ENDA: I’LL GO TO COUNTRY AGAIN

Taoiseach warns his TDs (and FF) Martin defiant but is urged by his deputies to form coalition President now critical to resolve crisis

EMBATTLED Taoiseach Enda Kenny has warned party colleagues that he will go for the ‘nuclear’ option of a second general election if a rapid route out of the current political impasse is not found.

The political establishment is now so desperate to stave off an expensive and gruelling second election that they are turning to President Michael D Higgins, hoping he will use his Constitutional power to urge the two Civil War parties to form a government.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin remains firm that he does not favour a

coalition with Fine Gael but influential party colleagues have broken ranks and said that the historic move should be considered if no other solution can be found. A number of Fianna Fáil TDs told the Irish Mail on Sunday last night the party must now consider coalition.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael ministers said last night that they want a coalition with Fianna Fáil in order to remain in their jobs and to give the country a stable government.

Mr Kenny – who is fighting for his political survival – has warned his ministers and TDs that he will call a second election if a solution – either a coalition with Fianna Fáil or a minority Fine Gael government – cannot be agreed. ‘At the parliamentary party meeting and at the ministers’ meetings he has made it clear that a second general election is a nuclear option,’ said one minister last night.

In Leinster House it is understood that Mr Kenny has a dual purpose in this threat. He knows that such a warning will temporarily stave off a threatened heave against him.

‘The problem with us for that nuclear option is that we intend going into a general election with a different leader,’ a Fine Gael TD said last night.

A Fianna Fáil strategist said: ‘We interpret that as a warning to us to do business quickly.’

Fine Gael wants a coalition with Fianna Fáil. ‘The Taoiseach favours coalition,’ said a ministerial source, ‘Coveney has no problem with it. Varadkar, I don’t know if he has a problem and he probably doesn’t know himself. Frances [Fitzgerald] backs it and so does Simon Harris.

‘There is no big beast in the party who has a problem with it. And crucially we do not have to clear a coalition with our membership.

‘But the Taoiseach said at parliamentary party and at ministers’ meetings, very clearly, that we are not going into government at any price. We want to be in government, we want to stay in government, we are willing to work with Fianna Fáil.’

Crucially Fine Gael ministers and TDs believe that President Michael D Higgins could eventually refuse a request by the Taoiseach to dissolve the Dáil. He could tell Mr Kenny that he should consider coalition with Fianna Fáil. And given that Fianna Fáil members will have to vote to back any coalition options, sources in Fianna Fáil have acknowledged that any presidential intervention might allow Mr Martin to get a coalition past a special ard fheis.

‘President Higgins, he has an important role here, potentially. It is not terribly clear what the role is. It is there in black and white that he has absolute discretion, it is the only time a president has absolute discretion,’ said a senior Fine Gael source last night.

‘Every other time he has to involve the Government or the Council of State. He has absolute

‘No big party figure has problem with coalition’

discretion but it doesn’t say anything beyond that.

‘I don’t know how long the impasse can go on. There is a wild card there for Micheál Martin. Does anyone have an inkling on the President’s thinking on it? That is the question.’

Mr Martin remains resolutely against coalition. Colleagues close to him believe he will need a ‘wild card’ to allow him to bring a proposal for coalition to a special ard fheis.

‘Micheál, as things stand, would not get coalition with Fine Gael through a vote of the membership. They are against it. And if they vote against any proposal by him they are voting no confidence in him. He would have to step down,’ said a source close to Mr Martin.

‘Micheál has spoken to all the Independents either by phone or in Leinster House. They’re not committing to anything. He met Eamon Ryan, he met the Soc Dems and he’s meeting Finian McGrath on Monday.’

Fianna Fáil believes Mr Kenny will win a higher vote for Taoiseach than Mr Martin on Thursday with 50 Fine Gael TDs and seven Labour committed to supporting him.

Mr Kenny will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin and tell Mr Higgins that he cannot form a government and Mr Higgins will ask him to continue as a temporary Taoiseach. The real bargaining will then begin.

A source close to Mr Martin said: ‘Kenny is threatening a general election to frighten our lads as well. And everybody. We’re also hearing that Michael D will play a key part. I don’t think Fine Gael would allow Enda Kenny do that, why would Fine Gael want another election with him as leader?’ Mr Martin’s camp still officially favour supporting a Fine Gael government from the opposition benches.

‘In the interests of being constructive and not having an election, going into opposition for us, supporting on an issue-by-issue basis [makes sense]. The alternative is going into opposition with an agreed programme of achievements that would have to be implemented,’ said a source.

‘I think the latter is least likely. I’d say “issue by issue” is more likely. It’s workable and then the budget will be the key thing. Then there can be negotiations on a reform package of the Dáil, and consultation on the budget. They will need our vote to get the budget through; if not, there will be another election in the spring.’

All TDs are gradually becoming aware that if a solid government is not formed they could be facing a second general election immediately. Exhausted and out of cam- paign funds this threat is concentrating minds.

Fianna Fáil TDs this weekend returned to their constituencies where they were told there was little appetite for a second poll.

Newly elected Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan, a respected

‘We’ll have to form a stable government’

senior counsel, says a coalition may have to be considered if nothing else can be agreed.

‘Being realistic, I think the country would be better served if there wasn’t a Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil coalition,’ said Mr O’Callaghan.

‘But if we find ourselves two months down the road and we can’t form a government and there are no other coherent options available, and then the only coherent option available is