Next Wednesday, January 22nd, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is expected to be elected Taoiseach, marking the formation of a new government. Reports from Government Buildings late on Tuesday evening (January 14th) confirm that a deal has been reached for a Programme for Government.
The agreement will see the Regional Independent Group of TDs and the Healy-Rae brothers from Kerry joining Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in exchange for several sub-cabinet ministerial positions.
Fianna Fáil is set to take up eight of the 15 senior cabinet positions, with Fine Gael filling the remaining seven.
According to sources involved in the government formation talks, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris TD will move into the role of Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
This arrangement is to last for three years, after which Harris is expected to become Taoiseach for the final two years of the government’s term.
Galway East Independent TD Sean Canney and Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish are set to take up ‘super junior’ ministries, allowing them to attend cabinet meetings but without voting rights. Sligo-Leitrim Independent Marian Harkin is expected to take a junior ministry, likely in Higher Education, while Athlone TD Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran will return to his former role as Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, a position he held in the 2016 to 2020 administration.
Michael Healy-Rae, often regarded as the de facto monarch of Kerry, is expected to assume a junior ministry in agriculture, potentially focusing on forestry. His brother Danny Healy-Rae is also due to support the deal.
Several Independent TDs, including veteran Michael Lowry and newcomers Gillian Toole and Barry Heneghan, are anticipated to support the government from the backbenches as part of the proposed deal. In total, about 95 TDs are now set to support the next Government.
Local impact
Locally, the arrangement will leave Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane in opposition. Deputy Fitzmaurice did attend Government formation talks for a couple of hours last week, but his party will not be involved in the new administration.
Dr Martin Daly TD, Fianna Fáil’s newly-elected representative for Roscommon-Galway, is tipped for a junior ministry.
The well respected Ballygar doctor could be appointed a Minister of State, with some speculation about a potential cabinet role. However, it is rare for a first-time TD to be appointed to cabinet without prior experience as a backbencher or junior minister.
Programme for Government
The Programme for Government was set to be published as the Roscommon People went to print. Early reports suggest it includes changes to VAT rates for food businesses, reducing them from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent.
Other key measures include abandoning the 2:1 infrastructure spending split favouring public transport over roads – previously insisted upon by the Green Party – and advancing the Occupied Territories Bill.
