Latest: Independents want agreement in writing, says Bruton
Acting Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton believes independents are looking for a written agreement on government formation Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
He said that one of the weaknesses of the 1987 Tallaght Strategy was that it was not a written agreement.
“I was around when the Tallaght strategy was developed and, as you know, there was no written agreement on that occasion, and I think that was definitely a weakness in that situation and I think others, like the independents, looking to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to, if you like, develop the architecture of minority government, are looking to something in writing,” he said.
“And I think that’s good thinking really.”
Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin have held their first talks about forming a Fine Gael-led minority government as official negotiations are set to get underway to cobble together a deal,
A “cordial” and “professional” conversation was held between the two this morning after the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party formally last night agreed to back the minority government.
A number of stumbling blocks have yet to be overcome, however, before Mr Kenny can make history by becoming the second Fine Gael Taoiseach consecutively returned.
These include an agreement on how long the Government would last, the numbers of Independents who will back Mr Kenny’s administration and ironing out major policy differences between his party and Fianna Fáil, including on the future of Irish Water.
Further talks are expected to take place later today between the two big parties over agreeing a timetable and terms that must be agreed for a minority government.
Fine Gael are also keen to sign up Labour, the Greens or the Social Democrats in any deal, to secure enough numbers for a stable government.
