‘AN ELECTION IN SIX WEEKS’
FF’s threat to FG: take charge or else! Stop playing silly games, says Fine Gael
FIANNA Fáil warned last night it is ready for a general election in six weeks if Fine Gael does not find alternative support in the Dáil.
The party’s Justice spokesman Niall Collins told the Irish Mail on Sunday his party is ready to face the electorate at the end of April. But Fine Gael branded his
comments as ‘kamikaze’ tactics. Mr Collins, considered a Micheál Martin loyalist, told the MoS: ‘It is quite likely that there will be a general election pretty soon. I think we could have one in a matter of six weeks.’
Fine Gael said it will open official talks with Independents this week in a desperate attempt to form a government and prevent a general election.
Fianna Fáil has also appointed a four-strong negotiating team headed by Finance spokesman Michael McGrath, with Charlie McConalogue, Barry Cowen and newly elected Jim O’Callaghan.
Despite the political deadlock the two parties are no closer to direct talks with one another. However, Mr O’Callaghan told the MoS last week that he was open to a grand coalition as a last resort.
A Red C poll published last night reiterated the general election result, and it showed that a majority would favour a grand coalition.
Comments by Fianna Fáil’s Foreign
It’s kamikaze tactics by FF says Fine Gael
Affairs spokesman Brendan Smith, at the SDLP conference in the North yesterday, initially indicated a softening of the party’s stance. Asked about a second general election, Mr Smith said: ‘Most definitely not and the public at large do not want a general election, nobody wants a general election, and I don’t see how the result would change much from the end of February election.’
But Mr Collins’s views are understood to represent the views of Mr Martin and the party leadership, and could be seen as an attempt to force Fine Gael’s hand.
Sources in Fine Gael said last night that ministers Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris would be staying at home on St Patrick’s Day to conduct talks. They will be joined by Frances Fitzgerald who is part of the team, but is travelling to London.
They have been specifically mandated by the Taoiseach to offer an Independent a Cabinet seat, opening the prospect of a Healy-Rae minister. A Fine Gael source involved in negotiation strategy said: ‘We could have a Healy-Rae in Cabinet, of course. Perhaps as Minister for Rural Affairs.’ There were chaotic scenes in Dáil Éireann when it returned after the general election on Thursday. TDs from both main parties told the MoS last week that they realised the anarchy that faces any government trying to operate in a minority position supported by one or the other.
As revealed by the MoS last week, Enda Kenny told Cabinet colleagues he would call an election if a government was not formed soon. Fianna Fáil has taken up the challenge, with Mr Collins saying: ‘The onus is on Fine Gael to form a government which will probably be a minority one. We don’t have a mandate to go into government with Fine Gael and we’re not prepared to perform a U-turn.’
He pointed out that if Fine Gael can consider coalition with the old enemy Fianna Fáil, it could also consider coalition with Sinn Féin.
‘There are lots of combinations that can make up the numbers,’ he said, ‘they include Fine Gael/Sinn Féin/Labour. There is also the possibility of Fine Gael/Sinn Féin/AAA and Fine Gael/Sinn Féin/ Independents. That’s why we’re probably looking at another general election… I don’t subscribe to this notion that the public won’t thank us. Nobody wants another election but if there is no alternative to a grand coalition, that’s the way it’s going to be.’ Fine Gael backbencher Eoghan Murphy, who is tipped for a ministerial post, said last night: ‘I don’t think anyone wants a general election and I don’t think there would necessarily be a different result if we had one. ‘Fianna Fáil need to face reality and start acting responsibly. If they want an election, they’ll get one, but that’s not in their interest or anyone’s.’
Having had fruitless exploratory talks with Independents the MoS understands that Fine Gael will return for proper nego- tiations this week. The talks will be conducted by Mr Varadkar, Mr Coveney, Ms Fitzgerald and Mr Harris.
‘The Taoiseach has said that he will ask ministers to continue talks about forming government,’ said a Fine Gael source.
‘He has mandated us to make strong offers.’
Those invited to talks will include Shane Ross’s Independent Alliance, a group of rural Independents that includes Denis Naughten, Noel Grealish and Thomas Pringle. The Healy-Raes, Maureen O’Sullivan and Katherine Zappone are also being approached.
‘If Fianna Fáil want to play silly buggers, we’re eight votes ahead of them without Labour and Michael Lowry has come out in favour of Fine Gael,’ said the source. ‘It is telling that not one Independent plumped for Martin the last day in the vote for taoiseach.’
‘We could have a Healy-Rae minister’