Kenny moves to start talks on government formation

In his first move to try to break the impasse created by the election outcome, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has committed Fine Gael to engage in discussions with other parties about a way forward.

Following a meeting of Fine Gael Cabinet Ministers on Tuesday, Mr Kenny said in a statement that despite the disappointing outcome of the election his party was determined to play its part in providing the people with a government committed to working on their behalf. “We will engage fully and inclusively with other parties, groups and Independent deputies to ensure that such a government is established.”

Mr Kenny also said the party would continue its internal discussions with the incoming Fine Gael parliamentary party on Thursday.

“In consultation with our elected representatives, we will formulate a set of principles that will guide Fine Gael participation in a future government.” These principles would take account of the issues of concern that were highlighted and prioritised by the Irish people during the election campaign, he said.

The statement came a day after Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin called for discussions on political reform before the new Dáil meets on Thursday, March 10th. He said his party would be advocating major limits on the ability of government to control all Dáil business.

Discussions

Mr Martin and a number of senior Fianna Fáil front-bench figures gathered at Leinster House on Tuesday for discussions on how to approach forming a government. During the day, Mr Martin had informal contacts with members of the Social Democrats, which, like Fianna Fáil, favours the abolition of Irish Water. Mr Martin is hoping the three Social Democrat TDs will back him in the vote for taoiseach on the basis of that and the emphasis of both parties on public services rather than tax reductions in the forthcoming budgets.

A Labour Party spokesman confirmed its intention to support Mr Kenny in the vote for taoiseach but said the onus was now on the Opposition parties to form a government. If the Dáil fails to elect a taoiseach on March 10th, Mr Kenny will travel to Washington for the annual St Patrick’s Day trip as acting taoiseach. However, the wider ministerial travel programme will be curtailed and ministers who lost their seats will not travel abroad. A Government spokesman said the invitation to Washington was extended to the Office of Taoiseach, rather than any individual.

Mr Kenny will put his name before the Dáil on March 10th and is likely to be, in effect, a caretaker if he and Mr Martin both lose the vote.