Parties face 'challenges' to reach agreement with government formation talks set to resume
Lang="en The Would 22 The Party's Dáil Returns And Place Challenging Have It Browne, James When Dublin Colin fianna Coalition File picture: Said New Fáil Keegan/collins Negotiator, Be
Government formation negotiations are to resume on Monday as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael prepare to hone in on climate, health, and housing over the week ahead.
It is the first time negotiators will meet since Christmas, as attention turns to hammering out a deal before the end of the month.
Sticking points in the week ahead are likely to include the issues of climate and transport, with neither Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil controlling the main ministries in recent years.
However, there is optimism that significant work can be done this week — with health and housing also up for discussion.
“The hope would be to get through four or five departments this week,” a source close to negotiations said.
One source indicated that the next programme for Government would not be as detailed as the one outlined in 2020, citing the need for flexibility to give incoming ministers room to maneuver.
“It will be a broader document,” the source said.
Negotiators are going through both election manifestos on a line-by-line basis, but it is expected that that significant work will have been completed by the two parties by the end of the week.
One source said that issues around justice and enterprise were also likely to be dealt with this week, with “everyone’s focus” being on concluding talks by January 22.
Other areas where there will be focus on include climate, transport, energy, and health policy. Documents have already been exchanged around housing, but some formal discussions are likely to take place.
The source added that there would need to be “significant deliberations” over some areas where there are policy differences between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
There are questions still, however, with the source questioning how long it may take to finalise a deal with the “third leg” of the coalition — which is most likely a group of Independent TDs.
No structure on whether or not there should be joint talks between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Independent TDs has been agreed as of yet.
Fianna Fáil TD and the party's negotiator, James Browne, said that it would be challenging to have a new coalition in place when the Dáil returns on January 22.
He told Newstalk that, while it is likely that a deal would be struck, the requirement for parties to have the programme for Government approved could add extend the timeline.
Mr Browne said that previous talks saw almost half of all areas agreed by negotiating teams from the two parties.
However, he said that there will always be “challenges” when trying to reach an agreement and that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
The Social Democrats are continuing to engage in talks with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, but is seen as unlikely to enter into Government with the two parties. Their TDs are set to meet later this week to discuss the next steps.