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Some Fine Gael TDs want a deal with Fianna Fáil - but lots of them just don't want to talk about it

A survey carried out by TheJournal.ie this week found many Fine Gael TDs reluctant to discuss the formation of the next government.

AT LEAST A dozen Fine Gael TDs want their party to enter into an arrangement with Fianna Fáil – with many stretching as far as calling for a coalition government with the old rival.

But of the other 38, many are keeping their opinions to themselves.

In a survey of the party’s 50 TDs, TheJournal.ie found many reluctant to talk publicly about their preferred option following the inconclusive outcome of the general election.

Fine Gael is currently attempting to secure the support of small parties and independents in a bid to form a minority government without Fianna Fáil.

However it’s widely expected that the party will eventually engage in talks with its historic rival, despite reluctance from many within Fianna Fáil.

03/02/2016. Fine Gael. Pictured An Taoiseach Enda Fine Gael's parliamentary party at Leinster House Sam Boal Sam Boal

In the phone questionnaire, TheJournal.ie asked every Fine Gael TD whether they would prefer:

  • A Fine Gael minority government without Fianna Fáil
  • A Fine Gael minority government with Fianna Fáil
  • A ‘grand coalition’ government with Fianna Fáil
  • Fine Gael in opposition 

Exactly half of the 50 deputies who were elected to the 32nd Dáil responded – with some of those who didn’t expressing reluctance over talking publicly about their views.

Several politicians queried whether the survey was anonymous (it was not) and asked how many other TDs had responded.

Though there is a diversity of views, 13 of the 25 who did answer our question favour either a grand coalition with Fianna Fáil or a Fine Gael minority with Fianna Fáil support.

What they said

Michael D’Arcy, who won a seat in Wexford last month, spoke strongly in favour of coalition with Fianna Fáil, saying it’s that “or nothing”.

I’ve made the point that if Fianna Fáil could go into government with the PDs in the ’80s and Fine Gael could go in with Democratic Left [in the '90s], then 20 years later, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil can go into government to protect the country.
“There are some very serious issues coming down the track that you’re going to need a solid government for,” he said.

Pat Breen, a TD for Clare, said the grand coalition is the most stable option, saying: “If you want stability, a Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil government is the best one for five years of stability.”

25/3/2013 Irelands Presidency Of The European Union David Stanton Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Cork East TD David Stanton said a “grand coalition would probably be the most stable and long lasting”.

Carlow-Kilkenny TD Pat Deering said he would favour a coalition with Fianna Fáil but “not at any cost”. He said he would not agree to such an arrangement if there is a rotating Taoiseach and the principle of paying for water is not maintained.

Others who support a coalition with Fianna Fáil include Kildare South TD Martin Heydon, Longford-Westmeath TD Peter Burke and Clare TD Joe Carey.

Ciaran Cannon, a deputy for Galway East, said that the grand coalition is his preferred option but believes it is unlikely to be achieved. He said he would therefore favour a Fine Gael minority with Fianna Fáil support.

Those who support the idea of a minority government with Fianna Fáil support include John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny) Colm Brophy (Dublin South-West) Fergus O’Dowd (Louth), Helen McEntee (Meath East), and Noel Rock (Dublin North-West).

23/1/2016.78th Fine Gael Ard Fheis Simon Coveney sam boal sam boal

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney (Cork South-Central), who has been heavily involved in Fine Gael’s negotiations with other parties and independents, said he would prefer a government “without being reliant on Fianna Fáil support”.

His view was shared by junior minister Damien English (Meath West), who told us:

My preference would be minority without Fianna Fáil, which I think is possible. I’d go with Fianna Fáil if needs be, but it is possible to do a strong rainbow minority government.

Galway West TD Sean Kyne and Offaly TD Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy also expressed support for a Fine Gael minority without Fianna Fáil support.

Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle said he would prefer to go into opposition unless “we can nail down an agreement that can last three years”.

There are far too many elected who want to criticise the government, but only want to oppose after calling for change during the campaign. Now they are calling for more of the same, simply to avoid having to make hard choices.

Other views

Other TDs who responded did not opt for either of the four options and instead expressed a range of opinions.

Dublin Fingal deputy Alan Farrell said he favoured none of the options and suggested a second election could be possible.

