Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has conceded that he will likely not be taoiseach when the next government is formed, indicating that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will take the first turn in the office as part of a coalition deal.
Negotiations to form a government made up of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and most likely the Regional Group of Independents were “on track” to conclude by January 22nd, Mr Harris said.
In an interview with The Irish Times at an EU summit in Brussels, Mr Harris said he believed the office of the Taoiseach would rotate between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, as it did in the outgoing government.
Speaking on Friday, Mr Harris said it was safe to assume Mr Martin would go first, but “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
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He said immigration and asylum services needed to be “reunified within one department” in the next government rather than remain split between the Department of Justice and the Department of Integration.
Public services for people with disabilities, older people and vulnerable children in State care were also “not where they need to be”, the Fine Gael leader said. “There will be a resourcing and funding issue the next government will have to address, we’re up for that.”
[ Government formation: Who are the contenders for ministerial posts?Opens in new window ]
Talks on government formation have continued between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael negotiators. One person involved said the two sides would continue to exchange policy papers over Christmas.
All sides say they expect the talks to move up a gear after the Christmas break when deal-making with Independent TDs will reach a decisive stage.
Independent TDs are understood to be looking for a range of commitments as part of their price for supporting the new government, including new disability measures, investment in hospitals and specific proposals on housing.
Members of the nine-strong Regional Group of Independent have been submitting their policy demands to the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil negotiating teams in recent days, and will continue to do so over the weekend before wrapping up talks ahead of Christmas Eve.
The actual demands and policy asks being made by the Independent group have been closely guarded, but it is understood a number of key issues have now emerged. The group is understood to want a strong focus on supports for people with disabilities, which could include the introduction of personal budgets.
They have also made proposals around ways to lift existing barriers to employment for disabled people and made demands for more funding for the arts, particularly for organisations which support artists with a disability.
There is understood to be tension within the group already over the potential allocation of ministerial seats. Four names are the subject of speculation should the group receive a senior ministry: Marian Harkin, Sean Canney, Noel Grealish and Kevin “Boxer” Moran.
[ Care services for most vulnerable not good enough, says Simon HarrisOpens in new window ]
Mr Moran acknowledged there would not be ministerial jobs for all of them, saying, in an apparent message to his colleagues “it’s only fair not to make demands”.
However, there is another element that could yet be part of the government-formation equation.
Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae on Friday told The Irish Times that he expects negotiations about supporting a government to intensify in the new year, confirming that he and his brother Danny have met Mr Martin on two occasions and expect to meet Mr Harris in the new year.
Mr Healy-Rae said “instead of a three-legged stool” the next government could be “a four-legged chair”, suggesting that there could be two separate groups of Independents – the Healy-Raes and the group led by Michael Lowry – supporting the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government.
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