Government formation talks to ‘intensify’ in new year but party sources say ratification procedures will take time
Despite efforts to intensify government formation talks in the new year, a new Irish government is unlikely to be formed before the Dáil (Parliament) returns on January 22nd. Key points: * Timeline: Negotiations face delays due to ratification processes within both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, potentially pushing the deal acceptance date to the end of January. * Independents: Talks with Independent TDs, including the Healy-Raes, will resume and could contribute to a coalition but final agreements are still pending. * Optimism and skepticism: While some sources believe the Healy-Raes are serious about joining the coalition, others remain skeptical about their commitment. Essentially, while progress is expected in the new year, the formation of a new government is clearly facing significant hurdles and is not imminent.
