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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar faced calls from members of his party to protect major road infrastructure projects in government negotiations with the Green Party.
During a conference call with the Taoiseachs, Fine Gael TDs and senators insisted that key infrastructure projects should be closed when official talks with Green and Fianna Fáil begin.
Leading party figures also raised concerns about the impact of Green Party policies on the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government chief Whip Sean Kyne said the development of the Galway City Ring Road and the Moycullen Bypass should be protected from green demands to reduce government spending on roads.
State Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Limerick City TD Kieran O’Donnell expressed concern about the Foynes to Limerick road and the Adare detour. O’Donovan also questioned whether a major natural gas pipeline planned for Limerick would be abandoned.
The Green Party insists on a 2: 1 division in favor of spending on roads in public transport as a condition to enter into negotiations.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed opposed the lack of consultation within the party before Fine Gael promised to cut carbon emissions by 7% per year on average over the next decade.
Sources at the meeting said Creed was critical of green policies and that “he reviewed each one and tore them apart.” The agriculture minister said he did not believe it was possible to achieve a 7pc per year reduction in emissions without reducing the national herd, according to a source.
“He is very concerned about the impact of the emissions target on agriculture and asked for clarification on how this was agreed and when,” a source said.
Kyne also raised the lack of consultation with party members before the major policy change.
Local government Minister of State John Paul Phelan said Green’s demands were “contrary to the national interest” when it came to restoring the economy after the coronavirus crisis. Mr. Phelan also raised the impact of the green agenda on farmers and rural communities.
Wexford Senator Michael D’Arcy insisted that going to government was not in the best interest of the party. He said the party did not win the elections and had no obligation to form the next government.
However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said at the meeting that he believes there will be a new government next month.
In a statement after the meeting, Fine Gale Parliamentary President Martin Heydon said: “Fianna Fáil and the Greens, which will begin on Thursday, would be successful, and a government was formed that would last four to five years.”
“A significant number of TDs and party senators sought assurances that Fine Gael’s core values and policies would be reflected in an agreed Program for the Government,” he added.
The sources said that Taoiseach committed to more meetings of the parliamentary party to formulate Fine Gael’s position during the talks.
Varadkar held talks with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.
Speaking after the meeting, Ryan said he hoped to have an agreement on the government program by the end of the month.
Ryan also revealed the commitments he received from Martin and Varadkar to reduce emissions by 7% per year on average over the next 10 years.
The clarification from the two leaders said: “We are pleased to confirm that a new government made up of our three parties will commit to developing measures to achieve an average reduction of 7pc per year in annual emissions for the next decade.”
They said they “fully accept” the reduction in emissions will provide better air quality and a better quality of life.
“It will create jobs and allow economic opportunities to develop across Ireland as a result of deep modernization, renewable energy, peatland management and green technology,” they added.
They said it is important that they work with the agricultural sector and rural communities to achieve this goal and ensure that there is a just transition in the process.
“Of course, we will seek to improve farmers’ incomes and protect the family farm mode as part of the European Green Agreement and a revised Common Agricultural Policy,” they added.
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