Fianna Fail leader to be next Taoiseach
IRELAND’S new coalition government is to examine greater co-operation between north and south in the aftermath of Brexit after five months of negotiations finally mapped the way forward for a coalition deal.
Micheál Martin, the Fianna Fail leader, is to succeed Leo Varadkar, of Fine Gael, as Taoiseach on a rotating basis as they agreed with the Greens to form a three-party coalition with what was being described as the most radical agenda in the history of the state.
It was clear that the new administration – still to be ratified by the parties’ respective memberships over the next week – would make no difference to Dublin’s approach to Brexit talks.
The new government is committed to reaching a “shared consensus” for the island of Ireland, with a new “United Ireland” unit to be established in the Department of the Taoiseach. It will look to deepen economic, political and cultural relations between Northern Ireland and the south post-brexit.
The new coalition government also pledged to develop closer ties with the Scottish and Welsh administrations as well as set up a new Consulate General in the north of England.
The programme for government pledged to protect the peace process and the all-ireland economy after Britain’s departure from the EU. Dublin will resist any new trading relationship between the UK and the EU resulting in a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Mr Varadkar will replace Mr Martin as Taoiseach in December 2022.
In the next few weeks, the new government will unveil a multi-billion euro stimulus package to breathe life into an economy floored by the Covid-19 crisis. The bulk of new capital spending will go towards public transport projects, with a particular emphasis on cycling and walking infrastructure.
There is also a commitment to embark on a massive house building programme and a pledge to hold a referendum to insert the right to housing into the constitution.