Dublin Rathdown TD Josepha Madigan said it was “too early to say”, while Dún Laoghaire TD Maria Bailey said she would await the outcome of talks between Fine Gael and other parties.

3/3/2016. Election 2016 - Dail Arrivals. Members o Maria Bailey Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

Dublin Bay South TD Kate O’Connell said she favoured the formation of a stable government, without expressing a preference for what parties that should involve.

Limerick TD Tom Neville said “all sensible options for a stable government” should be explored.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin said he would prefer a “proportional administration that would operate firmly on the principles of consensus and compromise”.

Kildare North TD Bernard Durkan said he would not comment on the question as the matter should not be discussed in the media, telling this website:

It’s not for public discussion in the first instance, the party has to decide. We can’t do the process through the media. It’s not in the interests of country or government to spend this time speculating on what I would like or prefer.

The 25 TDs who failed to respond to our question are:

  1. Catherine Byrne, Dublin South Central
  2. Charlie Flanagan, Laois
  3. Dara Murphy, Cork North Central
  4. Enda Kenny, Mayo
  5. Eoghan Murphy, Dublin Bay South
  6. Frances Fitzgerald, Dublin Mid West
  7. Heather Humphreys, Cavan Monaghan
  8. Hildegarde Naughton, Galway West
  9. Jim Daly, Cork South West
  10. Joe McHugh, Donegal
  11. John Deasy, Waterford
  12. Leo Varadkar, Dublin West 
  13. Mary Mitchell-O’Connor, Dun Laoighaire-Rathdown
  14. Michael Creed, Cork North West
  15. Michael Noonan, Limerick City
  16. Michael Ring, Mayo
  17. Paschal Donohoe, Dublin Central
  18. Patrick O’Donovan, Limerick County
  19. Paul Kehoe, Wexford
  20. Peter Fitzpatrick, Louth
  21. Regina Doherty, Meath East
  22. Richard Bruton, Dublin Bay North 
  23. Seán Barrett, Dun Laoghaire
  24. Simon Harris, Wicklow
  25. Tony McLoughlin, Sligo-Leitrim

Read: How close are we to getting a government?

Read: Enda Kenny has had a ‘very good and very constructive’ talk with the Green Party

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53 Comments
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    Mute Sinabhfuil
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    Jul 12th 2014, 10:08 AM

    Ah, tis well I remember driving past one of the Dublin Corporation developments of the 1980s with a well-off professional in the building industry. He pointed at it in a fury. “Look at that! Materials and work to an inspected standard no private builder could possibly afford!”
    Remember when a house being built by a council was a guarantee of quality? The best of materials, workmanship inspected stringently, everything done perfectly.

    85
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    Mute Kate Ellen Egan
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    Jul 12th 2014, 10:57 AM

    There are people who got corporation houses when they were on hard times at small rent , bought them when they were a little better off for well below the market value but come the Celtic Tiger ,kids gone they were sold for mega bucks ,was that a fair thing to do ? after all corporation houses were the original social housing schemes

    78
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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Jul 12th 2014, 11:11 AM

    Social housing should never be sold to a private owner. It distorts the market completely and is entirely unfair to regular buyers, particularly those just above the threshold for SH.

    64
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    Mute GATHERINGYOURMONEY14
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    Jul 12th 2014, 4:52 PM

    Part “V”
    How appropriate.
    The establishment yet again gives the V sign to the working poor middle-classes.

    7
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    Mute Edward Smith
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    Jul 12th 2014, 1:08 PM

    Great, you work hard and save for years to get your own space and then a family of welfare bums moves next door to you for free.

    56
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    Mute George Grey
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    Jul 12th 2014, 10:28 AM

    Developers milked and milking the system. Many broke developers are now employed by NAMA to look after their greedy and failed projects. In tow with the banks they decimated any vision for sustainable housing projects in this country. The real hindrance to the industry is not social housing but rather a desire to maximise profits with little cost.

    53
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    Mute Edward Smith
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    Jul 12th 2014, 1:20 PM

    On the RTE news two months ago there was an item about Cluid Housing Association handing over two beautiful new houses to a Nigerian single mother and a Polish family. We are never going to be able to build hoses for everyone who decides to come here.
    We should concentrate on housing our own people first.

