Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that the negotiations on the programme for Government were “in the landing zone of being able to deliver a new Government definitely in the month of January”.
“I hope and expect on the 22nd of January, that’s what everybody is working in good faith towards,” Mr Harris said, though he acknowledged that the time frame would be challenging but that all sides were willing to work hard to make the deadline.
“I believe we will have a new Government within eight weeks, maybe a little less, of the general election and when you take out the fact there was Christmas I don’t think it’s an extraordinarily length of time.”
Mr Harris he “fully accepted” the findings of the Moriarty tribunal and the votes of the Dáil previously about the Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, but he would continue to work with the group of independent TDs co-ordinated by Mr Lowry.
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“I take very seriously the work of the tribunal and fully accept its findings, and indeed the views articulated by all parties in the Dáil, including my own, at that time, and they are serious measures.
“I also know the practicalities of how the Dáil works and that when people get elected they can choose to support or not support, governments and that that’s the way our democracy, our parliamentary democracy works. And the deputy has been elected. But my issue here isn’t about individuals. It’s about recognising that there are a number of independent TDs who have come together in a group ... and they have indicated that they wish to try to support a Government and we’re happy to engage with them on that basis.”
Mr Harris played down comments he made about Donald Trump back in 2020 on a radio programme when he called Mr Trump “an awful gowl”, saying it was a “lighthearted” exchange
“No, let me explain to people that it’s an Irish phrase. It was said in a lighthearted manner, but let me very clear. President Trump won the election. President Trump comprehensively clearly won the election ... And not only did President Trump win the White House, and President Trump’s party won the House of Representatives and the US Senate.
“We now have absolute policy clarity in terms of the direction of the United States of America for the next four years or in terms of Congress for the next for the next two. My priority ... in any role I play in the next Government and my priority is leader of Fine Gael will be to make sure that we prepare ourselves to respond to that to that policy direction,” he said.
Mr Harris said: “I had a great conversation with President Trump and I think he described it as such two. We spoke for best part of 30 minutes and covered an awful lot of issues. I congratulated him on his election ... and I know we very much look forward to early engagement. I think President Trump would very much understand the context of those lighthearted remarks.”
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