Senior Fine Gael figures set to discuss election fallout

Fine Gael’s senior party figures intend to discuss government options and the election fallout at Cabinet today as well as with the party’s newly elected TDs next week.

There is mixed opinion on options open to Enda Kenny’s party, who are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach amid suggestions it will take weeks to hammer out a deal.

Preference for a minority Fine Gael government — with support from Fianna Fail and others on the opposition benches — is strong among senior party figures who spoke to the Irish Examiner last night.

One source said: “Opposition might only be allowed in a minority on financial bills or motions, such as a budget or motions of confidence in the government. But who is going to oppose expansionary budgets giving pensioners more? Motions of confidence are also only allowed every six months.”

Nonetheless, a separate source said a minority government would be “very vulnerable”. “We could be annihilated,” one minister said.

The Cabinet will meet today, in what will be a strange gathering of ministers, three of whom have lost their seats but still hold ministerial power.

Ministers will examine the post-election landscape and consider the options, after voters smashed any of Fine Gael-Labour coalition hopes for a smooth second term.

The first priority for Fine Gael will be a vote on Thursday week, when the 32nd Dail first meets with its new TDs, over who should be Taoiseach.

“This is the first battle. It’s important Enda polls more than Micheál. Fianna Fáil are trying to humiliate him on the way to that vote. But we can get the numbers [for support],” said a senior party source.

Fine Gael believes it can gain support from the two Green TDs elected as well as a cohort of Independents, including Roscommon-Galway’s Denis Naughten, Dublin-Central’s Maureen O’Sullivan, Galway East’s Noel Grealish as well as possibly votes of confidence from the two Healy-Rae brothers in Kerry.

Separately, approaches are expected to be made to the Independent Alliance, who could take up to six seats when the last election counts are finished.

This jigsaw of up to a dozen Independents, plus the support from the Greens and that already pledged by Labour, could give Mr Kenny close to 70 votes out of 158.

While it may not be a majority, party sources said it would send out a “clear message to the country” Mr Kenny would command the most support to go and try and form a government.

Meanwhile, newly elected Fine Gael TDs are expected to gather for their first parliamentary meeting next week, at which Mr Kenny will also judge the levels of support or opposition to potential government formation options. With election counts likely to run until today, party sources say its TDs would instead be asked to attend the parliamentary meeting next week some time.

With an emphasis now being placed on the need for Dáil reform, given that any coalition put together will not have a dominant position, attention is also expected to turn to how the whip will be operated for TDs.

Senior Fine Gael sources though are stressing any agreement for power, which might involve cooperation on Dáil reform, is likely weeks away from being hammered out.

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