BACKGROUND:Both Fine Gael and Labour relied on support groups to provide financial, legal and economic advice
BOTH FINE GAEL and Labour had large contingents of support staff and advisers to back up their main negotiating teams during the five-day talks last week on forming the new coalition government. The support groups provided financial, economic, legal advice and research functions to the teams, as well as writing position papers and being involved in producing drafts of the programme for government.
Fine Gael’s support team was led by the party’s economic adviser Andrew McDowell, who took part with the three negotiators – Michael Noonan, Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter – in the discussions on fiscal and banking policy.
Another key figure for Fine Gael was marketing and communications consultant Mark Mortell, who has been working as a special adviser to Kenny over the past year. Mark Kennelly, another key adviser to Kenny, also worked behind the scenes during the week.
Other notable figures who were involved were election strategist Ciarán Conlon and Jennifer Carroll, the party’s legal adviser.
The party’s large team of researchers was also seconded to Government Buildings for the duration of the talks to help with research and also to draft sections of the programme.
Former Independent MEP and former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox was also tangentially involved.
A Fine Gael source said yesterday he took no direct part, but acted in an advisory role for the party in advance of the transition between government, in terms of helping in engaging with Europe, and also with helping Fine Gael plan its first 100 days in office.
Labour took the unusual step of including the party’s non-elected director of policy, Dr Colm O’Reardon, as part of its negotiating team.
The party also availed of a large support staff, including policy adviser Jean O’Mahony and legal adviser Finbarr O’Malley.
Outside experts who were invited to give specific advice included the accountant Greg Sparks, who was a special adviser to then tánaiste Dick Spring when Labour was last in coalition.
“He was not directly involved. He has enormous experience in terms of negotiating programmes for government and was able to provide expert advice in that regard,” said a source.
Another person who gave legal advice was senior counsel Richard Humphreys, a Labour councillor in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
Party leader Eamon Gilmore’s adviser Mark Garrett was also centrally involved, especially when the negotiations turned to direct talks between both leaders.
