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Updated at 10.50am
https://www.facebook.com/journalpolitics/videos/1189080154449688/
THERE IS ONE simple question on the lips of those who have been following the goings on at Dáil Éireann over the 70 days since the election: “Will today finally be the day we get a new government?”
There have been three votes already, all have which have proved inconclusive, but today’s vote at midday in Leinster House is expected to finally give Enda Kenny the support of the six extra TDs he needs to become the first Fine Gael Taoiseach to retain his job.
With Fianna Fáil set to abstain from today’s vote following the agreement reached between the two largest parties last weekend, it seems that following the release of a 160-page draft programme for government yesterday Fine Gael now finally will have that support in place.
Thomas Byrne / TwitterDon't forget that supply and confidence agreement is conditional on minority Govt having 58 votes at least
— Thomas Byrne (@ThomasByrneTD) May 6, 2016
Talks resume
Talks between the various independents continued late into the night, and indeed will continue this morning with Fine Gael from 9am, but the indications are that today will finally be the day.
Further to the Dáil vote, the allocation of ministries to independents in the new Dáil and the make-up of the new cabinet will be topics of interest.
There had been some suggestion that Fine Gael had jumped the gun somewhat by calling today’s vote before the various independents had seen the new draft document let alone agreed upon it, with Mattie McGrath of the rural alliance of independent TDs especially aggrieved.
Last night on RTÉ’s Prime Time Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton had denied that this constituted ‘arrogance’ on the part of his party.
“There is a view on all sides that we needed to move this on before the weekend,” he said.
People need to form a government. We’ve spent a lot of time identifying issues and deciding on the programme we want to take.
The majority of the six-strong Independent Alliance of TDs are now expected to support Kenny in today’s vote, with Shane Ross, Waterford’s John Halligan, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, and Finian McGrath understood to be finally on board.
Doubts still remain over Roscommon’s Michael Fitzmaurice and Galway’s Sean Canney has emerged as someone with a question mark over his head.
Fitzmaurice continues to have issues over turf-cutting in his Roscommon-South Leitrim constituency.
Canney meanwhile has told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that “I haven’t made up my mind yet”.
“We have issues with turf-cutting and infrastructure,” he said. “Myself I want to be sure the Western Rail Corridor is seen as a viable project and isn’t forgotten, I am looking for that recognition. Hopefully we’ll have a conclusion this morning.”
Finian McGrath and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran meanwhile told the programme that they are satisfied with the document that they have seen, but that they are standing by their colleagues who have reservations.
“I’m quite happy with the document in its entirety,” Moran said.
But I’m standing by my colleagues at this juncture.
Who wouldn’t want to be a minister
Asked whether or not he was hoping to be appointed to a ministry in a new government, Moran replied that he “would never turn down an opportunity for a challenge”.
Doesn’t everyone want to be a minister?
Fine Gael Galway TD Seán Kyne, one of its chief negotiators with the independents, meanwhile told the programme that he believes that the problems with wording can be worked out.
“I am hopeful that the wording can be agreed between Michael Fitzmaurice and Heather Humphreys,” he said.
Asked what would happen if the requisite six independents couldn’t be secured today, Kyne replied “I would imagine the Taoiseach will be going to the Park”, meaning another election.
But I don’t think that is likely from what I’m hearing. We still have 12 independent TDs at the negotiating table, I wouldn’t have expected to have anything like that amount still in discussions at this stage.
The so-called rural alliance of five independent TDs including Roscommon’s Dennis Naughten are understood to still be considering and discussing the draft document released yesterday.
Noncommittal
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland earlier today Michael Fitzmaurice said noncommittally that he would “have to go with the situation in front of me over the next couple of hours” before making his decision.
“I’m looking for a way of fast-forwarding the relocation of people cutting turf in banned bogs, and of trying to solve this problem,” he said.
Particularly in the case of these conserved bogs, I want to ensure that people who have been working these bogs won’t be waiting two or three years for planning permission.
Independent Katherine Zappone, one of the first to throw her hat in with Fine Gael some weeks ago, told RTÉ television last night that the draft document issued to independents yesterday “demonstrates the interests of everyone who has had negativity towards Fine Gael over the last few months”.
It’s a good thing, we’re moving forward now and there is an openness to taking on board the views and policies of TDs who are not part of Fine Gael.
When asked regarding the issue of ministries being issued to independents Zappone said: “I don’t know”.
Originally published 7.44am
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I work with Caroline and how she has conducted herself through these terrible events is very admirable. Her and her family’s determination to get justice despite their grief and the awful circumstances of Michael’s death shows such strength of character. I hope they uncover the whole truth. RIP Michael Dwyer.
can’t argue with any of this, and i feel very sorry for her and the family. but this article does nothing to address what he was doing in bolivia. recession doesn’t lead to many people seeking their fortune in latin america with right wing europeans. my guess is (and yes it’s a guess), he was bored with ireland, and was drawn in by a charismatic person with ideas of revolution and adventure and the like. won’t be the first or last to do this, and not always a bad thing necessarily. think of irish poeple who fought in spanish civil war. and by the way, whatever the circumstances of him being there, it bears all the hall-marks of extra-judicial killing.
Bolivia of all places to go..
Australia, America or Canada would probably have being safer…
Hopefully the truth will come out,
But it’s very doubtful it will….
ODwyer was murdered by the Bolivian government in an attempt to undermine rebels seeking independence in that region of Bolivia. They tried to make it look like he was an IRA mercenary along with others from the former russian block and eastern europe to justify their actions in the region.
Many know of his story of security courses that fell through in Europe and the US and for some reason he ended up doing some form of training in Bolivia..but he is an innocent man an he was murdered!
My condolences to Michael’s family. I heard his parents speak on radio one morning a few years back and they struck me as very reasoned, decent people who just wanted to find out what happened to their beloved son. I wish the armchair detectives would just zip it and let them get on with their heartbreaking quest. I cannot imagine their pain and the loss they face every day. I can only wish them strength and success and hope that they find the truth. There but for the grace of god…
Wasn’t he part of a group out to murder the Bolivian president? Good job their plans were foiled.
Dave, there is no proof of that at all .
Did he have any connection with the dodgy mercenary “commander” in Louth? Well covered in the Pheonix.
Greg I worked with Caroline too and I have no doubt others reading this may have a personal connection with Caroline or some other family members. Please show some respect. Those who don’t know the fact please stop assuming that you do.
But the family don’t know the facts either, nor do any of the people who support the idea that he was innocent.
I agree people shouldn’t so easily make assumptions, but that goes for both sides!
Did this guy do any ‘Bodyguard’ courses? Any ‘Close Protection’ courses? Or ‘Hostile Environment Awareness Training’ courses or the like? The ones that say learn to be a bodyguard in a weekend, 4 days, etc.
If so chances are is that he duped into a ‘job’ abroad. Unfortunately it has happened many times.
My condolences to his family.
I knew this guy in college in Galway. He was very mannerly . He worked in halo nightclub doing security and in Dunnes in the deli for a short period . He was very pleasant and friendly .
I’ve spent time in Bolivia and it can be difficult just to get the simplest of things done. Can’t imagine what this family have had to go through.
Did he have any connection with the dodgy “mercenary commander” in Louth. Well documented in the Pheonix magazine.
have your say