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Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael said they have \u201cagreed the need to form a strong, stable government\u201d that will help Ireland recover post-Covid 19.<\/p>\nFianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael said they have \u201cagreed the need to form a strong, stable government\u201d that will help Ireland recover post-Covid 19.<\/p>\n
The statement came after a two-hour meeting between the parties on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The General Election earlier this year resulted almost in a tie, with Sinn F\u00e9in, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael dominating.<\/p>\n
None won enough seats to form a government by themselves, and numerous rounds of talks have so far failed to reach an agreement on a coalition.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael will meet again in the next week.<\/p>\n
In a matching statement, the parties said: \u201cBoth Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael met this afternoon and had a productive meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey both agree the need to form a strong, stable government that will help Ireland recover post Covid 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are working to develop a program for government that provides stability and majority support in the Dail.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will meet again over the coming days and will both continue to reach out and engage with other parties.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes after concerns were raised that further emergency legislation to tackle the spread of Covid-19 cannot be passed without the formation of a government.<\/p>\n
Ceann Comhairle Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl has said that without a fully formed Seanad, the Oireachtas cannot pass new laws.<\/p>\n
The election of the Seanad will take place next week, however it cannot be fully formed as 11 of the senators are nominated by a taoiseach.<\/p>\n
If a taoiseach is not elected by the new 33rd Dail, the Seanad is short of its required 60 members.<\/p>\n
It could cause major problems with passing further emergency legislation to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n
Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar said it is possible to form a government \u201cin the next couple of weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not there yet, but we continue to negotiate with Fianna F\u00e1il,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking at Government Buildings before the discussions concluded, Mr Varadkar said: \u201cI think we are going to need a government that\u2019s going to last until 2024 or 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to need a working majority and that means it\u2019s going to require more than Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween the two parties, we only have 72 seats. I think for a stable working majority, you\u2019re going to need between 82 to 85.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that means having at least 10 more TDs who are willing to come on board, take the whips, stay the course and be willing to make the tough decisions as well as the popular ones for the next four years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not there yet, but we continue to negotiate with Fianna F\u00e1il, there are discussions happening today and we hope to get to the point where we can then approach other parties to see if they\u2019re willing to form part of that government.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Fianna F\u00e1il leader Miche\u00e1l Martin said: \u201cThe focus has been on Covid-19 and the crisis that represents to us from a health perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is right and proper and my view, as a party leader, has been to support the national effort and not to play politics with this and not play any politics around this virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working together as a political entity in D\u00e1il Eireann to try and help to deal with this unprecedented crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how this has to be and talks will continue in terms of the formation of a government.\u201d<\/p>\n