Coalition deals with Independents have been commonplace for decades, though Simon Harris has ruled out ‘transactional’ arrangements on his path to the Taoiseach’s office
Simon Harris: he been meeting Independents in advance of Tuesday’s Dáil vote to elect him as taoiseach, but has ruled out agreeing deals. Photograph: Eamon Ward/PA Wire
In later years Bertie Ahern’s government needed the support of Independents, most notably Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae and Tipperary TD Michael Lowry after the 2007 general election. Healy-Rae was able to claim credit for huge investment into his home county. “There were always bits of roads, bits of bends, bits of housing...and all the things that were important to the local people,” Ahern later said of his deals struck with Healy-Rae.
One of the clearest examples of Independents supporting the Government in a crunch Dáil vote was the defeat in March 2023 of a Sinn Féin motion calling for the temporary eviction ban to be extended. The Government secured a majority of 83 votes to 68 in the Dáil having put forward a counter-motion with an amendment from the Regional Independent Group which had proposed various housing measures.
Noel-Grealish Marc-Macsharry Joe-Mchugh Michael-Lowry Denis-Naughten Fine-Gael
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