By Saira Khan
On the 15th June, Leo Varadkar announced that after weeks of negotiations between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party an agreement had been reached on a draft programme (‘Our Shared Future’) and schedule for the future plans of the coalition government. The decision on whether or not a new coalition government will be formed is set to be voted upon on Friday 26th June 2020.
The draft programme that includes a national recovery plan to rebuild and repair the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic and a ban on the registration of petrol and diesel cars after 2030, also includes the initiative for the next government to have a rotating Taoiseach position (Programme for government: What are the main points in the five-year plan?, 2020). It is believed that Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, is set to take the reins from current Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, if the new coalition government is established, until the 15th December 2022 (Finn, 2020). Traditionally in coalition governments the leader of the largest party becomes Taoiseach and the leader of the junior party becomes Tánaiste. Therefore, if the draft programme is adopted, Varadkar will take the position of Tánaiste from Simon Coveney, his Fine Gael colleague. If this is the case, Varadkar is not just set to become Martin’s second in command. The role of An Tánaiste will be a strengthened role in the coalition government and will be “ a significantly enhanced role in day-to-day matters.” as stated in the ‘Our Shared Future’ programme (see link in Resources). However, Varadkar hasn’t explicitly stated that he would be taking up the Tánaiste job and since the results of February’s general election were so close with Fianna Fáil winning 38 seats, Sinn Féin winning 37 and Fine Gael securing 35, there is a chance Leo Varadkar may not be in the position to take up the role of Tánaiste.
The coalition government consists of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green party, who secured 12 seats in the general election, due to the exclusion of Sinn Féin. Despite their exclusion, Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin has said she will “return to the negotiation table if the programme is rejected... to try and form the core of a new government for change without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael standing in the way.” (Staines, 2020). McDonald, during her interview on Newstalk stood her ground against the exclusion
of Sinn Féin as she believes that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael back forming a government together wasn’t the outcome citizens were voting for in the election.
Although many citizens seem to have mixed views about Martin and his ability to be Taoiseach, we won’t know until Friday if he is confirmed to take up office. The rejection of the draft programme may even bring about another general election or a Sinn Féin majority government. At this point it is just a waiting game.
Photo Source : The Highland Radio
Resources/Bibliography
Murray, S., 2020. Agreed Timeline For Rotating Taoiseach Will See Martin Take Reins Until End Of 2022. [online] TheJournal.ie. Available at: <https://jrnl.ie/5122892> [Accessed 23 June 2020].
The Irish Times. 2020. Programme For Government: What Are The Main Points In The Five-Year Plan?. [online] Available at: <https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/programme-for-government-what-are-t he-main-points-in-the-five-year-plan-1.4279046> [Accessed 23 June 2020].
Finn, C., 2020. Leo Varadkar Says He's Happy Enough Micheál Martin Will Get First Go As Taoiseach In New Government. [online] TheJournal.ie. Available at: <https://www.thejournal.ie/leo-varadkar-taoiseach-micheal-martin-5123331-Jun2020/> [Accessed 23 June 2020].
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/2020/06/draft-programme-for-govt.pdf
Staines, M., 2020. Sinn Féin Will Try To Form A Government If Coalition Programme Is Rejected | Newstalk. [online] Newstalk. Available at: <https://www.newstalk.com/news/mcdonald-government-formation-1034749> [Accessed 23 June 2020].
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