Cavan TDs have their say on Government negotiations

This is a week of exploratory talks as our elected representatives engage in efforts to work out a deal on the formation of a new government. Sinn Féin has been actively engaged in negotiations since just after the elections.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives are due to meet this week to see if there is any basis between the parties for a possible coalition deal. Sinn Féin will continue to host a number of rallies across the country over the next two weeks, including one in Cavan).
Social Democrats say the party has ruled out a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together, but not individually, saying they are open to talking to all parties.
The make-up of the next government may have been determined last week by Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, in his address on the opening day of the Dáil.
He was deeply critical of Sinn Féin saying “efforts to legitimise a murderous sectarian campaign keeps alive a narrative, which is used by dissidents to legitimise their campaigns – but this is more fundamentally about today”. 
Sinn Féin party representatives view the Martin speech as effectively shutting down any prospects of a coalition between the two parties.
Newly elected Cavan Monaghan TD, Pauline Tully, spoke to The Anglo-Celt about the process of government formation: “There are four people in our negotiations team - Pearse Doherty, Eoin Ó Broin, Matt Carthy and Louise O'Reilly. They are our main team.”
Negotiations, says Deputy Tully, are still at an early stage. “It's not down to the nitty gritty of what policies are similar or what policies need to be compromised on,” she said. “That is what the meeting next Monday night is about – gong back to the members and explaining what it entails and what outcome is the likely outcome.”
The newly elected TD says despite the open hostility of the major parties to Sinn Féin, there is a collegiate atmosphere in the Dáil: “On a personal level everything is fine. People are introducing themselves - there is no problem that way, I suppose Micheál Martin speech on Thursday night was very much attacking Sinn Féin. Up to that you would have hoped that he would have sat down and talked to us at some stage. That is not going to be happening now after his speech, very definitely won't be.”
For Deputy Tully the favoured outcome would be a SF led government but accepts that a “grand coalition” is most likely.
On the opposite side of the conversation is Fianna Fáil Deputy Brendan Smith: “I think it will be a considerable number of weeks before a government is put in place. The sooner the better. There are a lot of issues that need urgent attention... There is a need for a stable government to be put in place as soon as possible.”
He feels elected representatives shoud allow the people's mandate to take shape: “The parties that term themselves left of centre - Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, Social Democrats, the Green Pary, plus quite a large number of independents - should be given the space and time to put together a programme for government.” Deputy Smith added: Those parties won a lot of votes and got considerable support based on policies they outlined in their manifesto. They now need to honour and implement the promises they made,” he remarked.
Predicting the likely outcome of negotiations is not something Deputy Smith is easily drawn on: “I just don't honestly know. Fianna Fáil will be responsible, they will go into talks with other parties as well,” he says. “A decision has been made that our policies are not compatible with Sinn Féin and we are not going to go into government with them,” said Deputy Smith.
The prospect of a coalition with FG or returning to the electorate sits uneasy with the Bawnboy elected representative: “I wouldn't be happy with a Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government. That would not be my preference, so it wouldn't. I think the public at large don't want to see another election,” he said.
Fine Gael, meanwhile, will hold talks with the Green Party this week. Leo Varadkar, who tendered his resignation as Taoiseach last week, said: “The party is willing to engage in exploratory talks with any party that wants to talk.”
Efforts to speak to Heather Humphreys about the issue before going to print were unsuccessful.