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LAST UPDATE | 11 Dec 2024
THE INITIAL TALKS on the future programme for government between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been described as “positive and constructive”.
Both parties negotiating teams met in Government Buildings today.
Following today’s discussions, the two parties agreed to engage further on issues over the coming days.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and members of his negotiating team also met with representatives with Social Democrats this afternoon.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to sit down with the Social Democrats today to discuss a number of key policy areas,” Harris said.
“I am very respectful of their party process and I look forward to hearing from them in the coming days.”
The Social Democrats deputy party leader Cian O’Callaghan said this evening that the parliamentary party will meet to discuss their next steps in government formation talks, stating that a decision on whether to progress will be made tomorrow.
Following the meeting with Harris, O’Callaghan said climate measures was a sticking point for the Social Democrats.
Earlier this morning, Harris said Independents are “very serious” about wanting to be the third partner in a potential coalition with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
The Fine Gael leader was speaking to media before the final cabinet meeting of the year this morning. He said that there is a “clear way” for his party and Fianna Fáil to form a government, but that a majority is needed.
“That’s why the third element of the [next] government is really important. It seems to me, from my initial engagements, that Independents are very serious about wanting to be a part of that,” Harris said.
He added that he wants to see a coalition formed “ideally before” US President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on 20 January, but stressed that all parties, including Fine Gael, must first seek a mandate from members to do so.
TD Michael Lowry, of the Regional Independent group, confirmed today that he has been invited to meet with Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee and Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers early next week to discuss and agree the structure and parameters for the group’s engagement in government formation talks.
Arising from those discussions the Regional Group’s will appoint their negotiators.
Asked today if he will be the next Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said Fianna Fáil will continue its discussions with other parties first. He noted, however, that he has been clear, since before the election, that he would like to be leader of the country.
Martin said he was aware that the public are anxious for discussions to wrap up quickly so a government can be formed soon. He did not say, however, if an agreement would be made by January.
“I respect the talks process and we’ll see what transpires,” he told reporters.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are meeting the Social Democrats today, separately, as government formation negotiations continue. Last week the Social Democrats ruled out a joint negotiating platform with its fellow left party Labour.
Though the party are serious about entering government, the Social Democrats has found itself embroiled in scandal – before TDs could take their seats – after newly-elected Eoin Hayes was suspended after he gave incorrect details about when he sold shares he held in a software firm that supplies technology to the Israeli Defence Forces.
Asked about the controversy, and whether it would impact today’s discussions, the Fianna Fáil leader said: “It’s a matter for the Social Democrats.”
“I’d have observations on that later but I think, for today’s meeting, we’ll focus on policy and substance.”
While there have been reports of a split within Labour as to whether or not the party should seek to enter a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, The Journal understands that there is now a “sense of uniformity” in the view that the party should not enter into government.
The Irish Independent has separately reported today that leader Ivana Bacik has internally ruled out going into government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil without the Social Democrats.
A final meeting with Labour’s governing council and members will take place this week where the party will decide its next move, a spokesperson said yesterday. The party is viewed as the only alternative to Independents for the third party in the next coalition.
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I’m trying real hard to be understanding here, but why are the Irish who are illegally in a country called “undocumented” whereas if it were a Mexican in the same situation he’d be called (rightly) an illegal immigrant?
(Genuine question, because I’m baffled)
That’s just the nice name the Irish media use. They are, of course, all illegal immigrants. Breaking the law is not encouraged over there, or indeed, over here. If you over stay you visa you should be deported.
I think the general difference is an undocumented person has the right to apply for a right to remain but can’t afford 6 months to a year out of work and the lawyers fees to apply for nationalization.
While an illegal alien would not have that right even if they applied.
They should all be deported and no more about it.
Well said Peter ….Regarding to an instant solution provided by you to deport a 50K illegal/undocumented Irish ( only in America) and do same here for 20K to 26K according to recent and only survey by non government Organization, Will you have an instant solution to cop with that huge number here Mr Brainer?
I believe the term of word undocumented is genuine generated because they have not done any criminal offense , They breach a civil law like traffic law! Definitely you can’t call people breaking traffic law and make an office like breaking the speed limit, traffic lights…..etc are illegal road users, Drivers!!!
