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LAST UPDATE | 12 Dec 2024
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS have said that the “exploratory” talks the party has been having so far on forming a government will become “more focused” next week.
The Social Democrats held a parliamentary party meeting this morning and deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said a decision was taken to continue talks with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Labour.
Yesterday, the Social Democrats had separate meetings with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and O’Callaghan today said all the meetings the party has held so far have been “positive and constructive, with a good exchange of views”.
While O’Callaghan said these talks have been “exploratory to date”, he added that he expects they will become “more focused” next week, particularly on the “dealbreakers” the party highlighted during the election campaign.
“Those dealbreakers were the delivery of 50,000 genuinely affordable homes during the lifetime of the next government; the full implementation of Sláintecare; quality public childcare; a senior minister for disability and credible climate action to avoid up to €20 billion in EU fines.,” said O’Callaghan.
O’Callaghan also said that by continuing the talks, the Social Democrats are “delivering on a commitment we gave to the electorate to talk to every party after the election with a view to forming a government and delivering on our mandate”.
Elsewhere, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are to meet again today in the latest round of government formation talks.
The two parties met yesterday and discussed issues ranging from policy priorities to who their likely coalition partner may be.
Both have been expected to return to government since last month’s election, but need the support of another party or Independents following the near-wipeout of the Greens.
The two parties have previously said that they hope a government will be formed before the end of January.
In terms of policy, it is understood Simon Harris’s Fine Gael has seven negotiating priorities, while Micheál Martin’s party is prioritising housing and the cost-of-living measures as set out in its manifesto.
Possible changes to disability services are expected to feature in the talks – it’s considered an area both parties share common ground on, particularly after a bruising campaign for Harris when it came up on the campaign trail for the Fine Gael leader in Kanturk.
It’s understood that the view among Social Democrat TDs is that they remain serious about entering government and have not ruled themselves out just yet.
However, sources have indicated that the party does not think Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael is willing to meet the Social Democrats’ five key priorities.
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s meetings, deputy party leader Cian O’Callaghan said one of the key stumbling blocks in talks was commitments on climate change and meeting emissions targets.
The Journal understands that the largest gulf is with Fianna Fáil and the agriculture sector.
It is understood that discussions on housing policy were also positive and that the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin was “surprised” by some of the Social Democrats policy goals in this area.
With reporting by Christina Finn and Jane Matthews
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Like we’re all supposed to believe that they’re not best buds, having sleep overs most days of the week. Fwends, politician fwends.
@Meh Meh: Of course but the media are firmly in the back pockets of the mob in FFG, tried having their sad supporters believe both parties were against each other during the campaign when it was akin to watching jake paul fight mike tyson…….a pure set up to dupe their voters and now the show continues
@Patrick Newell: not sure what media you read/watch (besides the Journal), but all the media that I consume called out this at the time as pantomime politics, and that includes The Journal
@Dave G Doe: same old same old
@Kevin Kerr: same here. It was called out from the start
@Dave G Doe: Two separate cheeks of the same ar&%.
Health, housing, homelessness, they could not care less
FF & FG renewing their wedding vows – how sweet !
Did Fine Gael not come 3rd
@Kevin O Brien
FF: votes 481,417 Seats 48
SF: votes 418,627 Seats 39
FG: votes. 458,134. Seats 38
@Kevin O Brien: I’m sure Labour and Democratic Left and the PDs came last, but a thick like you wouldn’t know how democracy works
@honey badger: Are you forgetting we have a PR electoral system which is the envy of most democracies around the world?? Keep ur ‘first past the post’ stuff to UK politics.
That gobsh+×e Martin…all puffed up and you can bet the WhiteHousw visit outfit has been picked already for rge shamrock gimmick.
Guy in politics 40 years, still no Cork to Limerick motorway….while there’s from Dublin to the Megapolis of Tuam.
@Hunt Ley: Megapolis? What’s that? Unless you mean the game?
@Hunt Ley: certainly not what your calling him, U seem jealous, He brought his party back with 48 seats maybe its u thats the Gob+xe I’ not a fan but your comment is just crap
Fine Gael Capo Michael lowry still running negotiations on behalf of fianna gael?
We know what happened the last time he was left in charge of negotiations don’t we?