    48
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    Mute Bobby
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    Jul 12th 2014, 1:22 PM

    Europe would slap you for saying that. Your not allowed. You must do as they say in the Union……

    27
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    Mute Junkie Joe Joyce
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    Jul 12th 2014, 4:18 PM

    “Our own” have had it too easy for generations. I’ve no doubt that a Nigerian or Polish family would appreciate social housing far more than many of our own anti-social degenerates.

    12
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    Mute Edward Smith
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    Jul 12th 2014, 7:02 PM

    Now that truly is genius, lets teach our poor a lesson by bringing in the Worlds poor.

    5
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    Mute Robert Meade
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    Jul 12th 2014, 11:05 AM

    So sticking a few social housing units into a new estate is the government’s answer to social integration?

    38
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Jul 12th 2014, 11:19 AM

    Got it is painful to watch. The same eejits, discussing the same problems with the same eejits and coming up with the same solutions, that have not, did not and will not work to address the “social” housing issue.

    32
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    Mute gkrell
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    Jul 12th 2014, 11:57 AM

    Do they ever consider that the reason so much social housing is needed is because the price of property is way out of line with the average wage? 25% of children are born to single parent families now. 50% of people in social housing are single parents. Single parenthood is becoming the new normal. The solution is not to milk the taxpayers, but to let the price of property naturally reduce to suit market demand. A single parent who minimum wage should be able to afford their own home. They are not an edge case any more. They are becoming the majority.

    19
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jul 12th 2014, 12:16 PM

    So we should sell property cheaper than the materials? How about the other parent pays for their child and people actual aim for better employment.

    41
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    Mute gkrell
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    Jul 12th 2014, 12:47 PM

    not at all. The high price of property is not because of the materials used, it is because prices are unnaturally inflated due to a number of reasons. One reason is, people are told the state will pay their retirement costs, so instead of needing to save money for retirement, they have more available to spend on property. The price of property is only what people are willing to pay. We have a society now where people work 40-50 hours a week just to pay for the box you get to leave your stuff in while you are away working to pay for the box to leave your stuff in. Then the other factor is the increasing number of people who rely on social housing. 100,000 people are living in social housing within Dublin city’s canals. This decreases the amount of property available to own/rent pushing property prices higher and also removes the demand for low cost housing from the market, as this cost is being born by the tax payer who are paying for housing in some of the most desirable city centre locations.

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    Mute gkrell
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    Jul 12th 2014, 1:13 PM

    oh and we’re not talking about paying for children here which of course both parents should help. A single parent family needs two homes, one for the father and one for the mother. The children could split their time between the homes making their support share equal, but two homes are still needed. One has to be paid for by the mother and one has to be paid for by the father. This sort of family is becoming more and more common now. They used to be an infrequent edge case so the cost has been born by the tax payer as the majority of families had two parents, needing only one housing making the cost of buying a home a single parent prohibitive. Now though, more and more families are living in single parent homes – 25% and growing meaning 50% of social housing now goes to them, paid for by the tax payer. What needs to happen instead is that the market adjusts to meet the new reality of home-owners. It’s quite realistic to this. We don’t have the money to fund an ever increasing number of single parent homes. House prices just need to drop to a level that is affordable by the new market instead of being propped up by tax-payers. It’s a no brainer. However the biggest opponent to this is the state and the banks who likes to keep inflating the cost of housing because it is a cash cow.

    7
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    Mute Bobby
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    Jul 12th 2014, 1:15 PM
    11
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jul 12th 2014, 1:17 PM

    You don’t even see your own argument in your suggestion. Why would people bother if the can have a child and get really cheap housing and work a low paying job.
    If you reckon it is viable to provide houses @ 65k and make a profit I suggest you become a developer. Of course it requires non union workers and free land.
    Personally I think we should be trying to use the stock we have. Maybe give tax incentives to retired people to move from the prime locations that are well serviced for families and those working. The capacity for city suburbs is grossly under used.

    9
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    Mute Bobby
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    Jul 12th 2014, 12:33 PM

    That’s how it works in England. Private/key worker/social units in each development.

    6
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