Talks between Fine Gael and two groups of Independent TDs have intensified in an effort to have a new government in place by the weekend.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil yesterday the talks were progressing with a sense of urgency and he expressed the hope they could be concluded within hours. “I’d like to think this matter can be concluded by this week,” he said.
Over the course of the day Fine Gael increased the pressure on the Independent TDs to allow a vote for taoiseach to proceed today.
However, a number of the Independents expressed concern they were being “bounced” into an arrangement by the party.
Fine Gael had hoped to circulate an agreed document to the Independent TDs at a meeting last night but, after a series of amendments were requested by the Independents, the paper was not ready in time.
Further talks will take place today with hopes a vote can be held tomorrow.
While some Independent TDs cast doubt on the prospects of a deal to facilitate the election of a taoiseach today or tomorrow, others expressed the view that it could be done.
Judicial appointments
The six TDs of the Independent Alliance engaged in detailed talks with Fine Gael yesterday on a number of issues, including a new regime for judicial appointments, disability services, agriculture and a range of local issues.
Independent Alliance TD Shane Ross met Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan for several hours.
Mr Ross is seeking an end to the political appointment of judges and it is understood there were tense exchanges over the issue. Reform of the judicial appointments process has been a priority for Mr Ross, one of the co-founders of the Alliance, but there were still some sticking points in the way of agreement yesterday.
The other co-founder, Dublin Bay North TD Finian McGrath, has focused on hospital and disability services and is believed to have made significant progress towards getting agreement from Fine Gael on his primary concerns. However, Mr McGrath said he doubted the talks would be concluded in time for a vote on the election of a taoiseach.
His Alliance colleagues Kevin “Boxer” Moran and Michael Fitzmaurice also expressed concern over the Department of Environment and Department of Communication proposals on wind turbines. The two rural TDs are said to be deeply frustrated at the distances between turbines agreed by the two departments.
Cardiovascular care
Another Alliance TD, John Halligan from Waterford, said a deal on forming a government could emerge today, but it would be extremely difficult. He said the issue of 24-hour cardiovascular care in the southeast was still outstanding and if he did not get a commitment on this, he will not be supporting a government.
Mr Halligan said he had made it quite clear to the rest of the alliance that if they wished to go into government, they could do so.
It is understood no agreement was reached on University Hospital Waterford despite hours of negotiations between Mr Halligan and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.
Fine Gael negotiators conducted parallel talks with the Rural Alliance of five TDs. They went through the 122-page draft programme for a partnership government circulated by Fine Gael to all the Independents shortly after the election.
