The Daily Star Ireland
Sinn Féin leader Mary McDonald announced she plans to meet with various party leaders, including Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin, in the upcoming week. During an interview on RTÉ’s This Week programme, she emphasized that while her preference was for a government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, the worst scenario would be a coalition including both.
McDonald criticized Martin for dismissing the 400,000 voters who supported Sinn Féin and suggested that Fianna Fáil needs to decide if they want Fine Gael to remain in power. She asserted that a Sinn Féin-led government would bring better solutions for housing, community investment, and immigration, areas where she believes the previous administration failed.
The election results solidified Sinn Féin’s significant presence in southern Ireland, dispelling any notion that their 2020 success was fleeting. Sinn Féin secured 39 seats, trailing Fianna Fáil’s 48 but ahead of Fine Gael’s 38. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with a combined 86 seats, fall just short of the 88 needed for a majority, necessitating support from a smaller party or independents.
Martin previously stated he did not intend to form a government with Sinn Féin. Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan expressed a preference for a coalition between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and reliable independents to ensure a stable government. He argued that Fianna Fáil’s superior seat count should be reflected in the distribution of government positions, suggesting his party should hold the office of Taoiseach longer if the role is rotated.
O’Callaghan emphasized the importance of establishing a new government before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Meanwhile, Labour and the Social Democrats met to discuss post-election strategies, with Labour advocating for a center-left coalition to engage with larger parties. However, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan stated they plan to independently meet with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael next week.
The Dáil is scheduled to convene on December 18, but it remains uncertain if political negotiations will result in a new coalition government by then.
