“We must have deadline on Government formation talks”, state Regional Independent Group
The Regional Group of Independent TD’s that met with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on Monday of this week; (latter group which includes Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry) have issued a joint statement following their discussions, stating that “It is time for a clear deadline from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on when they expect a decision from smaller parties on whether they will enter discussions on the formation of Government or no. This indicated deadline would decide when substantive talks would start on an actual programme for Government”, continued the eight Independent TD’s who make up this Regional Independent Grouping.
Along with Deputy Michael Lowry (Tipperary); the other members of this Regional Independent Group include:- Cathal Berry TD (Kildare South); Sean Canney TD (Galway East); Peter Fitzpatrick TD (Louth); Noel Grealish TD (Galway West); Verona Murphy TD (Wexford); Matt Shanahan TD (Waterford) and Denis Naughten TD (Roscommon-Galway), [Convener].
The statement continued “We are now in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, facing into challenging economic times, with significant threats to jobs, as well as the ongoing challenges of housing, agriculture and health. The public needs leadership that can only be provided by a stable Government with a clear mandate and this needs to happen quickly”
Deputy Lowry stated, “Following a constructive meeting of Regional Independent TDs with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on Government formation, the group has made it clear that it is willing to engage in meaningful talks on a Programme for Government – but only as an equal partner in such discussions and not as a last minute addition to make up the numbers.
“While the current caretaker Government, working with public health officials, have brought us to this stage in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, to progress to recovery mode and provide certainty to the Irish people it is imperative that we move from talking about Government formation, into real and substantive talks on an actual Programme for Government”, Lowry concluded.
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