A new Government by January 22nd is a “long shot” but “not necessarily impossible”.

Last week, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was “hopeful” that a new Government could be in place by January 22nd - just two days after the inauguration of Donald Trump. 

Talks between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and a number of independent TDs have been ongoing since December and Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Seán Defoe said the negotiations will resume again today. 

“There is a bit of urgency about them,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“There were very long meetings over the weekend - particularly with the regional independents.

“Also with the two Healy-Rae brothers about the role that they may play in any forthcoming coalition.” 

Michael and Danny Healy-Rae. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Seán said that Independent Ireland TDs are “very much on the outside” when it comes to negotiations. 

However, it is expected that regional independents will “definitely” support the Government and the Healy-Rae brothers might as well. 

“The timeline is now realistically very, very tight,” he said. 

“I think January 22nd to form a Government is now probably a long shot at this stage - that being because of the process that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have to go through in order to ratify this deal. 

“They’re both committed to having regional meetings on which the negotiating teams will brief the members on what’s in the deal and why they’ve decided what they did. 

“Realistically, if they want to have this done and the Programme for Government signed and sealed, then you are talking about having it done by Wednesday or Thursday. 

“Which is not impossible but still feels like a big ask.” 

Fine Gael TDs arrive in Government Buildings ahead of coalition talks. Photograph: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

As well as policy issues, the negotiators will also have to agree on which party will be responsible for which Department. 

Both parties have suggested current departments could be broken up and their roles redistributed. 

“Are we going to have a new Department of Infrastructure as Fine Gael has been wanting?” Seán said. 

“I think the split in the Department of Justice, as Fianna Fáil want, is more likely to happen with a Department of Domestic Affairs coming into place. 

“There’s certainly going to be a reworking of some other key departments - probably focused on the ones vacated by the Greens.” 

Overall, Seán believes a new Government by the 22nd is a “long shot” but “not necessarily impossible”.

Independent TDs outside Government Buildings. Photograph: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Also on Newstalk Breakfast, former Fianna Fáil Minister Mary Hanafin said she could understand public frustration at the length of time the negotiations are taking.  

“I think the script was written when the counts finished,” she said. 

“I think that was obvious from the start; there are always policy issues to be dealt with. 

“They were more difficult when you were trying to deal with a third party  - like the Green Party - because they would have had major issues that they wanted to have included in the Programme for Government. 

“Maybe aims and ambitions that couldn’t be realistic.” 

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have 86 seats between them - just a few short of the 88 needed for a majority.

Main image: Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris with Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil President Micheál Martin. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie. 22/05/2024