LAST UPDATE | 1 Dec 2024

LABOUR MEP AODHÁN Ó Ríordáin has said his party should not go into government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, if they are asked to do so.

Ó Ríordáin previously served as a TD in Dublin Bay North, prior to stepping down when elected to the European Parliament in June.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1 today, the MEP said: “I think, particularly, Fine Gael’s treatment of the Green Party has been awful. Covertly, overtly. Totally threw them under the bus, in my opinion.”

Ivana Bacik reiterates that Labour will be approaching the Social Democrats and the Green Party to form a common platform for coalition discussions. She does not rule out going into Govt with FF or FG. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/Pe8dKh62E7

— Muiris Ó Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) December 1, 2024

In a recent interview with The Journal, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her party has “huge ideological differences” with the three biggest parties – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.

Bacik also said she wanted to help form a “common platform” on the left, namely with the Social Democrats and the Greens (who now look set to lose most of their TDs), to go into any government formation talks together.

Speaking to reporters at the RDS count centre in Dublin today, Bacik reiterated that stance.

Our first priority is to build that common platform on the left. We’ve seen significant gains for us in Labour, we’ll be coming back with a bigger parliamentary party.

“We see significant gains across the centre left. We want to build that common platform as our absolute priority.”

Bacik, who was re-elected today in Dublin Bay South, said the first parties she will speak to are the Soc Dems and the Greens to “seek to form a common platform before we would envisage any government formation talks”.

She wouldn’t rule in, or out, going into power with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

“I’ve said consistently that we are serious about delivering change, that we want to offer people and communities the change that is so badly needed,” Bacik said.

‘Not making up the numbers’ 

Labour Senator Marie Sherlock, who is battling against Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch for the final seat in Dublin Central, earlier said her party “will not be going in [to government] just to make up the numbers”.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Sherlock said: “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been treating this like a three-handed reel – one steps out, another steps in…

“Our leader Ivana Bacik has made it crystal clear that post-election, you have to see, obviously, where the numbers are. We’ve talked about trying to join forces with parties of shared values, and then seeing where we are then.

But we are crystal clear, we will not be going to make up the numbers.

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The Journal understands that this is a sentiment shared widely within the party and that a push to enter government formation talks with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael is being driven by outgoing Tipperary TD and former Labour leader Alan Kelly.

Members are concerned about risking another hammering from the electorate, similar to 2011, if the party went into government with either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

In her interview with The Journal last month, Bacik said the best way to deliver change is by being in government.

“It’s not about one party, it’s about actually delivering change. And the best, the only way, to deliver change is through going into government,” she stated.

With reporting by Jane Matthews and Muiris Ó Cearbhaill