Labour have officially reopened the door to government formation negotiations.
New Leader, Alan Kelly, sent a letter to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael asking them to tell him how Labour could “participate” in the next coalition.
In his letter to both party leaders, Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar and Fiana Fáil’s Micheál Martin, Mr Kelly said: “The addition of the six votes of the Labour Party would not provide your combined numbers with a majority in the Dáil.
“With that in mind, I would also appreciate clarification on how you believe a stable Dáil majority might be achieved with the participation of the Labour Party?”
Mr Kelly had stated clearly before this in the days after the election that Labour’s place was now on the election benches after it won only six seats, a drop of one.
Party leader, Brendan Howlin, resigned in the wake of this political disappointment and Mr Kelly won the leadership race to replace him.
Now Mr Kelly appears to have shifted from his absolute position that it was time for Labour to enter opposition.
He said that while the primary responsibility lies with the four parties that won more votes than Labour (Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and the Greens), he indicated that he is now willing for Labour to play a part.
This could be interpreted as being in the government, participating in it, or through an arrangement where the party abstains during key votes.
This would be another version of confidence and supply like Fianna Fáil just had.
Mr Kelly also used his letter to put five questions he wants the two parties to answer and he set out 21 “fundamental principles” that he said Labour want the other parties’ views on.
The questions centered mainly around taxation and the upcoming budget in light of the massive upheaval coronavirus has caused.
The principles ranged from the full nationalisation of private hospitals after the coronavirus ends, to a living wage set at two thirds of the average wage and direct State provision of childcare.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael last night sent a joint letter in response to the Green Party’s list of questions sent last Thursday.
The letter is understood to be an initial invitation to the Greens to formally join them in government formation negotiations.
Green leader, Eamon Ryan, received the letter late last night and will share its contents with his parliamentary party of 12 TDs and 2 Senators today before making any decision.
The next step is for the three party leaders to meet and this could take place before the end of this week if the Green party agrees on moving forward.
