Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny arriving at government Buildings in Dublin. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Evan Short
The Dáil today failed for a third time to elect a new Taoiseach.
Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny was rejected with a motion to elect him being defeated by 77 votes to 52.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also failed in his bid, being defeated 91-43.
Fourteen Independent TDs, including members of the Independent Alliance, the Rural Alliance and brothers Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, abstained in the vote.
The 14 also decided to withdraw from talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on the possible formation of a new government, this until the two parties come to an agreement with each other.
The vote in the 158-member Dáil came after recent signs that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil were making some progress on the question of forming of a new government.
Last week, Fianna Fáil ruled out joining a partnership government with Fine Gael.
However, both parties have been negotiating towards a situation that would see Fianna Fáil supporting a minority Fine Gael government - with support from Independents.
Micheál Martin’s party is anxious not to leave Sinn Féin as Ireland’s main opposition party and by remaining in opposition would succeed in this aim.
After February’s general election, Fine Gael won 50 seats compared to Fianna Fáil’s 44.
On their own, each party is far short of the magic 79-seat mark to form a government.
Last weekend, Micheál Martin said he was willing to support a minority government.
Speaking at the Liam Lynch commemoration in Newcastle, Co.unty Tipperary, he said: “Minority government can work if people are willing to try – and they represent a much truer reflection of the need to change our politics than simply change titles.
“Three out of the four Scandinavian countries currently have minority governments. They are getting on with their business in stable, successful democracies.”
Last week, talks between the parties broke up amid recriminations.
Acting Taoiseach Kenny accused Fianna Fáil and Micheál Martin of putting party before country, this after Fianna Fáil rejected a partnership government.
“I believe that this decision is a serious mistake and one which was driven by narrow party interests rather than the national interest,” said Mr. Kenny.
Mr. Kenny had entered talks with Mr. Martin in the hope of forming a partnership government between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents.
“It is an offer that reflects the way in which people voted in the general election, and the respective mandates of both parties and Independents,” said Kenny.
