Healy-Raes are credible government partners, Martin says
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
The Healy-Raes are credible as potential government partners, Micheál Martin has said.
The Fianna Fáil leader said party negotiators were doing everything they can to bring government formation talks to a conclusion “as quickly as we can”, but added that the mechanics of a rotating taoiseach had yet to be finalised.
He also said any arrangement would require approval of a “range of independents”, in a further signal that a third party in the coalition is unlikely.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has said a rotating taoiseach arrangement will be part of the government that his party is attempting to form with Fianna Fáil.
The parties agreed to an even split of the top role following the 2020 election, but Fianna Fáil increased its lead over Fine Gael to 10 seats in November’s vote.
Asked if the next Government would see the taoiseach role split in a three-to-two year ratio in favour of Fianna Fáil, Mr Martin said “nothing has been finally agreed”.
Pressed on whether he would take the office first and become the next taoiseach, he said: “You may speculate, but I’m not pre-empting anything.
“There has to be a Dáil vote and there has to be agreement between Fianna Fáil and the Fine Gael party and a range of independents.”
Mr Harris said on Tuesday that reaching a final agreement by the return of the Dáil on January 22nd is “possible” but “a little bit tight”.
Asked if he believed this deadline was possible, Mr Martin said he was hopeful negotiations would have concluded around the time of the US presidential inauguration on January 20th.
Asked if he would see US president-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC on St Patrick’s Day, Mr Martin said: “We’ve always been there on St Patrick’s Day, yeah.”
That visit is traditionally taken by the taoiseach at the time.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are just shy of forming a majority by themselves and are expected to rely on independents to make up the numbers.
Mr Martin said the parties were primarily focused on policy, adding that there had been “significant progress” in recent days.
He said that engagements with independents are continuing, adding that negotiators will meet with the Independent Ireland party on Thursday.
Brothers Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, two independent Kerry TDs, have expressed an interest in engaging with the parties on forming a government.
Asked if they would be credible partners, Mr Martin said: “Yes, I’ve had substantive discussions with Michael and Danny Healy-Rae on policy issues with a view to enabling a government that can sustain for five years.”
He was speaking at an event for the launch of the Hampson House outpatient facility for the Rotunda Hospital.
Mr Martin said the “wonderful” facility demonstrated continued modernisation of maternity services in Ireland.
