Sinn Fein TD: Not possible to form government without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail

A Sinn Fein TD has said it will be impossible for the party to form a coalition government without the support of either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.

Ireland’s largest party Fianna Fail agreed not to go into coalition with Sinn Fein following a four-hour meeting of its parliamentary party on Thursday.

The decision is likely to stop Sinn Fein entering power for the first time, as their leader Mary Lou McDonald said forming a coalition without them or Fine Gael would be “very, very tricky”.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have repeatedly ruled out going into government with Sinn Fein, as talks continue this week to try to form a coalition government.

Fianna Fail won the most seats with 38, but Sinn Fein won 37 seats and the highest proportion of first preference votes following Saturday’s general election.

Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin told RTE radio Sinn Fein is still open to talking to all parties but said there are big policy differences between Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail.

He said: “On Tuesday morning the broad progressive left had 66 TDs and that is not enough for government.”

“What we have been saying since then is we want a government led by progressive left policies.”

When asked how Sinn Fein can form a government without the two largest parties, he said: “You can’t.

“The most irresponsible thing to do is what Micheal Martin has said – to say he won’t talk to a party that now represents 24% of the electorate.”

Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin told RTE news on Thursday that he would not rule out another general election.

He said: “In terms of the future, I can’t be certain how all of this is going to work. It will be very difficult.

“I would not rule out another general election. This is going to be so difficult.”

Mr O Broin criticised Mr Martin for ruling other parties in and out of potential government talks.

“If last week Micheal Martin was saying he wasn’t going to talk to Fine Gael and this week he saying he is, then very clearly Micheal Martin changes his mind on these matters.”

A number of talks are continuing between the different parties on Friday.

Left wing party People Before Profit and Rise TD Paul Murphy will meet the Green Party leader Eamon Ryan to try and form an alliance.