Fine Gael
would seek certain binding assurances from
Fianna Fáil
if the two parties were to enter into a minority government arrangement, a number of Ministers have said.
Sources in Fine Gael yesterday said they believed a hardening of the Fianna Fáil mood against coalition made a second election this year more likely.
However, a number of Ministers said a minority arrangement with Fianna Fáil supporting Fine Gael from the opposition benches must include certain guarantees.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is not expected to make contact with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in the short term, but will instead again talk to Independents and smaller parties.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said the most important priority for Fine Gael was to "intensify our discussions and negotiations with Independents and smaller parties".
“We will look at all options in relation to this, but any option has to be something that will work, has the ability to put in place good policies for the country, and that is capable of governing.”
One Minister privately said Fianna Fáil’s support would have to come with a “high degree of conditionality”, such as guaranteeing support for a number of budgets.
Senior Fine Gael figures are concerned about the possibility of a minority government falling over the next budget.
Budget
Fianna Fáil sources said they were open to the idea of supporting a minority government in a situation where “votes can be lost except on a budget or vote of confidence before a government could fall”.
Another Fine Gael Minister said: “You can’t have a minority government without having some sort of guarantee. At least you’d need two years.”
It was added that yesterday marked the first time people were “disillusioned” and thinking seriously about a second election, including stepping up constituency work to prepare for another poll.
Another Minister said a possible guarantee would depend on the circumstances. “But it wouldn’t be a real government with a five-year mandate to get things done. You’d be operating on the basis that you could have an election in five weeks or five months.”