Talks between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will resume with significantly greater urgency in the new year, according to sources involved in the process, when the parties hope to be in a position to finalise agreements with several Independents – possibly including the Healy-Raes – ahead of the return of the Dáil on January 22nd.
“There’s a need to intensify the whole thing in the new year,” said one person involved.
However, sources in both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil expressed doubts about whether the process will be completed in time for the next meeting of the Dáil, as both parties will need to go through a process of ratifying any deal in accordance with their own internal rules.
Fianna Fáil rules mean that a special ardfheis must be held to approve the deal, while Fine Gael is likely hold a series of regional conferences to discuss and vote on any agreement.
The notice period required could push the date for acceptance of any deal towards the end of January.
Negotiations with Independent TDs will also resume in the new year, Government sources say.
Opinion is divided among people involved about whether Michael and Danny Healy-Rae are ultimately likely to support a coalition led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Michael Healy-Rae told The Irish Times last week that talks with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin had gone well and that the “three-legged stool” of the proposed Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-regional Independents government could become a “four-legged chair” with the inclusion of the Healy-Raes.
Two senior Government sources expressed the view that the Kerry TDs were serious about supporting a new coalition but others expressed scepticism.
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Looking ahead to a new programme for government, business representative organisation Dublin Town has been lobbying both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael asking that they commit to implementing the recommendations of a taskforce report for revitalising the capital.
The taskforce was set up by Taoiseach Simon Harris last May after riots in the city centre in November 2023.
It made 10 recommendations including the deployment of 1,000 extra gardaí to the city’s streets, additional city-centre housing and the regulation of charities providing tents to homeless people.
Dublin Town chief executive Richard Guiney told The Irish Times that he wrote to members of the two big parties’ government formation talks teams – Jack Chambers of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe telling them the implementation of the Taskforce recommendations is “critical for Dublin”.
He said: “Dublin is at a point where things haven’t been moving in the right direction since the pandemic and a bit before that as well. I think we can reverse that direction.”
Mr Guiney, who was part of the taskforce, said there was a “need to enhance the perceptions of safety” in the capital and “We need to rejuvenate areas like O’Connell Street and the northside in general”.
Fine Gael’s election manifesto promised to implement the taskforce recommendations.
Asked about Dublin Town’s lobbying, Mr Donohoe said on Monday: “Dublin continues to be a great city, but it needs to do better.
“I expect the next government will continue the focus on this by the implementation of the Taoiseach’s taskforce on the city centre.”
