Serious coalition talks begin as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael prepare for meeting
Fianna Meetings Labour Bacik Micheál Fine Leah Leader Ie Both Held With Have Picture: Gael And Harris Farrell/rollingnews Fáil Martin Leader Leader Simon Ivana
Coalition negotiations are to begin in earnest today after an initial meeting of deputy leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
The two main parties have not yet got down to full negotiations despite the election being held 12 days ago. Both Simon Harris and Micheál Martin have indicted that it will be mid-January before a new government is formed.
However, talks kicked off last night when Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee met with her Fianna Fáil counterpart Jack Chambers to discuss the structure and format for the talks.
A meeting of the full negotiating teams from both parties will take place Wednesday as Ministers also gather in Dublin for a Cabinet meeting.
As exploratory meetings continue, Taoiseach Simon Harris will today speak with the Social Democrats. Both Mr Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin met with Labour leader Ivana Bacik yesterday.
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A spokesperson for Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he had held a "constructive engagement" with the Labour leader. "The Taoiseach is grateful for the time and engagement on a range of substantial policy issues."
Afterwards Ms Bacik said both meetings included discussions on policies and manifesto commitments on housing, health, climate, workers’ rights, and disability services.
The Labour parliamentary party is due to hold a meeting on Friday during which Ms Bacik will provide an assessment of engagement to date and consider the outcome of these meetings.
However, Labour TDs are divided on whether the party should enter into a coalition, with some members arguing that it would be best to rebuild further from the opposition benches before entering government.
Many in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael also prefer the option of hammering out a deal with Independents. Any such deal could see Wexford TD Verona Murphy appointed as Ceann Comhairle when the Dáil returns next week.
Mr Harris yesterday met with Sligo Independent TD Marian Harkin, with a spokesperson for the Taoiseach describing the engagements with non-party TDs so far as "productive".
Ms Harkin said the regional group, which also includes Sean Canney, Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Gillian Toole, and Barry Heneghan, will meet today when they are likely to decide whether to go into programme for government talks as a group or separately.
Ms Harkin said she would favour approaching any negotiations as a group.
She described the conversation with Mr Harris as "good" but "general", adding that it was "the start of a process".
She cited the Mercosur trade deal between the EU and four South American countries as a significant item, claiming it could signal "the death knell of the suckler heard".
"This deal is not a good one," she said adding that changes must be made.