Green light for government

Ireland will have a new Government tomorrow.

Following the endorsement of the memberships of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party, all three parties will form a coalition government, with Micheál Martin set to be elected Taoiseach in a full sitting of the 33rd Dáil Éireann on Saturday.

There was strong endorsement for the proposed coalition and the negotiated programme for government.

Fine Gael reported first, with 80% of the voting delegates in favour. All four “electoral colleges” voted yes, the parliamentary party, the county and city councillors, the executive council and the constituency delegates. There was a fear within the party that local representatives might vote against, but they supported it 57% to 43% against.

Fianna Fáil reported next. There was a huge turnout, with over 11,000 of their 14,000 affiliated party members voting. Of these, 75% voted in favour of coalition, a massive mandate. While much focus has been on the involvement of the Green Party, the agreement of the two “Civil War” parties who have dominated government separately since the foundation of the State to work together is equally historic.

The Green Party voted three to one to enter government, when they only needed a two to one two-thirds majority. It is a ringing endorsement of the party leader Eamon Ryan’s determination to enter government talks and deliver a programme.

Martin Heydon, Fine Gael party chair

“I’m really happy as chairman of the party that all four electoral colleges of the party have delivered a ringing endorsement of Fine Gael’s participation in government. We now enter government united as a party. While many had concerns about working with the Green Party, I feel the programme for government has allayed those fears.

"I along with most farmers shared a sense of trepidation at the outset, but the programme marries ambition with pragmatism, for the economy and for the environment. Farmers are recognised as part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Charlie McConalogue Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson

“I’m very pleased with the strong endorsement from our party members. It’s a sign of the strength of the programme for government and the direction it will take the government in. It’s important we now deliver on the programme to lead the country out of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

"The strong turnout of farming members in our party to support this gives us the opportunity to work with farming families to deliver better farm incomes, with benefits for biodiversity and for the carbon footprint of farming."

Pippa Hackett Green Party agriculture spokesperson

"I’m delighted with that endorsement, it’s a strong endorsement from our party members. It’s been a lengthy campaign, it’s important to get a government with a new mandate.

"It’s historic in many counts for the farming community I look forward to us all working together, and I think there has been a move on all sides to build bridges, understand each other and work together. This is particularly true of environmental activists and the farming community, and I am optimistic and positive about the future."

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