FG pins hopes on a Rainbow coalition deal by Good Friday

SENIOR Fine Gael sources say they are confident they could be able to announce a Rainbow Coalition before next weekend. The Irish Mail on Sunday has learned that the decision of Fine Gael negotiators Simon Coveney and Simon Harris to travel to the Glasson Hotel and Golf Club in Co. Westmeath on Tuesday was crucial in securing the votes of 11 Independent TDs.

The unique departure in Irish politics could see Taoiseach Enda Kenny lead a Rainbow coalition made up of Fine Gael and a broad spectrum of smaller parties and Independents.

If such a coalition is agreed, it would see a firm Programme for Government, two Cabinet posts for Independents and at least three junior ministries.

Fine Gael and Independents who have had talks believe that they can agree to a Government supported by 71 votes in Dáil Éireann, made up of 50 Fine Gael TDs and 21 Independents and smaller parties. That would leave this alliance eight short of the Dáil majority of 79.

Fine Gael’s main negotiators, Mr Coveney and Mr Harris, are now going to return to the Labour Party and the Social Democrats to ask them for either tacit support in the Dáil or for a guarantee of abstention.

‘This coalition stuff is serious, we had proper talks last week about policies with the Independents,’ said a senior Fine Gael source. ‘We are very close to a deal that will secure a full Rainbow coalition government before next Friday.’

‘A lot of these Independents are in groups, they’re proper politicians. We would like to begin much more detailed talks, about Ministers, etc, before Good Friday. We can shake hands then and bring it to an ard fheis of Fine Gael members.

‘It is therefore possible that Enda Kenny can be elected Taoiseach on April 4.’

Mr Coveney and Mr Harris travelled to Glasson near Athlone on Tuesday. The Mail has learned that they first held a meeting with the rural TDs of the Independent Alliance – Michael Fitzmaurice of Roscommon-Galway, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran of Longford-Westmeath and Seán Canney of Galway East.

The two ministers then sat down with another group of rural Independent TDs; Denis Naughten (a former Fine Gael frontbencher) of Roscommon Galway; Noel Grealish of Galway West; Mattie McGrath of Tipperary; Michael Collins of Cork South West and Dr Michael Harty of Clare.

‘They are working as a group, whether they decide to form a proper group is another thing but they all participated in very solid talks,’ said a FG source.

FINE Gael negotiators then met with the urban-based TDs of the Independent Alliance, Shane Ross and Finian McGrath in Government Buildings. Enda Kenny joined Mr Harris and Mr Coveney to meet the Green Party’s two TDs, Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin.

Fine Gael now believes it will strike a deal which will secure six votes of the Independent Alliance, which is led by Mr Ross, and the rural group of TDs led by Denis Naughten, which has five votes.

Fine Gael has also spoken to Michael and Danny Healy Rae from Kerry and Dublin Independents Maureen O’Sullivan and Katherine Zappone.

Michael Lowry has also committed to supporting a Fine Gael-led Government, though he will not form part of the Government. Ministers now plan to meet Thomas Pringle of Donegal, Tommy Broughan of Dublin Bay North and Catherine Connolly of Galway West.

Fine Gael has ruled out speaking to the ‘hard left’. That means there will be no talks with the Anti Austerity Alliance, People Before Profit, Clare Daly or Mick Wallace.