LAST UPDATE | 9 Dec 2024

FIANNA FÁIL’S MICHEAL Martin met with Fine Gael’s Simon Harris today in what has been described as a “positive” and “constructive” meeting.

“The Taoiseach and Tánaiste agreed the need for a stable government, underpinned by mutual respect and clear policy direction for the next five years so that it can deliver for the Irish people in face of great challenges,” said a statement issued by the two parties this afternoon.

The two party leaders have now asked their negotiating teams to commence talks tomorrow.

This move signifies government formation talks stepping up a gear, though a question mark hangs over whether a new government can be formed by the new year.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said this afternoon that she has contacted the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael each by phone and agreed to meet them leader to leader in separate meetings.

Bacik will meet Martin tomorrow at noon and Harris at a time later in the week.

The Labour leader also spoke with the leader of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald about future engagement. Labour’s parliamentary party also agreed with Bacik’s proposal to write to the leaders of the Social Democrats and Green Party to seek further development of a centre-left common platform.

While there has been much speculation about the carving up of ministries and the rotating Taoiseach model, it is understood the focus between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is on policy and who will make up the third pillar of the next government. 

As reported last week, the two party leaders appear to be optimistic about a stable group of Independent TDs shoring up the numbers, but the Labour Party is still in the mix, with Martin and Harris understood to have discussed their options at today’s meeting.

Independents 

Martin has already held personal meetings and spoken over the phone with a number of Independents in the last week, with Harris has met with a number of them today. 

It is understood the Taoiseach spoke with Wexford TD Verona Murphy this afternoon, and is due to meet with Dublin Bay North TD Barry Heneghan shortly.

Harris will tomorrow meet with the other Independents such as Galway West TD Noel Grealish, Tipperary North’s Michael Lowry, Longford-Westmeath Kevin “Boxer” Moran and Sligo-Leitrim’s Marian Harkin.

Aontú is the latest to join the Dáil technical grouping of Independents, with party leader Peadar Tóibín confirming to The Journal that the party, with two TDs, have joined the ‘Regional Group’.

The group now consists of ten TDs, with eight Independents having agreed to register as a technical group earlier this week. Technical groups are typically formed to increase speaking time for its members in the Dáil. 

The eight Independents are Seán Canney, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Kevin (‘Boxer’) Moran, Verona Murphy and Gillian Toole.

Tóibín said that he and his party colleague, newly elected Paul Lawless, would not be negotiating government with Fine Gael or the Greens. 

Despite recent chatter about Independents, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael still have a focus on the Labour Party and whether they might be open to forming the next government, despite the Social Democrats stating that they would not join forces with Labour in any talks. 

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have selected their negotiating teams for the talks over the next number of weeks, these include: 

Fianna Fáil: 

• Jack Chambers
• Darragh O’Brien
• Norma Foley
• Mary Butler
• James Lawless
• James Browne

Fine Gael: 

• Paschal Donohoe
• Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
• Martin Heydon
• John Cummins
• John Paul O’Shea

It is understood that those in both parties see there are advantages and disadvantages for going in with a party such as Labour or an amalgamation of Independents. 

Avoiding banana skins

Throughout the talks there will be a focus on ensuring there are effective structures to ensure accountability and delivery, so as to avoid any banana skins for the next government. 

Having effective dispute resolution mechanisms is understood to be of paramount importance. 

In terms of parity of esteem, something Harris has been insisting on in recent days, Fianna Fáil is minded for the party to hold more Cabinet positions, as reported by The Journal last week. 

Martin confirmed his position on Friday stating that the election result (which gives Fianna Fáil ten seats over Fine Gael) needs to be reflected.

If the rotating Taoiseach mechanism is agreed again, which is not a certainty, then Martin is understood to want to hold the position of Taoiseach first, and for a longer period, with Harris perhaps given the opportunity to step into the role in the final year and a half of the next government term.

The Dáil is set to meet on 18 December, but it is unclear if government formation talks will be completed by then.