Brennan’s comments don’t rule Greens out of coalition

FIANNA FÁIL last night sent out unmistakable signals that the breakdown of talks with the Green Party did not necessarily rule out the prospects of both parties entering coalition together.

The only public response from Fianna Fáil to the withdrawal from talks by the Greens came from Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan.

In a remarkably upbeat and conciliatory interview with RTÉ’s Six-One News, Mr Brennan dropped a heavy hint that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was available to intervene in the negotiating process and meet Green Party leader Trevor Sargent.

“My understanding is that the leaders of both parties are available to discuss some outstanding issues if they need to be discussed,” said Mr Brennan.

In the course of the interview, he repeatedly emphasised the “enormous amount of progress” that had been made and the potential to find a solution.

Privately, Fianna Fáil sources also said that the process with the Greens had not been exhausted.

They suggested that the fact that the meeting of Green party members was cancelled removed some of the pressure on the smaller party to find a solution within a very narrow time frame.

Publicly, Mr Brennan acknowledged that significant gaps remained between both parties on some core policy issues.

Referring to three of the issues alluded to by Mr Sargent in his press conference, Mr Brennan said: “They are very enormous issues with very substantial financial implications as well.

“It does take some ironing out.

“Fianna Fáil is available to see if we can iron out some of those issues.”