Forming the next Government: Parties must be open on partnerships

IT’S almost five years to the day since the late Finance Minister Brian Lenihan spoke at the annual Michael Collins commemoration at Béal na Bláth. At that time he was asked if he thought Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael might ever come together and if Fianna Fáil, so recently eviscerated at the polls, might survive such an unprecedented partnership

“So what if they don’t,” he replied, “as long as it’s the best thing for the country.” Even though it was this openness and generosity that made Mr Lenihan such a popular figure, none of his senior party colleagues rushed to support his declaration, publicly at least. Fine Gael’s officer class hardly rushed to embrace the idea either.

Mr Lenihan’s successor in Fianna Fáil, finance spokesman Michael McGrath, returned to that theme in recent days when he suggested it would be arrogant of Fianna Fáil to dismiss the possibility of being the junior partner in a coalition. Mr McGrath’s contribution is pragmatic because opinion polls predict the next Dáil will be unusually divided and the establishment of a Government will be particularly difficult. Nevertheless, some of his colleagues remain steadfastly opposed to a relationship with Fine Gael. Others, despite assurances to the contrary from party leader Micheál Martin, flirt with the idea of an alliance with Sinn Féin.