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Doherty: Any government formation involves "give and take"

Sinn Féin's chief negotiator tasked with government formation says any plan will involve "give a...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

08.41 12 Feb 2020


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Doherty: Any government format...

Doherty: Any government formation involves "give and take"

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

08.41 12 Feb 2020


Share this article


Sinn Féin's chief negotiator tasked with government formation says any plan will involve "give and take" from all parties.

Pearse Doherty was speaking ahead of exploratory talks, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald due to meet Solidarity-People Before Profit on Wednesday.

Talks are also set to take place with The Green Party.

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The Greens already met on Tuesday and are expected to do so again over the next few days.

The party says it will be talking to all parties.

The six Social Democrats TDs are to hold talks later on Wednesday.

Fianna Fáil is due to hold a parliamentary party meeting by the end of week, while Fine Gael is not expected to do so until next week.

Mr Doherty told Newstalk Breakfast they are meeting the parties to talk similarities, as well as differences.

"We're in government in the North, we've put together a programme for government with a number of parties in the North.

"For 10 years prior to the challenges in the assembly, we served in government with the DUP - people thought that it wouldn't be possible.

"We know exactly what government is like, we know that of course there needs to be give and take in relation to that.

"And that's what the discussions are starting today - the discussions are starting today and saying 'look we have a huge opportunity here to change the face of Ireland, to deal with the major issues here.'

"We have a lot in common with these parties that we're meeting this morning in terms of The Green Party, in terms of People Before Profit in terms of some of their positions - but we also have differences.

"So that's what these discussions are.

"What I want to do as the lead person from our negotiating team is intensify this as quickly as possible".


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Fianna Fáil Fine Gael GE2020 Government Formation Mary Lou McDonald Newstalk Breakfast Pearse Doherty Sinn Fein Social Democrats Solidarity-People Before Profit The Green Party

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