McGrath Statement on Government formation

As you all know four colleagues and I, together with a number of other Independent TDs, have been engaged extensively in talks with both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil over the last number of weeks.

We began this process when it became clear that we were in a stale-mate position as all main parties elected to Dáil Éireann were refusing to talk to each other.

We set out our position from the very start of the process that we believe that as the electorate had not given any party a clear majority it afforded an opportunity for all of us in Dáil Éireann to change the way we do our business with a real partnership and consensus approach.

We want to be positive and to reflect the mandate that we have received in order to improve the lives of all our citizens.

We have put forward the very serious issues that we receive on a daily basis from our constituents to both parties.

At all times throughout this process however, we have repeated our demand to both party leaders that they had to speak to each other and find ways to work together.

We demanded this and I welcome that this will finally happen this evening but have expressed our deep frustration and annoyance to both parties that they have failed to do so before today.

Our patience has worn thin and the publics patience wore thin long ago.

I believe that the parties have acted in a selfish manner refusing to engage until now. They have continued to put their parties before the best interests of this nation and it is simply not good enough.

We decided to abstain today as without speaking none of the two leaders at this stage have the capacity to form a government and to afford the leaders One more week to get their act together and to come up with some serious proposals for the formation of a government.

In the event that they do not make serious efforts to form a government and wish to return to the electorate, I will be calling on the President to refuse the dissolution of Dáil Éireann and to seek the implementation of a National Government.

This country’s issues are far too serious to be left hinging on the self interests of political parties.

I am pleased that we have pushed the two leaders together and I hope that they treat all meetings seriously in the best interests of this nation.

I trust that those who have given me my mandate will accept that the efforts that I have been making in the past number of weeks have been a serious effort to ensure a stable government and to ensure that whoever is in government that they will reflect on those issues that we have raised.

Once again I apologise most sincerely for failing to respond to those who have been trying to make contact with me and meet with me over the last few weeks. I will endeavour to meet you all as soon as possible!

I trust this clarifies my position to date.

Mattie


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