Enda Kenny in plea for parties to co-operate ahead of 1916 Rising commemorations

Caretaker Taoiseach Enda Kenny has made a plea for politicians to work together in the national interest, 100 years after the Easter Rising, in a bid to break Ireland’s post-election deadlock.

The Fine Gael leader issued what was a clear call for wider talks, potentially including Fianna Fáil in the coming days, at the launch of An Post’s ‘GPO: Witness History’ commemorative centre in Dublin yesterday.

Mr Kenny — who on Thursday held round-table talks with 15 Independents, the Green Party, and Social Democrats — said the commemoration events should encourage parties to unite.

Telling a crowd of dignitaries and guests at the event that what happened 100 years ago was “a bloody experience for those early days of our State”, Mr Kenny said: “We have learned that the only way forward as a nation is to sit down together, work hard, and build a better future.”

Citing the New Departure of the late 19th century, which saw militant republicans find common ground with Home Rule-focused constitutional nationalists, and Michael Davitt’s move to bring different elements together, Mr Kenny said the message should not be lost on Ireland’s current political leaders.

In what has been seen as a clear indication that some form of talks may soon take place between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil regarding a minority government, he added: “Ireland works when Ireland works together.

“It was Michael Davitt, a great patriot, who said: ‘If Ireland is to reach its port of success, it would not be by the wind of words or rhetoric, but by the power of national policy’.

“In the current circumstances, the reference to his New Departure is one that we should reflect on for the future.

“From the bloody experience of those early days of our State, we have learned that the only way forward as a nation is to sit down together, work hard, and build a better future.

“When it comes to imagining the next 100 years of the Irish State, I hope that every custodian of Ireland’s democratic tradition can protect the public trust in them by putting the people and the national interest first.

“Ireland works when Ireland works together.”

The comments come after Thursday’s round-table talks between Fine Gael, Independents, and smaller parties saw Mr Kenny repeatedly questioned on when he will reach out to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

However, while a second round of talks is expected on Tuesday, four weeks since the vote itself, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have yet to make any formal contact.

Officially, Mr Martin’s party is continuing to reach out to Independents and smaller parties in a bid to win the April 6 taoiseach nomination vote.

However, earlier this month, frontbench TDs Seán Fleming and Barry Cowen said whichever party receives fewer votes on April 6 should admit defeat and back its rival from the opposition benches, while Health Minister Leo Varadkar and junior finance minister Simon Harris both said there are no plans to open discussions.