Parties discuss options amid Ireland poll limbo

The leaders of Ireland’s two largest political parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, met with their respective parliamentary members yesterday to discuss options for forming a government after last week’s election returned a hung parliament. As Labour filled the final seat in Ireland’s Dail, or lower house of parliament, outgoing prime minister Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin were expected to set the terms for any negotiations with other parties. Speculation continues over whether the two centre-right parties, who have dominated Irish politics for decades, will eventually form a grand coalition despite the rivals having dismissed the prospect before the election. While there is little policy difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, their historic rivalry born out of Ireland’s civil war more than 90 years ago makes them unlikely bedfellows. The Irish Independent reported that senior members of Fine Gael had begun “actively discussing the future of (Kenny’s) leadership”. Kenny, who has led a Fine Gael coalition government with Labour for the last five years, has rejected speculation that he could resign after some observers criticised his party’s election performance. Fine Gael won 50 of the 158 seats in parliament, followed by Fianna Fail with 44 seats. Labour reached the vital number of seven seats required for full speaking rights in parliament, as Willie Penrose in the midlands constituency of Longford Westmeath clinched the last unfilled seat. The newly-elected member of parliament said that Labour would not be participating in government. Nationalist party Sinn Fein, the third-largest party with 23 seats, has ruled out supporting either of the centre-right parties in a coalition. Kenny has said Fine Gael would work with smaller parties and independents to restore political stability. But the issue of water charges, introduced controversially in 2014, is set to be a major sticking point in any negotiations. Many left-leaning independents and alliance members campaigned for the abolition of the unpopular charge. Weeks of uncertainty could lie ahead and the first test of whether a government can be formed will be March 10, when the newly-elected deputies are to meet in parliament and try to appoint a prime minister.Former prime minister Bertie Ahern has predicted there is “not a chance in hell” of a deal before Easter, at the end of March.