‘new government this month..with taoiseach Martin’
Bertie expects agreement after ‘teething issues’
BERTIE Ahern said he expects a new Government to be in place this month with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin in charge.
The former Taoiseach added he expects teething issues to be ironed out soon and the deal between Fine Gael Fianna Fail and the Green Party to be accepted.
Mr Ahern said: “As I understand it, over the weekend, they were drafting most of the papers and most of the issues.
“I don’t think it matters whether it is this Friday or not. I think once it is by somewhere mid-month, maybe into the third week of this month that a Government is formed.
“It seems realistic that a Government will be formed in the month of June and I think that will happen.
“I am not saying these things are ever easy but I don’t see any difficulties.
“I don’t see why any of the parties would go against their leadership or their negotiating teams.
“In fairness to the negotiating teams, they have worked hard on this now for weeks if not months through the pandemic and I honestly believe that if there is a Government document put before them, they will support it.
“Two-thirds is always difficult but I do think the leaderships of all the parties will ask and their negotiating teams will ask and they will get it.”
Mr Ahern told Pat Kenny on Newstalk radio he expects Mr Martin to become Taoiseach for the first period with Leo Varadkar taking over the reigns at a later point. Last night the Fine Gael parliamentary party was updated by the Taoiseach about Government formation talks. Mr Varadkar said a deal is still on, but it may take into next week before it can be done. Fine Gael parliamentary party chair Martin Heydon added: “Mr Varadkar said any Programme for Government had to reflect Fine Gael policies, values and be attractive to the party’s support base.”
They have worked hard on this for weeks
BERTIE AHERN
NEWSTALK YESTERDAY