#moriartytribunal #bagsofcash #fiannafailmafia
@Michael o connor: topping the poll every election
They’ll be exchanging gifts , wink wink ;)
The left should definitely stay out of goverment formations they get eating up and after every term they align with centreist partys they get set back years (ask the greens) (ask labour) this is not because goverments ruin the left party’s on purpose from within , it’s because public opinion always changes with the left parties where as ff/fg and independents always have that consistency with voters, rural independents in my opinion bolster a ff/fg goverment where as left leaning parties always seem to push their ideology to much and the public takes only so much of that again ask the greens.
@Darran Macken: They don’t push it enough unfortunately. Why are we the ninth biggest tax haven in the world and fourth in Europe for wealth inequality.
@Brian D’Arcy: because we vote for it
MM to Harris, heres how many carriages FG will get on the gravy train, how big the gravy bowl is and then we will blame the independents and other smuck parties who are dumb enough to get involved with us and they will all get hammered in 4 years. Meanwhile we and our mates get fatter financially and the same suckers who voted us in 2 weeks ago will do the same again cos they have permanent amnesia in said 4 years…..easy peasy the taxpayers getting done over squeazy
No we await the closet FFG support and lads who think Donald trump is cool to come along and say something about the shinners to deflect
@Patrick Newell: Are you trying to be funny?
@Vincent Alexander: What’s incorrect about his comment? It would be funny if it wasn’t true.
@Vincent Alexander: The sad part is that isnt funny its actually true…
@Vincent Alexander: the boot licker returns
@sean weir: Tom L , FlipBip. Maybe you can get your satirist to write a story about an abattoir operative and a barman that condoned a terrorist war for 30years until they joined the gravy train of MLAs. When they achieved that objective, one had the audacity to think he was fit to became President the other Taoiseach.
@Patrick Newell: U should get out in the fresh Air & clear your Head
Who wants to be the spitroast between me hall and arris
Well, Ireland, you made your bed. Now it’s time to lie in it.
The face of Harris like a scalded cat and as for the other scoundrel you’d swear butter wouldnt melt ……
Desperate to drag this on as long as possible
Yet again yesterday showed that you cannot trust any politicians especially that go shite on the right.
I’m sorry but are you having a laugh the social Democrats molling options sure they don’t have any. The willingly allowed someone to run As a party candidate who Person Benefits under the murder of innocent people And Palestine
I wish ruin and misery to anyone who props up this government. FF and FG looks like they will be in government forever, but those that help them should face every political consequence.
@GoodBrother: Hopefully they will they do a fantastic job and we should all be grateful for such a good government and free elections.
Two non ideological skewed students in the class of practical life experience are going to conclude similar conclusions to deal with the issues confronting Ireland.
@thomas molloy: Ha ha, that’s your excuse is it?
Just get on with it. This should take a couple of days, max
@Dermot Blaine: keep dreaming on
@Dermot Blaine: you’re a good Catholic
@Hot Jim: comment reported as offensive
@Hot Jim: The bait fishing in Howth is good even for amateurs.
SocDems are zero experience and can’t be relied upon, far better to go with experienced independents or even Labour
@Johnny Wilson: Ha ha, the proven and failed? Ha ha
They need to form the government quickly. People from Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia… coming in huge numbers and have nowhere to live. Opening Thornton Hall asylum center should be a top priority. There is enough place for several thousand people.
@Sergej Simonov: They’ve made a mess of that place given the need for revised environmental assessments.
@Sergej Simonov: how many candidates who stood for election to Dail repeating such nonsense got elected ?
@Sergej Simonov: what are so many coming here for
The Banana republic of the EU!
I’ve been a supporter of the SDs for a number of years because they’re on the right side of a number of issues that are important to me. Holly Cairns especially has been very vocal on defunding the greyhound racing industry. I’m not opposed to seeing them go into government but if they do an about face on the pledges that won my vote in the first place they’re going to go the way of all the other junior govt parties.
DON’T GO THERE, HOLLY!
@Me Me: she is not going anywhere that the point
Daft. FFG need a couple of tame independents and that’s all. The SD’s or any third party will have essentially no leverage
@lesidees: The left has zero chance of sitting around the big boy table
@FFG: FFG are left
have your say