New government ‘ideally’ formed before Trump inauguration, says Taoiseach

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

The Taoiseach has said he does not see why a new government could not be formed by January and that ideally it would be done before Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president.

Taoiseach Simon Harris was speaking as outgoing ministers gathered for the first Cabinet meeting since the general election last month.

He said that the two main partners of the current coalition, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, had begun talks to sketch out a possible programme for government for the next four-and-a-half years.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael said both had a “positive and constructive” initial discussion on Wednesday about a programme for government and that both parties will continue to engage in the coming days.

Mr Harris said that what policies were in the programme for government “really matters” and that talks must ensure that any coalition could withstand five budgets.

“I don’t see any reason why those things can’t happen by the end of January, ideally before President Trump is inaugurated, but I have to be respectful of the process,” he said.

“Any party that goes into government, including my own, would have to consult our own membership and seek a mandate from them, but I’d be very disappointed if we’re not in a position to form a new government in January.”

Asked if he thought the government would be formed by the time Mr Trump was inaugurated, Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said “I would hope so”.

“The deputy leaders met last evening, Jack Chambers and Helen McEntee, and had a good, positive engagement, mapping out the structure of the talks, covering each departmental area, each area of policy,” he said.

“I would hope we can get substantive work done before Christmas because I know people are anxious that we would form a government after the general election and that we would be ready then when the Dáil resumes in the new year to seek the approval of the Dáil for the election of a Taoiseach and a government.”

Neither would be drawn on whether they would be the next Taoiseach.

Fianna Fáil, which won 48 seats in last month’s general election, and Fine Gael, which secured 38 seats, headed up the last coalition in Dublin and are expected to continue that partnership into the next mandate.

But with a combined 86 seats, they are just short of the 88 required for a majority in the Dáil.

If they wish to return to government together, they would need one smaller party as a junior partner, or a handful of independents.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out doing business with Sinn Féin, which won 39 seats.

The centre-left Social Democrats and Labour Party are seen as the only two realistic options if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael seek to convince a smaller party to join the coalition.

Mr Harris said on Wednesday that it appeared to him that independents were “very serious” about being a part of government