Simon Harris, leader of Fine Gael, has confirmed that a rotating Taoiseach arrangement will be included in the next Irish government. He expressed optimism about forming a government by January 22, stating that coalition talks are progressing well. Harris emphasized the successful implementation of the rotating Taoiseach model in the previous government, where Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil and Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael alternated in the role.
A rotating Taoiseach arrangement will be part of the next government, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has insisted.
In the November 2024 election, Fianna Fáil secured 10 more seats than Fine Gael. Asked if Fine Gael would enter into Government without a return to the rotating Taoiseach arrangement, Mr Harris said: “There will be a rotating Taoiseach in the next government and I think that’s been very clear probably since the day or two after the election.”
The Taoiseach said forming a government before then would be “a little bit tight” but added: “People can work hard, work later, work longer – we’re doing that, and work through the weekend.” The Fine Gael leader said forming a government within eight weeks of the election is “not an extraordinary length of time” when the Christmas break is taken into consideration.
Mr Harris said “intensive” work between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail negotiators is continuing, identifying areas of agreement and disagreement on policy. He added that the talks on government structure are not about personnel but rather how it is set up to tackle priority areas. They include former Fine Gael TD Michael Lowry, whose behaviour was previously criticised by a tribunal as “profoundly corrupt”. The Moriarty Tribunal was set up in 1997 to examine payments made to former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and Mr Lowry. Asked if he had any hesitation about including Mr Lowry in a future government, Mr Harris said he fully accepted the findings of the tribunal.
Mr Harris also described talks with the Social Democrats as “good” and said his party will be meeting the Independent Ireland party in the coming weeks. He added: “But look, the reality is we’re in the landing zone of being able to deliver a new government, definitely in the month of January.”
Ireland Politics Coalition Taoiseach Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Simon Harris Micheál Martin Leo Varadkar
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