MICHEÁL MARTIN HAS refused to say whether he will rule out a rotating Taoiseach as part of government formation talks.
The Fianna Fáil leader, who was speaking at the British Irish intergovernmental conference in Dublin this evening, said it was too early to discuss what the shape of the next government will look like.
After three long days of counting, his party was the clear winner of the general election, securing 48 of the Dáil’s 174 seats.
Sinn Féin took 39 and Fine Gael 38.
Asked whether he would be open to enter a coalition with Fine Gael without a rotating Taoiseach, Martin said: “From experience and having been involved in helping to form a number of coalition governments, it’s not always helpful to do it via press conferences, and I don’t mean that with any disrespect.
“So, I don’t propose to do so on this occasion either.
“There will be a range of issues that will be discussed, policy being key, and obviously then the issues around the formation of government and the mechanics of government.
“But I don’t propose to get into that.
It’s far too early, far too premature. We will engage.
He said he expected to meet other politicians at Leinster House for the switching-on of the Oireachtas Christmas tree lights.
“It might kind of create a nice, happy atmosphere. God knows what could follow from that.”
However, it was short-lived as, unknown to the Tánaiste, the switching-on of the Christmas tree lights was taking place during the press conference this evening.
Martin said most of the work to form the next government could be done by Christmas but “we have to focus on the issues”.
He said:
I don’t think we will have reached agreement by Christmas.
“But I’m sure that most people in the country want us to form a government as quickly as we can.”
Martin also refused to say which ministerial portfolios his party will want to take, saying he wants to “respect the process”.
He said he wants to form a government with parties that can last five years, including those who can “take the rough with the smooth” and have the “backbone to see it through”.
He added: “A lot will depend on how the discussions evolve.
“I do believe there’s enough people in Leinster House who have a common position on core issues in terms of the economic model and Europe, and so forth, that can create a government.
“But we want to hear what others are saying also, because the last time not everybody was as anxious to get into government as they might have proclaimed, and government can be a challenging place to be. So, we just want to test the waters to see what others are saying.”
Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee, who also attended the press conference, said the parliamentary party will meet on Wednesday to discuss their priorities.
“We’re setting ourselves clear goals and targets so we want to make sure that any discussions we have with any party, that we’re focused on for key deliverables,” she said.
“Making sure we have ambitious housing targets, making sure we’re supporting small businesses, making sure that we are focused on disability and services across the country.
“That’s the type of focus and priority, and I believe those are the discussions we will be having tomorrow.
“That’s where it needs to start. Beyond that, it is a matter of engaging then with our Taoiseach and our leader, Simon Harris, engaging with other leaders in other parties, and taking it from there.”
Following the conclusion of the general election, Labour and the Social Democrats won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontú secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats.
The return of a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely.
However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail.
A coalition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and a third grouping, possibly made up of Independents, is the likely option.
Earlier, a Sinn Féin TD said they will continue to speak to like-minded parties in a bid to form a left-leaning government and there is a “powerful bloc” of 60 progressive politicians who campaigned for change.
Eoin Ó Broin said that while Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have the numbers to form a government, the deal has not yet been reached.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options, and Labour leader Ivana Bacik has also spoken to leaders of other parties.
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