Labour say talk of party re-entering government is 'hugely premature'
The Labour Party appears ready to consider going back into government with Fine Gael, despite suffering a near wipeout in February's General Election, writes .
The party's membership is also reluctant to take any role in government given the scale of losses suffered by the party.
A party spokesperson said that it was considering this as an option.
“It would be one of a range of options in front of us,” the spokesperson told the Irish Examiner, but insisted talk of Labour re-entering government is "hugely premature".
"None of this would have arisen if Fianna Fáil had accepted their responsibilities, acted in the national interest, and gone into government," the spokesman said.
"For Labour’s part, we have three options: go into opposition, facilitate a minority government from opposition, or participate in government. Those three options will be discussed with members in the period ahead," the spokesman said.
On March 10, in the first vote for Taoiseach, the Labour Party backed Fine Gael leader and temporary Taoiseach Enda Kenny and voted against Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams and Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin.
In the two subsequent votes, the seven Labour TDs abstained from voting for acting Taoiseach Kenny and voted against Adams and Martin.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Claire Byrne programme, acting Labour minister Alex White said that his party are “not involved in those discussions between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil” which might be taking place this weekend.
Highlighting the scale of opposition to the proposal, Mr White added: “This story has not even got off the ground.”
