Taoiseach Simon Harris has announced that Fine Gael engaged in “very lengthy” and “constructive” discussions with Ivana Bacik’s Labour Party earlier today, exploring the potential for a coalition Government.
“The Fine Gael negotiating team and I held a very lengthy, constructive engagement with members of the Labour party, led by leader Ivana Bacik,” Harris said in a statement.
“The meeting focused on areas of policy, including housing, climate, enterprise and health.
“The Labour party has its own processes to work through now and we respect that.”
The development comes after last Friday, when Labour leader Ivana Bacik vigorously denied claims that she had informed the Labour central council she was ruling out joining a Government, despite reports which indicated as much earlier this week.
The claims stemmed from notes taken during a Saturday meeting, which Bacik said were inaccurate, adding that she had asked the party’s general secretary to track down the source of the leak.
“The leak was not an official record of the meeting nor did it accurately reflect what I said in the meeting, nor did it reflect the full context of the discussion,” she said, adding that she was “deeply concerned” by what had taken place and that she was taking steps to address it.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach also defended his party’s discussions with Michael Lowry regarding government formation, pointing out that Lowry received strong support from voters in the recent general election.
Harris said that he was willing to engage with parties and independents to establish a “stable government,” and that Lowry serves as the representative for the Regional Independent Group, which is many believe to be the most likely third leg of a Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition Government.