Independent TDs are looking for commitments as part of their price for entering government, including new disability measures, investment in hospitals and specific housing proposals.
It is understood that members of the nine-strong Regional Group of Independents have been making their policy demands to the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil negotiating teams in recent days. They will continue to do this over the weekend before wrapping up talks in advance of Christmas Eve.
The actual demands and policy asks being made by the Independent group have been closely guarded, but it is understood several compelling issues have emerged. The group is understood to want an emphasis on support for disabled people.
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This could include the introduction of personal budgets. Such a provision is the amount of funding that a person with a disability may be given by the Health Service Executive, providing control over the services and supports they receive. Politicians in the group have also made proposals around ways to lift existing barriers to employment for disabled people. There have also been demands made for more funding for the arts, particularly for organisations that support artists with a disability.
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In health, Independent TDs are understood to be arguing for increased support and funding for several hospitals including Beaumont in Dublin. The group has also submitted policies on housing, which are understood to include suggestions for expanding modular builds.
There is also understood to be tension within the group, already, over the potential allocation of ministerial seats. Four names are the subject of speculation, should the group receive a senior ministry. These include Marian Harkin, Seán Canney, Noel Grealish and Kevin Boxer Moran. The allocation of ministries will be one of the last contentious points dealt with in the overall government formation talks.
While all parties are working towards an end-of-January goal of completing talks, wrangling between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil over ministries and positions could delay talks, said one Independent source. When government formation talks resume after the new year, the focus will likely move to drafting of the next programme for government.
This week, Fianna Fáil Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that the next government “must be founded on the basis of a clear programme of action as well as clear principles about how it will work”. He said that “strengthening economic resilience is not an option, it is an imperative”. He also said that accelerating infrastructure would be a priority for the party.
“We also have to address structural issues that lead to many processes being unreasonably long and costly. We have to invest in them, and we have to invest in modernising both our electricity grid and making our energy supplies more secure, sustainable and at lower cost. That is why a commitment to accelerating critical public infrastructure is a priority for my party.”
He also said that the new government “must be clear from its first day that it will be Europositive and Euroconstructive.”
“In particular, we need to move quickly to prepare for the Irish presidency of the council which will start in 18 months’ time ... [the] presidency will represent a major political and administrative challenge for the new government.”
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