The same reason that when a crime is reported, no matter where it occurs, Tallagh, Finglas or Limerick will get a mention if the criminal has ever lived there any any point in his life… and if the criminal is from anywhere else, locations are not so important.
You never hear the words “originally from Dun Laoghaire” on the news.
No criminal offence except being in the US illegally!
why do illegal irish immigrants to the states think they are special?
If they were people from Africa and it was Dublin and not New York then people might have a different opinion.
the sense of entitlement here is something else , illegals here are pests that should be hunted down, irish illegals in the US are pluckly souls that should get gubberment aid
Thats politicians and tge media for you. Most people think these illegals should be deported like anybody else.
I know a guy that was pulled over by police while driving in New York. He is an undocumented Irish man. Obviously not have a NY driving licence, he produced his Irish licence. The cop looked at it and said,”what we got here is 6 pages of bullsh!t” and he let him off! Fair play!
I know an undocumented Irish man who was caught drunk driving and still remained in the country. Not sure how he swung that but I know it was a very horrible time for him
Doesn’t respect the local laws much your friend does he.
He certainly doesn’t. He’s a complete fool. I definitely expected him to be deported but it seems he was never asked about his status despite going through the courts.
The police also know if they take him in he Will be out the next day never to be seen again. Waste of time for them
why the fcuk would you want to be in any country where your afraid to go outside to work or play no wonder you would be depressed.you are making yourself’s depressed people and it’s not going to change it’s the same old story going on for year’s.why not move to a country where you can work and play legal?
Is it worth it? Why not just come home? If they have jobs getting paid well then they are committing criminal acts. Fine and give them papers. If crap job or no job why the hell stay? I don’t get it. Never in million years be it no job at all I wouldn’t travel to another country and hide. Oh the fun of such a life. If those depressed or afraid answer leave. Otherwise shut up.
Well as bartender in NY can make up to 2grand a week in some busy Irish bars around Manhattan during winter. So why come back to a job in Ireland where you are paid a quarter of that?
You can make the same money selling heroin, hardly an excuse for breaking the law is it
Then they should crack down employers who hire illegals. Either give them option to come forward get visa and pay taxes or be booted. No real sympathy for people whose fear is that won’t earn more money if they have to come back. No money is worth looking over shoulder. And the employers should be given certain quota of visas of they choice to use them if and only if they can prove someone who is American or already has work visa can’t do the job. Again no sympathy they brought on themselves and sucideal means that they need to just come home.
Totally get your point. But some cases of which in seen first hand these Irish illegals have social security numbers and are paying full tax taken from their cheque each week. Illegal or not if you pay your fair share of tax more likely the boys in suits will leave you alone.
They need to look in the mirror as it is themselves and nobody else who put them in that situation. There are plenty of Irish people who would like to work in the US but can’t but don’t go their illegally.
Why are they Illegally in the US, they don’t need to be there, they’re not running away from hunger like a Mexican, they’re giving us a bad name. They are there just because they want to and they would do so even if they have to break the law.
They have 30 other countries to migrate legally in Europe without paperwork, and they can migrate legally to Canada and Australia with small paperwork and a preferential treatment, so why the US? I’ve been there is not another planet
The majority of these undocumented are over there long term, ie left during last recession. Have settled over there, made lives for themselves there and probably have lost contact with most people here save for family. There lives/circle of friends are over there. The majority of posters here wouldn’t have been in that position hence the negativity.
Derek you are correct. It is tough not being able to come home to see loved ones especially at this time of year. There is a constant worry about parents’ health knowing that if your folks die, you won’t be able to go to the funeral. Stressful life being undocumented in the us or oz.
It’s self inflicted. If they hadn’t broken the law and applied properly for residency, funerals amd Christmas wouldn’t be an issue.
As I said, mostly comments/redthumbs from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. Same applies to migrants from all nationalitys. Trying to better your life can be described as “self inflicted” from an ignorant perspective, by the way very very few stay in US if they can’t get work, no hand outs there.
Applying for residency didn’t guarantee getting the green card. It was a lottery based system.
It’s because we’re irish ,
Isn’t the word illegal a give away?
They’re breaking the law there.
Why the sob stories.
There may be individual cases of hardship but Ireland is the same as Somalia.
Funny thing is most are probably paying tax if they were ever legal to pay it in the first place! It suits the government! You have a worker who contributes but is not entitled to any of the privileges or aid a citizen gets!
have your say