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Government Formation Talks Resume Following Holiday Break

Dublin: Following the conclusion of the Christmas and New Year holidays, negotiations to form Ireland’s new government have resumed, with expectations that discussions will soon reach a conclusion. In December, Prime Minister Simon Harris expressed his aim to have the new government in place before the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. President on January 20. Party insiders suggest the negotiations are progressing steadily toward finalisation.

The parliamentary session is set to commence at the end of this month. Ahead of this, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are resuming coalition talks on Monday, focusing on agreements with the Social Democrats and the Regional Independent Group, following Labour’s withdrawal from discussions.

Progress in Negotiations

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have reported advancements in the talks. Helen McEntee is leading the discussions as Fine Gael’s representative, coordinating negotiations with members of the Regional Independent Group. The parties will hold further discussions next week, both jointly and individually with key members of the independents.

During the recent Speaker election, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Regional Independents successfully supported the candidacy of independent TD Verona Murphy, signalling potential alignment for cabinet formation. However, it remains uncertain whether the Social Democrats will join the coalition, despite their ongoing involvement in discussions.

Regional Independent Group’s Role

The Regional Independent Group, comprising nine TDs, has emerged as a pivotal player in the coalition talks. Members of the group include Sean Canney, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Kevin “Boxer” Moran, Verona Murphy, Gillian Toole, and Carol Nolan.

Reports indicate the group has made a strong case for the Housing Department, as well as one cabinet minister position and two junior minister positions in the new government.

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