Fianna Fáil and Greens
meet
- today for coalition talks
By - Kevin Rafter and Shane Coleman.
THE seriousness of Fianna Fáil's attempt to form a
government with the Green Party will become clear early
this week after the start of discussions between leading
figures in both parties at Government Buildings this
morning. While Bertie Ahern's first preference remains a
deal with the PDs and Independents, FF is keeping options
open by exploring an arrangement with the Greens.
The Green Party national council yesterday approved talks
with Fianna Fáil. A delegation including John
Gormley and Dan Boyle will meet today with Brian Cowen,
Seamus Brennan and Noel Dempsey. "They have other
options, but now we'll see how they see us fitting in",
one Green Party source said. Fianna Fáil sources
stressed that the party was "open-minded" about a deal
with the Greens. A special conference of Green Party
members has been set for next Sunday in anticipation of a
coalition deal.
An alliance with the PDs and Independents would be the
preferred option of Fianna Fáil's rural TDs, many
of whom have difficulties with Green proposals for the
national roads programme, planning law reform and
agriculture. Brian Cowen will meet with Mary Harney early
this week while contacts have been maintained with key
independent TDs.
The prospect of the PDs being included in an arrangement
with the Greens and Fianna Fail was being downplayed by
Green Party sources, a move which will seriously alarm
the PDs. There is a widespread acceptance in the PDs
that, if the party is to have a future, it must be in
government. As part of a coalition deal, Tom Parlon would
be guaranteed a nomination to the Seanad. It is widely
accepted that he would then become party leader with a
mandate to rebuild the PD organisation. The prospect of a
name change has also been tentatively discussed, although
there is general agreement that no hasty decisions should
be made. Senior party figures concede that the PDs may
now be "a negative tag" and there is a view that
"Liberal" should be incorporated into the party's
name.
© The Sunday Tribune, 3rd. June 2007.
Related Articles:
Greens and FF exchange policy documents.
