Fine Gael ratifies programme for government

Fine Gael members have voted to ratify the programme for government, paving the way for a coalition with Fianna Fail and nine independents.

Fine Gael held regional meetings in recent days before the parliamentary party met in Leinster House on Monday to cast their vote on the deal.

The final result from all membership, councillor and parliamentary party votes was 93.9% in favour and 6.1% against.

Taoiseach, and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris said he was pleased members had voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of the deal.

“We will enter this Government with an absolute determination to deliver support for small businesses, more homes and homeownership, and a radically different approach to disability services.

“We will always back farmers and rural Ireland. The Fine Gael team will now deliver that agenda in Government.”

Fianna Fail voted in favour of ratifying the deal on Sunday by 812 votes to 62.

The Dail parliament is to sit on Wednesday when the new coalition comprising Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and several independent TDs will be officially appointed.

The 162-page programme for government, published during the week, includes smaller class sizes, reduced childcare costs and more gardai among its priorities.

Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin is set to replace Fine Gael leader Simon Harris as taoiseach when the Dail meets on Wednesday.

He will hold the premier’s office for three years before it reverts to Mr Harris for the final two years of the mandate.

Meanwhile, a row is brewing between opposition parties and the group of independents supporting the government over whether the independents who are not given government roles can get speaking time in the Dail during opposition slots.

The Regional Group of Independents are to get four junior ministerial roles, while Michael Healy-Rae is also in line to become a minister of state.

Opposition parties have criticised a move by the remaining four independents to form a technical group that would give them speaking time in the Dail.

Five opposition groups are to make a joint submission to oppose the proposal, saying they are united together in challenging any interpretation of standing orders that would facilitate this.

The Labour Party has prepared a draft submission to the Ceann Comhairle that contradicts the claim that the independents can form a technical group which would “eat into Dail time that is allocated to the opposition”.

In a statement, a spokesman for Sinn Fein called on the Ceann Comhairle to publish the legal advice received last week.

“In order for the Ceann Comhairle to be satisfied that the three Regional Independent TDs should be permitted to form a technical group, she would need to be satisfied that they are “members in opposition”,” the statement added.

“It is difficult to see how such a conclusion could be reached on any rational basis given that the group participated in government formation talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, reached an agreement with those parties on the text of the Programme for Government, members of that group are to become Junior Ministers in that Government including some who will sit at Cabinet and the lead negotiator on behalf of the Regional Independent Group who now wishes to be recognised as a “member in opposition” has made a public statement to the effect that the group would ‘support the next government on the good days and the bad days’.”

Sinn Fein has also criticised Aontu leader Peadar Toibin for agreeing that his party’s two TDs join the technical group of independents, as it needs a minimum of five TDs to be recognised.

“The disgraceful proposition of the group of so-called independents, who authored and negotiated this programme for government, then sitting on the opposition benches is a charade that could not happen were it not for the support of Aontu leader Peadar Toibin,” said Sinn Fein TD for Meath West, Johnny Guirke.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said: “It is outrageous that regional, independent TDs, who negotiated a programme for government and intend to wholeheartedly support the incoming administration, are attempting to hijack Opposition speaking time in the Dail.

“This farce could come to an immediate end if Aontu, whose two TDs are in the regional independent group, left that grouping.

“This would bring the number of TDs in that group below the threshold of five TDs, which secures Dail speaking rights.”

In a statement, Mr Toibin defended the move.

“Currently, if you are not in a Technical Group, you have little or no speaking rights,” he said.

“You have to beg, borrow, and steal one minute here and two minutes there to speak. You have no Leaders’ Questions.

“You have to enter a lottery to question a minister. You have no committee membership in order to hold ministers to account.

“Sinn Fein should remember this well, as they were in a similar situation when Caoimhghin P Caolain was their Dail leader. Unfortunately, they seem to have lost their Standing Order reform zeal since those days.

“Aontu has always called for the Standing Orders of the Dail to be reformed to allow for each TD to be able to speak in the Dail on an equal basis. This should be the democratic basis of any parliament, and it would prevent the current difficulties.”