PARTIES TALK AGAIN AFTER ROW

GOVERNMENT formation talks resumed yesterday following a row between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over election planning.

On Sunday, some Fianna Fáil TDs criticised the caretaker Fine Gael-led coalition after it emerged officials were making contingency plans for another election if the current negotiations to form a new government fail. Fine Gael insisted the officials were only ‘doing their jobs’ because the Constitution stipulates that elections must take place within set time frames.

It defended its contingency planning and accused the Fianna Fáil TDs of ‘damaging’ government formation talks.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael met the Green Party yesterday to resume talks, 100 days on since February’s inconclusive general election result.

In a joint statement, the three parties said the leaders ‘reaffirmed their commitment to successfully concluding the talks and to negotiating in good faith’.

They also reaffirmed that the talks would remain confidential and that a running commentary would not be provided to the media from any of the parties on matters being discussed in the process.

‘All parties are working to conclude a draft programme for government by the end of the month and for its consideration by each party in accordance with their respective arrangements thereafter,’ added the statement. On Friday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar voiced hope that the process could be completed by the end of May or early June.