- Labour leader Eamon Gilmore on the left with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny
Talks between Fine Gael and Labour to form a Government together started yesterday.
They began at midday and were attended by the negotiating teams on both sides. Fine Gael’s representatives were TDs Phil Hogan, Michael Noonan and Alan Shatter and Labour’s were TDs Joan Burton, Pat Rabbitte and Brendan Howlin and economic adviser Colm O’Riordan.
It is understood the talks are taking place in Government Buildings but nothing is being leaked about the discussions. Labour are holding a special conference at the weekend, so it is expected that the talks will have completed by then.
Labour veterans are voicing approval of a coalition government but not at any cost – key Labour principles must not be compromised.
A coalition means a Government that is made up of more that one party, and usually happens because no party got enough seats in the election to form a Government by themselves.
A senior union official from Unite, which represents 60,000 workers, said that Labour should not go into coalition with Fine Gael and instead establish a strong opposition in the Dáil.
“Their [Fine Gael’s] policies did not attract enough support, and should not now be made by the tired old fallback of coalition with Labour,” said Jimmy Kelly, Regional secretary of Unite.
These talks are the second time party leaders Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore have met since the election.
Meanwhile, newly elected Independent TDs met last night to explore the possibility of some form of co-operation so that Independents could still have a strong voice in the Dáil. Independent TD for Dublin North Central Finian McGrath said he expected to meet fellow Independents Maureen O’Sullivan, Catherine Murphy, Mick Wallace, Thomas Pringle, John Halligan and Shane Ross and that other Independents were likely to attend too.