could go to a delegate conference seeking a mandate to go into a coalition from a position of strength,” a Fianna Fáil source said. “We will be within striking distance of Fine Gael in seats and in a position to demand an equal number of ministries.”

The Fianna Fáil source said party leader Micheál Martin’s successful campaign had enhanced his popularity with the grassroots and he would be able to persuade a delegate conference to give the go- ahead for coalition.

“It would be different if we were in a weak position,” the source added. “Coalition would be a non-runner and it would be a case of going back into opposition and continuing to rebuild.’’

The source said the successful general election had followed very impressive local elections. “Truth to tell, we are surprised at the speed of our recovery,” said the source.

Conceding that an alliance of the parties was likely, a Fine Gael source said it would eventually be a question of going along with the people’s will.

“We would be slaughtered by voters if we caused another election by refusing to talk to Fianna Fáil,” the source added. “We would have preferred to continue with Labour, but the figures appear to speak for themselves.”

Fine Gael sources firmly ruled out a heave against Mr Kenny unless a deal to return to government failed. “We would look idiotic in the eyes of the public,” said a source. “Anyway, we are all to blame for the poor campaign.”

Fianna Fáil is privately not ruling out seeking a rotating taoiseach arrangement if a coalition arrangement is in the offing.