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Sam Boal

What happens next?: A new Taoiseach, postal votes and a Dáil sitting in the Convention Centre

Micheál Martin is set to take over as Taoiseach at the end of the month, while Leo Varadkar will become Tánaiste.

AFTER WEEKS OF negotiations, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have finally reached an agreement on a draft programme for government today

As part of the deal, it has been agreed that the next government will have a rotating position for Taoiseach, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin taking the reins first. 

However, before we reach that stage, the programme for government has to be accepted by the parliamentary parties as well as the grassroots members around the country.

Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin is facing a challenge in selling the deal to party members with many wholeheartedly against the deal with Fine Gael.

Rural members of the party are also concerned about going into a coalition with the Green Party.

It is one member, one vote for Fianna Fáil, with a simple majority required to get the endorsement of the party.

While traditionally, an Ard Fheis would have been held so a vote could be taken, due to Covid-19, a postal vote of the party’s 18,000 members will be undertaken.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News, Martin said the programme for government is a “pragmatic an urgent reponse” to the Covid-19 crisis and the economic challenge the country is facing.

While he said Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil entering into government together is a “historic development in itself” he stated it does not signal a “loss in identity” for his own party. 

Fine Gael operates an electoral college system, with the parliamentary party making up 50% of the vote, followed by constituency delegates (25%), councillors (15%) and the party’s executive council (10%).

All party members will vote by postal ballot.

Varadkar said this evening that he hopes his parliamentary party will back the deal, stating that it is the right thing to do by the country.

All eyes will be on the Green Party, which faces the toughest battle in terms of getting the members to back the deal.

Party rules demands a 66% endorsement from its 2000-strong membership.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said today that ultimately the decision to back the deal is up to each member, but he is hopeful that the party will support the agreed programme for government.

The results of the Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Green Party votes will be announced on Friday 26 June.

While there is no date set for the election of the next Taoiseach, it is widely expected the election will take place either on Saturday June 27 or Monday June 29. 

The vote is expected to take place in the Dublin Convention Centre as all 160 TDs must be present in order for the vote to take place.

Due to social distancing, it cannot be held in Leinster House.

There is a tight timeline for this vote as it needs to be done by 30 June so that the new government can renew the Offences Against the State Act which ensures the Special Criminal Court can continue its work.

This can only be done once the new Taoiseach appoints the 11 Taoiseach’s nominees to  the Seanad.

Under the government formation deal, there will be four Fianna Fáil senators, four to Fine Gael, and two for the Greens. One independent will be agreed by the three party leaders. At least half of the party nominees will be women.

In terms of Cabinet jobs, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will get six Cabinet seats each, with three for the Greens.

Once elected Taoiseach at the end of the month, Micheál Martin’s term will run until December 15 2022.

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53 Comments
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 20th 2017, 12:16 AM

    It is important that An Garda Siochana are subject to the law as the rest of us are. The rule of law is an important part of any democracy.

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    Mute dead right
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    May 20th 2017, 9:12 AM

    @Tony Daly: we have a truly rotten police force from the top to the poor lad just out of templemore who apparently has to sleep in his car eating pot noodle.

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    Mute Ben Moten
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    May 20th 2017, 11:50 AM

    @Tony Daly:

    Of course you are right. However, and I don’t mean this in any disparaging way, this comment is much like what a politician would say and then leave it hanging in mid air.

    We all know what is needed but if the leader of our country, the minister for justice and all the other political groups do nothing about the corruption which permeates our country, we will just have to put up with it. That is if we as citizens don’t do something ourselves.
    Regards.

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 1:15 PM

    @Tony Daly: large pich of slat required with anything a shinner says… you couldnt trust them to tell the time never mind the truth

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    Mute #Right2change
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    May 20th 2017, 12:30 AM

    Democracy is crumbling in front of all our eyes!! FF/FG ignore will of Irish people when it came to water and now ignore parliamentary vote on AIB shares. Are we to believe they even care about the crumbling Gardai ?

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    Mute Tim Brennan
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    May 20th 2017, 12:27 AM

    I’m exhausted as to how this ministers incompetence is seen as one of those things and tonight she will bed Leo to keep her job

    148
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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 12:09 AM

    if true its sound like the gardai were doing some fantastic work, long may it continue

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    Mute iluvkief/Tá mé dom
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    May 20th 2017, 7:05 AM

    @booby sandwiches: a good job by what setting up the competition?or some fella because the cop fancies his girlfriend?or someone who didn’t give up his seat in the pub? or beat him in darts? You must be a member of stackers

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 1:16 PM

    @iluvkief/Tá mé dom: your inferiority complex is alarming but very amusing :D

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    May 20th 2017, 6:51 AM

    It all boils down to the fact that a corrupt government needs a corrupt police force, and that a corrupt police force needs a corrupt government, or neither will thrive.
    The government are not interested in Gardai corruption and the Gardai have no interest in investigating the wholesale corruption in the government and those who surround government.

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    Mute alphanautica
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    May 20th 2017, 7:55 AM

    @Dave Doyle: identify one case evidencing ‘wholesale corruption’ in government of illegal or criminal behaviour and you get a lifetime’s supply of tin foil

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 11:17 AM

    @Dave Doyle: does that apply to northern ireland also, SF in government, corruption is rife, fake research companies anyone??

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    Mute alphanautica
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    May 20th 2017, 7:49 AM

    What’s wrong with:
    engaged active criminals as informants
    used informants they have control over to entrap and prosecute people

    Is that not the whole point in Gardai infiltrating criminal networks?

    Heartwarming that Sinn Fein are concerned about such things.

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 11:18 AM

    @alphanautica: exactly it sound like the polic are doing a fantastic job if everything that shinner is saying is true. but its a shinner so its most likely all lies

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    Mute Bennythekid
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    May 20th 2017, 4:47 AM

    is Michelle (author) on first name terms with the Sinn Fein deputy referring to him at one stage as Martin while no such courtesy applies to the minister.-just proves i read the article.

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    Mute Joe Burns
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    May 20th 2017, 11:02 AM

    But don’t worry folks, keep voting FG/FF and it will all get sorted. Sure aren’t we in recovery? The fastest growing economy in Europe, lots of jobs for people who want to work and 280,000 empty houses out there to rent. Keep the recovery going and the EU and IMF will look after us.

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    May 20th 2017, 7:48 AM

    Beware the ,”Long finger of the Law”

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    May 20th 2017, 9:40 AM

    The Shinners minding their own again !

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    Mute Grainne Kelly
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    May 20th 2017, 11:05 AM

    That’s why she is not on the leader ticket. Costly friendship! !

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 1:20 PM

    that shinner should get used to being ignored, it is going to have to deal with it daily for the rest of its life :D

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