[ad_1]
Leaders Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin formally signed a landmark agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to allow both parties to enter the government together.
The parties agreed to try to enter the government on the basis of a “full and equal partnership”, effectively ending the Civil War policy in this country after 98 years.
After a series of talks last week, and additional party work over the weekend, Varadkar and Martin met today to wrap up the talks and approve the document, which they hope will draw some of the smaller political parties to the power with them. .
For the second time in history, the two parties obtained less than 50% of the popular vote between them and realized that if they wanted to maintain their desire to keep Sinn Féin out of power, they would have to unite.
The document, agreed by the two leaders, will now be shared with the TDs and senators in both parties tomorrow before being released to the Green Party, Labor, and Social Democrats for consideration.
In a message to all members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, President Martin Heydon wrote: “The Taoiseach has asked me to inform the parliamentary party that it met with Micheál Martin today and that they have agreed on a policy framework document that could form the basis for a government program.
They reaffirmed their commitment to form a majority government of three or more parties / groups that will last five years with a full and equal partnership between FG and FF at its center.
Fine Gael TDs and senators were told that the party has established “seven tests” that any future coalition must pass if a government is to be formed.
An internal group led by Communications Minister Richard Bruton has developed and finalized the seven conditions that must be met for the party to enter the government for a third successive historical term.
The first condition on the list, seen by the Irish examiner, states that nothing should distract from the “task of protecting our people during the current Covid-19 crisis”.
The second test is that any arrangement must “offer the prospect of a stable and lasting government that has” broad legitimacy. “
The third is that a coalition must offer a “new mission and sense of purpose that demonstrates the urgency to do things differently and reflects our values and our ability to lead change at critical moments.”
In a major attempt to lure the Green Party into government talks, the list states that any new government must put sustainability at the center of fiscal policy.
Furthermore, any new government must address key pressure points for the cost of living; implement reforms that will restore a strong role for the parliamentary party; Implement a dynamic political agenda that responds to public needs within the tight constraints that are likely to prevail.
In addition to the seven tests, a set of 10 priorities set by a Fine Gael reference group insists that the next government must strengthen “early childhood support for children by combining better early intervention, skill development and leadership in the sector, and ensuring high standards and affordability. “
It also says that a new government should overhaul the local property tax system and increase the powers of local councilors.
The list of 10 priorities states that the parties must also develop a dynamic and reforming public service that is controlled by scorecards.
The public service must operate with “real responsibility” and have an “appropriate relationship with the political system,” the document states.
Any agreement with the government must involve a “new social contract” that encompasses all communities and “responds to new risks and costs of living that create concern in people’s lives,” the reference group recommended.
It also calls for “justice and equal opportunity so that everyone has a chance to reach their potential, especially those with disabilities to overcome.”
“In particular, it will include a clear contract for young people who have borne many burdens in recent years,” he adds.
In health, he says Slainte Care should be “reevaluated” to determine the gains from the project and at the same time commit to “retain the positive changes” implemented in the health service during the Covid-19 emergency.
- The seven tests described are:
- 1. That nothing distracts from the central task of protecting our people during the current Covid-19 crisis.
- 2. It offers the prospect of a stable and lasting government that has broad legitimacy.
- 3. A new Mission and sense of purpose that demonstrates the urgency to do things differently and reflects our values and our ability to lead change at critical moments.
- 4. Put sustainability at the center of our fiscal policy, our business policy, our innovation policy and our environmental policy.
- 5. Addresses key pressure points for cost of living.
- 6. Implement reforms that will restore a strong role for the Parliamentary Party to ensure that the government responds to emerging concerns across the country and develops new arrangements for the party to have distinctive character within the government.
- 7. Implement a vibrant policy agenda (we have identified 10 areas below that we are working on) that responds to public needs within the strict constraints that are likely to prevail.
[ad_2]