Tag Archives: Programme for Government

This morning.

Earlier…

This morning.

National Convention Centre, Dublin.

From top: Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin arrive.

Owing to social distancing protocols, the Dáil is sitting at the Convention Centre , to elect a new taoiseach, who is expected to be Micheal Martin, who will then form a government between Fianna Fail , Fine Gael  and the Green Party.

Watch here

Earlier: Oh No

Rollingnews

UPDATE:

Fine Gael has given a resounding backing to the programme for Government will all groups within the party voting in favour of entering a coalition with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

Overall 80% backed the programme which will pave the way for a government that would be led by the Fianna Fáil leader for the first two-and-a-half years of its term in office.

This afternoon.

Fine Gael HQ, Mount Street, Dublin 2.

Party workers count votes to see if Fine Gael members want to enter government with Fianna Fáil and The Green Party.

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

The Clayton Hotel, Dublin 2

Fianna Fáil workers count ballots, from their party’s membership on the Programme for Government.

More as we get it.

Earlier: Taking Shape

Earlier.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland.

Fail to prepare.

Prepare to Fáil.

FIGHT!

Earlier: Demutate

From top: Neasa Hourigan, Roderick O’Gorman, Ossian Smyth, Catherine Martin (left) and Eamon Ryan

This afternoon.

Dublin city centre

Green Party members arrive to the broadcast of a Special Convention on the Programme for Government.

Martin urges members to ‘bring certainty to a precarious political situation’ (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

This morning.

How dare you.

Meanwhile…

…only nine of the Green Party’s 12 TDs backed the plan, with three other deputies abstaining in a vote.

Three TDs – Francis Noel Duffy, Patrick Costello and Neasa Hourigan – abstained in the vote, along with the Northern Ireland MLA Clare Bailey.

The other nine TDs, as well as their two senators and two MEPs, voted in favour of the plan.

The deal now goes to the party membership to decide whether or not to ratify the document, something which requires a two-thirds majority.

The first hustings will be a membership teleconference this Thursday night.

The results of the postal ballots will be known on 26 June.

Micheál Martin receiving ‘strong messages of support’ for programme for government (RTÉ)

Previously: ‘Go On Dancing With The Stars If You Want The Attention’

Yesterday: Radical Candour

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (front row third left) and deputy leader Catherine Martin (bright green coat) canvassing with party members at the Dropping Well, Dublin last January

This afternoon.

What now?

Via RTÉ:

All three parties will hold a postal vote because of the Covid-19 restrictions. And while all three have a hard sell to secure membership approval, it is widely expected that the Green Party faces the toughest challenge to get backing for entering government.

Primarily, that is because of the high bar set by its rules, which demand a 66% endorsement from members entitled to vote….

…There are currently around 3,000 members and around 2,200 will definitely have a vote, with another 300 to 400 possibly entitled to complete a ballot.

This influx of new members has made it difficult to read the mood of the electorate, according to insiders.

Former party general secretary Stiofán Nutty said the new intake has mixed views, with some new members particularly radical.

Gulp.

Selling the deal: Party memberships have final say on government (RTÉ)

Earlier: Me First

Rollingnews

THE PROMISED provision of free GP care for 60,000 people with long-term illnesses is likely to be delayed by at least a year because of legal issues.

Successive deadlines for implementing one of the key promises in the Fine Gael/Labour programme for government, the rolling out of free GP care, have been missed.

The first phase of this process would have seen free primary care extended to people with long-term illnesses such as diabetes and epilepsy.

However, complex issues that have arisen during the drafting of the primary legislation required for this change have caused significant delays, according to an informed source. In the meantime, most of the €15 million allocated for this purpose in 2012 has been used to offset the HSE’s deficit.

Legal issues delay free GP care for long-term ill (Paul Cullen, Irish Times)

(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)