Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Regional Independents reach government formation deal

James Cox

The next government moved a big step closer to completion today after Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group reached an agreement.

After the general election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had a combined 86 seats, two short of a majority. The deal with Independent TDs will now give them a majority following government formation talks.

The Regional Independent Group is made up of Michael Lowry, Sean Canney, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Noel Grealish, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole.

Verona Murphy was also a member of the group, and the Wexford TD's successful nomination as Ceann Comhairle was seen as the start of constructive government formation talks.

Her election was backed by Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.

There will be two Independent super junior ministers under the new deal, The Irish Times reports. Super junior ministers sit at the Cabinet table, without the full powers and responsibilities of a Cabinet minister.

The deal means a government will be formed when the Dáil returns next week, on Wednesday, January 22nd.

Mr Martin will likely be elected taoiseach. The government formation deal includes the return of the rotating taoiseach arrangement, so Mr Harris will be hoping to return as taoiseach in two and a half years.

Michael Lowry is seen as the leader of the Regional Independents Group, and his role in government formation talks has been controversial.

Mr Lowry was heavily criticised in a judge-led inquiry examining payments to politicians, the Moriarty Tribunal.

The 70-year-old was criticised in a tribunal that was established in September 1997, which examined payments to former taoiseach Charles Haughey and Mr Lowry.

The tribunal’s final report was published in March 2011 and found that Mr Lowry, a former Fine Gael TD, helped businessman Denis O’Brien secure the State’s second mobile phone licence in 1995.

The tribunal also criticised his behaviour as “profoundly corrupt”.

Addressing today's agreement, Mr Lowry said: "It has been a prolonged, painstaking exercise. We went through it in very meticulous detail. The negotiations have been very intensive.

"I'm pleased and our negotiators are pleased that our policy document and the initiatives that we requested are reflected within the programme for government.

"We look forward now to seeing out the remainder of the process which will come to a conclusion with the formation of a government next Wednesday."

Following intense talks, it is understood Mr Harris' proposed department of infrastructure and a Fianna Fáil proposal for a home affairs department will not be established as standalone departments.

Instead, they will be included in the Department of Public Expenditure and Department of Justice.

The Regional Group still has to sign off on the document, but it is understood that they have all but agreed to it and will sign it formally on Wednesday.

The agreement will also go before the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parliamentary parties on Wednesday.

The Healy-Rae brothers had also been in talks with the parties about supporting the government, which would further strengthen their position in votes.

They were believed to be seeking a super junior ministry for either Danny Healy-Rae or Michael Healy-Rae. This is off the table, according to The Irish Times.

However, the Kerry Independents are still in talks about backing the government, and have reiterated that their main concern is their Kerry constituency.