Fine Gael will not talk to Fianna Fáil ‘at this stage’

Acting Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has insisted Fine Gael has no plans to talk to Fianna Fáil "at this stage".

Speaking after a lengthy meeting with 17 Independent TDs, Mr Varadkar said the party’s priority was to speak to groups that were willing to form a government with Fine Gael.

He said: “It is our view that the exclusive talks that we should be having now are with those parties and like-minded Independents who may wish to share power with us .

"We would like to come up with some sort of partnership agreement with them before we go off to other parties like Labour, the Social Democrats, Fianna Fáil, with a view to them backing it from outside a government."

Minister of State Simon Harris said the party only wants to speak to those who want to be in government with Fine Gael, insisting talks with others would be premature.

He said: “It would be a rather peculiar way to do business if you talked first to those who don’t want to be in government with you and then go back and talk to those who do.

“Obviously if we get to the point where it looks like we have a realistic prospect of putting together a government, we have made it clear publicly that we will then talk to the Opposition, but there are more people on the Opposition benches than just Fianna Fáil.”

The meeting, which lasted over eight hours, focused primarily on housing.

However, a number of the Independents called for acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny to begin negotiations with Fianna Fáil.

Independent TD Denis Naughten said he and his colleagues made it clear at the meeting that no agreement was possible without Fianna Fáil.

He said the support of Labour and the Social Democrats was also warranted and he urged Fine Gael to be begin talks with the three parties.

Universal Social Charge

Mr Varadkar also insisted there was “no discussion at all on the Universal Social Charge (USC) or any tax issues”.

Fine Gael’s position of USC was said to be forming part of the negotiations with the Independent TDs.

However, Mr Varadkar said: “We have not made any movements or compromises on policy.”

Negotiations will continue next Tuesday, when rural affairs, mental health and disability services are to be discussed.

Fine Gael will also to present a working paper on housing.