Fianna Fáil’s priority was “the permanent removal of the now acting Government”, party leader Micheál Martin has said.
In his first speech to the 32nd Dáil, he said the “core message” from the election results was a strong majority voted for a change of government.
"We argued that the outgoing Government should be replaced and that Fine Gael policy in particular had been divisive and unfair. This remains our position."
Martin emphasised the need for Dáil reform and also rejected strongly the suggestion a new government needed to be formed quickly and needed a strong majority.
It comes as the position of Fianna Fáil has hardened in recent days against any prospect of a grand coalition.
Partnership arrangement
Yesterday, Fine Gael was no longer emphasising such a partnership arrangement, amid an emerging consensus the only alternatives were an early election or a minority Fine Gael, or Fianna Fáil, government. Each of the two large parties would need co-operation from the other to survive in government.
To attain government, Fianna Fáil would need to win the support of 11 TDs from smaller parties or who were unaligned. That would allow it the slimmest margin should Fine Gael abstain in key votes. Fine Gael would require the support of seven Independents in a similar scenario.
Martin dismissed any suggestion a strong majority was required for stability or that a new government had to be formed quickly. “We should all realise that one of the arguments which failed to persuade the people was the claim that there would be chaos unless we immediately had a new government with a solid majority.
“In 1992, the formation of a new government took nearly two months. During that time urgent business was addressed including the passage of critical supplementary estimates and a Finance Bill measure.”
According to Fianna Fáíl sources, it might be willing to co-operate with a Fine Gael minority government, as long as the principal elements of its Dáil reform programme were implemented.
That would see Fianna Fáíl ensuring the government was not defeated on key votes such as the budget or on confidence motions.
