FF hints at government formation talks with FG but only after taoiseach vote
Despite stressing all current efforts are focussed on ensuring party leader Micheál Martin gets the most support in the April 6 vote, three TDs have said discussions between the two biggest parties could begin after the Dáil debate takes place.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Fianna Fáil’s public expenditure spokesperson Sean Fleming said while Mr Martin and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny are unlikely to reach the required 79 TD support to become taoiseach in three weeks, whoever gains the most backing should be allowed to try to form a minority government.
Mirroring weekend comments from environment spokesperson and party negotiating team member Barry Cowen and a third TD who spoke privately last night, Mr Fleming said whoever receives fewer votes on that date should step to one side and give the party with the largest backing the chance to begin negotiations.
In this scenario he said the party which receives the largest support in the Taoiseach nomination vote should be allowed to speak with smaller parties and Independent again in a bid to form a minority government.
Separate talks between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could also take place simultaneously, requiring the smaller of the two in terms of the vote to admit defeat and back the other from the opposition benches on a case-by-case basis.
A third taoiseach nomination vote would then be required, most likely in late April, to establish a potential new government.
“Whoever gets the most votes [on April 6] should be allowed to lead the next government. It would be incumbent on Enda Kenny to support Micheál Martin from opposition if he got less support, and I would say that both ways around.
“Between now and April 6 we’re just focussing on support for the nomination vote, but after April 6 maybe then discussions could begin,” said Mr Fleming.
He said whichever party wins the most backing in three weeks should be allowed to “re-talk to everybody” before a third taoiseach nomination vote takes place.
Asked why the same logic did not exist last Thursday, when Mr Kenny received 57 votes and Mr Martin 43, Mr Fleming said “no negotiations [with smaller parties] had taken place in forming a government then” and that the initial taoiseach nomination vote was about ratifying the election result.
His comments mirror those of Fianna Fáil environment spokesperson and negotiating team member Barry Cowen, who said yesterday there is an onus on whoever loses the April 6 vote to support a minority government.
A third Fianna Fáil TD familiar with the negotiating team’s work said while the position is “not the definitive view, it makes perfect sense to me”. Fianna Fáil last night continued to say it is seeking to remove Fine Gael from office. Transport spokesperson Timmy Dooley said talks are “entirely a matter for the party leader” and that the options are Enda Kenny in power, Micheál Martin in power, or a second election.
However, the potential for minority government talks after April 6 underlines the party’s belief it can gain more votes than Fine Gael.
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