McGrath and Lowry are ‘ready to deal’

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Mattie McGrath and former Fine Gael TD Michael Lowry have indicated they would support a Fine Gael-led single-party government as Independents.

If re-elected, north Tipperary Independent TD Lowry says he is willing to be part of a small group of Independent TDs who would support a minority Fine Gael government.

Mr Lowry said he believed there was no possibility of Fine Gael securing an overall majority in the election, but the party would get more than 70 seats and was set to be in position to form a minority government.

In that scenario he said he would be hoping to be one of a number of Independent TDs who would support Fine Gael.

“I hope to continue to serve the people in the best interests of my constituency and act in a responsible way in the national interest and do what is right for the country,” said Mr Lowry.

He said other Independents, if elected, who could play a part in ensuring that Fine Gael formed a government without Labour were Shane Ross, Finian McGrath and Noel Grealish.

Mr Lowry said it was quite obvious that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was now going to be Taoiseach and voters were currently swaying away from the notion of Labour being part of the new government.

“The feedback I am getting from people is that they are very concerned with the compromises that will have to be negotiated between Labour and Fine Gael who both have their own policy issues,” said Mr Lowry.

Former Fianna Fáil TD McGrath, said yesterday he would be “open” to an approach from Fine Gael.

The Tipperary South representative is running as an Independent after resigning from Fianna Fáil before the start of the campaign. He was elected to the Dáil at the first attempt in 2007.

An opinion poll published yesterday gave seats to Fine Gael’s Tom Hayes and Independent Seamus Healy, with the third and final seat being fought out between Mattie McGrath and Labour’s Phil Prendergast.

“I haven’t read any papers this week because I haven’t time, I’m here [in his office] at 6.30am and might leave at 12.30 at night, but I wouldn’t have any difficulty accepting that Tom Hayes is first and Seamus Healy second, with me fighting for the third seat. I’d believe that.”

He said a situation might be in play after the election where Fine Gael, on 70-plus seats but short of an overall majority, might try and deal with Independents.

Despite his Fianna Fáil background, Mr McGrath said he had nothing against Fine Gael. “I have good respect for Enda Kenny. I have a good personal relationship with him. Enda might need the Independents. No one can say never. I’d have to go back to my team and consult with my electorate.”