Triple lock and Occupied Territories Bill on agenda for leaders

There are a number of 'highly delicate' areas that party leaders Micheál Martin, right, and Simon Harris are to hammer out among themselves. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The controversial issues of Ireland's triple lock and a commitment to pass the Occupied Territories Bill are to be decided by the party leaders as government formation talks intensify.

It is understood that there are a number of "highly delicate" areas that party leaders Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are to hammer out among themselves before the draft programme for government can be agreed upon.

It is expected that both men could meet in person as early as Tuesday after another long day of discussions on Monday.

Among the contentious topics is the Occupied Territories Bill and the level of detail that any programme for government might contain in relation to passing the legislation, which would ban any trade with individuals or companies operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.

One senior source who has been involved in talks warned that passing the Bill would be the "biggest act of self-sabotage" of any government, given the international impact it would have on Ireland's reputation.

However, others expect that there will be a commitment to pass the bill, given moves on foot of fresh legal advice which the outgoing government received last year.

Talks with the Regional Independents group continue with one member stating the TDs are “hopeful” a deal would be reached in the coming days.

It is now likely that the Regional Independents will get a a place around the Cabinet table, but in a super junior role and not a senior ministry.

Full senior ministerial role

The group had pushed for a full senior ministerial role during talks, but sources said this would not happen, but they are expected to be awarded two junior minister positions.

A Fianna Fáil source said Verona Murphy's elevation to Ceann Comhairle, while not part of the discussions, was seen as a "big enough win" for the Independents.

One negotiator indicated that the end was in sight, saying that many of the issues had been agreed by the teams involved.

“It’s finalisation really, most things are done,” they said.

Another source said that the current aim is to have a final agreement reached either on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning ahead of a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

They said that there was broad agreement across all departments and that “policy is not going to be an issue” in the final hours of the negotiations.

They added that there have been no formal discussions on the makeup of the new cabinet, and that this “horse-trading” would come in the final hours.

There is said to be “mileage” in Fianna Fail’s proposals for a Department of Home Affairs, but that this could come as part of a wider restructuring of the Department of Justice rather than as a new standalone department.

Fianna Fáil is set to host a special Ard Fhéis this Sunday to rubberstamp the deal, while Fine Gael is required to host five regional meetings first.

One Fine Gael source indicated that it would be difficult to pull off the regional meetings on time for 22 January if an agreement is not reached in the coming days.