The Daily Star Ireland
After a week of posturing, the serious task of forming a government will begin next week.
On Monday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris will have their first substantial discussion about forming another coalition.
These talks follow days of setting the terms for government formation. Fianna Fáil has insisted that its larger size should be reflected in the government’s composition, while Fine Gael has firmly resisted any notion of being a junior partner, with Harris sharply responding to such suggestions yesterday.
However, it is widely understood that a deal will be reached, likely without much delay, especially since they have been working from an agreed policy for the past four and a half years. Although divisions emerged during the election campaign, these were expected as part of their temporary separation and are considered manageable.
Opinions vary on whether a joint policy platform can be established before Christmas, given there are only two working weeks available to finalize a deal. Nonetheless, this is the first step, and once achieved, they will reach out to a smaller party or Independents.
Despite numerous contacts over the past week, all meetings have been described as “preliminary chats,” with no substantial progress made.
It is no surprise that the Social Democrats have rejected Labour’s overtures. Even Labour knew it was unlikely to succeed but felt obligated to meet to honor a campaign promise. Both parties will now proceed independently in their discussions with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Some members of the larger parties believe the Social Democrats’ demands are impractical, making Labour the preferred partner, along with Independents. Within Labour, opinions vary on the risks and benefits of joining the government again, both within the parliamentary party and the broader membership.
Independents remain available, many of whom have been reliable partners in the past, both within and outside formal arrangements. This gives Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leverage, as they have the crucial political asset of options.
