FG says election planners ‘only doing their jobs’

FINE Gael has said government formation talks have been damaged by Fianna Fáil claims that Leo Varadkar’s party is planning for a new general election.

The party said it was now taking up its complaints with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

Some Fianna Fáil TDs criticised the caretaker Fine Gael-led administration after claims emerged that officials were making contingency plans for another election if the current negotiations to form a new government fail.

However, Fine Gael said yesterday that elections could only take place after a coronavirus vaccine has been released. The party insisted yesterday that its officials were only ‘doing their jobs’ by planning for elections because the constitution stipulates that elections must take place within set timeframes.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mr Martin are due to meet this week to discuss the row.

It has erupted ahead of week three of formal negotiations between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens on forming an administration.

It is now more than three months since February’s inconclusive general election. Fianna Fáil negotiator Barry Cowen claimed the move by the Government, ‘smacks of bad faith’, while Thomas Byrne said the suggestion the coronavirus contingencies would include polling stations inside nursing homes was ‘utterly sick’. Fine Gael

‘Smacks of bad faith’

responded yesterday. ‘The Constitution and the law are clear on this. Elections, by-elections and referenda must happen within defined timeframes once vacancies arise,’ said a party statement. ‘There is no specific provision for public health emergencies (e.g. pandemics) envisaged in the Constitution or the law.

‘Officials were only doing their jobs by scenario planning for all eventualities.

‘The fact that this prompted an attack on Fine Gael by two senior Fianna Fáil spokespeople was unwarranted and has damaged the talks process.’

Fine Gael said that talks with Fianna Fáil and the Greens had been progressing well until this latest accusation.

‘Following the unwillingness and inability of other parties to form a

Government without us, Fine Gael agreed to enter talks with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party with a view to forming a Government in the national interest. Talks were going well,’ it said.

It noted that on Saturday, it was reported that officials were making contingency plans for polling in the coming months.

Reports said Mr Varadkar ‘will be in contact with the leader of Fianna Fáil to discuss the matter’.

Fine Gael said any government has to make contingency plans if a general election arises.