Munster Express Online

Michelle Clancy reports

Despite engaging in over 100 hours of government formation talks since the General Election, Independent TD Deputy John Halligan says there ‘isn’t a hope’ that he will support either a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael-led minority government without first securing a second cath lab and 24/7 cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford.
Deputy Halligan, a member of the six-strong Independent Alliance, described the mood in Leinster House as ‘tense’, as negotiating teams from the two major parties finally entered talks on forming a minority government, days after Fianna Fáil rejected a ‘partnership’ deal. This followed moves by Halligan and Alliance de factor leader Shane Ross at the weekend to bring both parties together.
“The Independent Alliance (IA), having spent over 100 hours of talks with both parties, were about to pull out of the whole thing”, Deputy Halligan explained. “Fine Gael presented us with a 132-page document that reads great but the only problem is it’s not costed and does not explain precisely how they will implement all these changes.
“Both parties, after a lot of negotiating, agreed to the IA’s ‘Charter for Change’, which insists on various issues such as Dáil reform and repealing the 8th Amendment. Simon Coveney came to Waterford to meet my team and Michéal Martin also offered to do so.”
He added: “However, we felt all our talks were irrelevant unless the two main parties were also sitting down and working out how a minority government would work – and particularly how to make it a stable government that would last. Before we threw in the towel, we attempted to break the stalemate by asking both party leaders to a meeting with the Independent Alliance, which I was going to chair, to see could we get an agreement for one to tacitly support the other in government. Fianna Fáil immediately agreed, Fine Gael said Enda Kenny was not available. We then learned that both parties have entered talks together so at this moment we’re awaiting the outcome of these talks.”
Deputy Halligan said he believes a number of Independent TDs are leaning towards a Fianna Fáil-led administration, adding that the Independent Alliance would not delay the formation of a government once agreement is reached between the two main parties. However he’s unsure at this point if he’ll be a part of that government.
“Throughout the talks, I have made it clear that two of the main issues I want action on are Irish Water and a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford with the provision of 24/7 cardiac care. Without guarantees on either of these, without a deal on proper investment for Waterford, there isn’t a hope that I will support a government. It would be unacceptable to the people who voted for me to do otherwise.”