A new coalition government was taking shape on Wednesday after a deal was reached between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and a group of Independent TDs.
A full programme for government is set to be published later, after meetings of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parliamentary parties this afternoon.
A deal was reached with the seven members of the Regional Independent Group (RIG) and Independent Kerry TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae to support the incoming government. Two Independent TDs will sit at cabinet as super junior ministers but without full status of cabinet ministers and without command of a full government department.
The Regional Independent Group will also have two junior ministers, while it is understood that both Healy-Raes will also be offered a junior ministry.
The Regional Independent Group will meet to ratify the document which paves the way for a new government to be in place by Wednesday January 22nd.
Key reads:
- Two Independents to sit at cabinet as new government agreed
- Ministers, super juniors and chief whips – what jobs are filled in the cabinet?
Fianna Fáil’s James Browne has rejected reports that Independents were promised either cabinet positions or constituency concessions.
“I have to acknowledge the Independents who came to the table who were anxious to get a government in place because that is what’s in the interest of the country. And they were very much focused on policy and understanding that, you know, getting policy into the programme for government, adding value to our programme for government, would result in a benefit for their constituency – and every constituency, for that matter. So, you know, it was a very positive approach from those Independents.
It never came down to “promises”, he told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show on Wednesday.
Independent TD Seán Canney also denied such an agreement. “I was there over the last three weeks and we never had a discussion around that, nor was it a question of it’s this or that.
“Just to set out what we did in the regional Independents – we’ve prepared a programme for government which was over 40 pages, prepared across all of the 19 departments. We presented that to Fianna Fáil, the Fine Gael negotiators and to the leaders, and they went through that with us. We looked at how we could positively impact upon a new programme for government, and that’s what we’ve done.”
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae will take a junior minister post in the next government, but has declined to say in which department.
He said that it was a matter for the incoming taoiseach and also declined to confirm any deals for his constituency but said the people of Kerry will see the benefits of having him and his brother Danny in government over the coming years.
Michael said he and his brother “want to be on the other side” after many years in Opposition.
Speaking to reporters this morning, hesaid they would now be “fighting from within government, using the structures of government to better the case of the people in Kerry and throughout rural and urban Ireland, and that’s the way we want to work”.
The Kerry TD said the reason why negotiations went on so long last night was because they wanted to make sure that “our stamp and our views are in the programme for government”.
Danny Healy-Rae said he wanted the new government to “get back to basics and basic things that the people need”. He also said they were well placed to bring “a common-sense view” into government.
When questioned about climate action, Michael Healy-Rae said the 2030 climate targets had been voted on and agreed and that “what’s in place, is in place”.
He also said that there was no “future in history” and no point in looking backwards at what “went on in the past”.
He said they would be looking forward in a “bright and positive way” and ensuring money was spent in the right way and not wasted.
Michael also said that people may be happier with this government than any other government in the past.
“I would certainly hope that,” he added.
There will be a substantial reorganisation of government departments, focused mostly on the break-up of some functions in departments formerly steered by the three Green Party cabinet ministers, reports Jack Horgan Jones. This will be outlined in the programme for government later today.
Despite consideration being given to moving the energy functions of government into the Department of Enterprise, they look set to stay where they are. The communications function of the departments led by Eamon Ryan will switch to the Department of Media, where Catherine Martin held the minister’s chair.
Meanwhile, the tourism part of her portfolio will switch to the Department of Enterprise. There will be one minister over the Department of Transport and the Department of Environment, as was the case with Ryan.
There will be no new stand-alone departments created, with the dual campaign trail promises from Fine Gael (infrastructure) and Fianna Fáil (domestic affairs) catered to by giving extra prominence within the departments of Public Expenditure and Justice, as well as extra resources. Integration will be stripped out of the Department of Children led by Roderic O’Gorman and transferred to the new domestic affairs section of the Department of Justice.
Political Correspondent Cormac McQuinn reports: The draft programme for government includes proposals for multiannual funding for the health service.
There is also to be a focus on digitalisation, including e-records for patients and telehealth services.
The document is also understood to include plans for a statutory home care scheme.
Political Correspondent Cormac McQuinn reports: Ramping up Garda recruitment and exploring the possibility of opening a second Garda college are understood to be among justice measures in the draft programme for government.
There is also expected to be a commitment to implement the proposals for safer streets put forward by the Dublin city centre taskforce.
There are also proposals for a new transport security force, outside the Garda, but which would have powers of arrest.
Political Editor Pat Leahy reports: The Healy-Rae brothers have confirmed Michael will take a junior minister post in the next government, but declined to say in which department and that it was a matter for the taoiseach.
They also declined to confirm any deals for their constituency but said the people of Kerry will see the benefits of having them in government over the coming years.
Asked about comments by Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill this morning, who said no constituency deals were done with Independents, Michael Healy-Rae said that “anyone is entitled to say what they like”.
Also speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland was Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who said the new programme for government will focus on infrastructure spending, disability support and renewable energy – areas that were not as emphasised in the outgoing Government’s agenda.
The Dún Laoghaire TD said the Government acknowledges the challenge of meeting Ireland’s climate change targets and plans to invest heavily in renewable energy and public transportation to address this.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland earlier, Fianna Fáil’s James Lawless said the negotiations with regional Independent TDs to form a coalition government were challenging but reflected their determination to be part of the government.
Mr Lawless said the new government plans to provide support for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors, through measures such as a VAT cut.
He also said public safety and security, including the introduction of a transport police force, is a priority for the new government.
Political Correspondent Jack Horgan Jones reports: The programme for government is expected to commit to introducing childcare capped at a rate of €200 per month per child over a number of years. It will also outline a commitment to roll out a larger public childcare sector.
Kerry Independent TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae are expected to support the incoming government after talks between them and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Tuesday.
Fianna Fáil negotiator James Lawless told RTÉ radio that they are included among nine independents expected to back the government and he understands they will also be offered a junior ministry.
What we know so far: Two Independent TDs will sit at cabinet as “super junior” ministers in the new coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The Regional Independent Group will also have two junior ministers.
The super junior jobs are expected to be filled by Noel Grealish and Sean Canney, with Marian Harkin and Kevin “Boxer” Moran taking the two junior, or minister of state, roles.
The programme for government is understood to be largely a synthesis of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael manifestos. It is understood there is political agreement for VAT on energy to stay at 9 per cent and fall from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent for food, hospitality, hairdressers and entertainment in the next budget.
