ENDA KENNY HAS praised the work of a number of independent TDs in the Dáil as being “quite constructive”.

The Taoiseach’s comments could be perceived as an olive branch to non-party deputies as the prospect of the current government returning enough TDs to form a majority after the next election appear to be lessening.

Kenny was speaking during the course of a wide-ranging interview with political correspondents prior to the Christmas break when he discussed the possibilities for the next government.

The Fine Gael leader has a clear preference to return the coalition with Labour but polls indicate both parties will not win sufficient seats to form a government next time out.

This could open the door to a deal with a group of independent candidates in order to secure a Dáil majority and Kenny said: “I might say that a number of the independent deputies have been quite constructive in their propositions being put forward here.”

Speaking to TheJournal.ie last month, independent TD Shane Ross said that he personally didn’t trust any of the main political parties, but could do a deal with anyone who could implement policies his nascent political alliance is advocating:

Kenny warned that the choice facing voters at the next election is to continue with a government that had made unpopular decisions but had “pulled the country out of the economic swamp that it was in” or give the country over to “tax and spend parties where clearly there are serious repercussions”. 

Kenny said that Fine Gael was making preparations for the next general election, which he insists will be in 2016, with Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald heading up the party’s electoral strategy.

He said that he is determined Fine Gael will meet the 30% requirement for female candidates at the next election.

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