The Regional Group of Independent TDs has nominated Verona Murphy to be ceann comhairle, and is seeking the support of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in advance of next week’s Dáil vote on who should get the role.
The group is increasingly being seen as the most likely option to support a coalition should Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agree on forming a government. The two parties have 86 TDs between them and would need outside support in order to have a majority in the 174-seat House.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael negotiating teams met on Wednesday for the first formal government-formation talks since last month’s general election. The parties put out statements afterwards saying the talks were “a positive and constructive initial discussion on the future programme for government”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Wednesday that the “third element” of a new government is “really important”. The Fine Gael leader has met members of the regional group in recent days. “It seems to me from my initial engagement that Independents are very serious about wanting to be part of that,” he said.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have also been holding talks with Labour and the Social Democrats.
The Dáil will meet next week when the role of ceann comhairle will be decided by secret ballot.
The regional group has nominated Ms Murphy for the position, saying this has the potential to be “historic” as the Wexford TD would be the first woman to hold the role.
A statement from the regional group said Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has been in contact with the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael requesting their support for Ms Murphy’s election.
A number of Fianna Fáil TDs are believed to be seeking the job themselves.
Outgoing ceann comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl is running for a third term and John McGuinness, Michael Moynihan and Brendan Smith are also understood to be interested in the role.
Neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael commented on whether their TDs will be asked to vote for Ms Murphy.
A Fianna Fáil source said they expected the issue to be discussed at a parliamentary party meeting next Monday.
The regional group also said Mr Lowry has been invited to meet Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers and Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee early next week “to discuss and agree the structure and parameters for the group’s engagement in government-formation talks”.
The group plans to appoint negotiators after those discussions.
The group, which was set up to maximise Dáil speaking rights for its members, has also added Offaly TD Carol Nolan to its ranks.
Meanwhile Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said he expects his party to decide by the end of the week whether to further engage with other parties on government formation. Speaking after meetings with Mr Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, he said there had been discussions on housing and healthcare but the “most challenging” area in the talks was on climate.
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