'Bomb-proof' programme of government needed - Burke

Minister Peter Burke says it is important that a “bomb-proof” programme of government is drawn up when the negotiating teams from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil begin discussions this week.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Minister Burke, who topped the poll in the Longford Westmeath constituency, said it is vital that Ireland has “a solid government for the five years ahead, because there are significant threats to the Irish economy, and you need to ensure that you have significant numbers to absorb economic shocks, as well as political shocks”.

While it would be a huge surprise if Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil fail to agree a programme for government, Minister Burke says agreement it is not a foregone conclusion.

“I wouldn’t underestimate the work to be done in terms of getting an agreement between the two bigger parties, because, in essence, if you were sitting down with independents and talking to independents – and indeed other parties – it’s premature if you haven’t got an agreed platform – because that is critical to underwriting the government.

“I’d say it’s probably a bit off in terms of getting to the point whereby you’ll be locking in another party or independents. I think it’s always going to be a challenge in any discussions because I think there is a difference despite what people would say, in policy [between FG and FF]. I know from holding the enterprise brief there’s three or four main differences in this area that we have with Fianna Fáil.”

“In terms of seat breakdown. I think in any government there will be challenges that have to be negotiated, but the Taoiseach was keen not to make any demands or not to make any preconditions, before they sit down and negotiate policy. When you get an agreed policy platform, the last thing you’ll do is try to agree positions.”

Fianna Fáil will enter the next Dáil with 48 TDs, compared to Fine Gael’s 38; however, in terms of first preference votes, there was little to separate the two parties as FF were on 21.9% and FG on 20.8%.

Minister Burke says FG transfers helped FF candidates get over the line in a number of constituencies.

“The critical thing is being one percent ahead, that means that party is going to use the other to get a lot of its TDs elected [through transfers].

“When you have two parties neck and neck, whoever is ahead, even as marginal as that lead is, will get a seat bounce. Fianna Fáil being ahead this time got a significant seat bounce of about five percent compared to their vote.”

Looking back at the election, Minister Burke says it was a “very good” one for Fine Gael, particularly given the large number of serving TDs who retired from politics as the end of the previous Dáil.

“We increased our first preference votes, in terms of numbers. We were 0.1% percent away from our previous vote share in 2020. We increased our seat numbers.

“I think that for a party in government for the length of time that Fine Gael is, it’s a very strong result.

“Also, the party had only 17 TDs seeking re-election. We had 12 senators running, we had 26 councillors, and there were 14 people who ran that didn’t serve in any elected office before.

“When you had so many serving TDs not contesting, that left us with a huge problem. I do believe that if we had more outgoing TDs running, we’d have been in a stronger position.”

If and when a programme of government is agreed on, there will be high hopes locally that Minister Burke will be selected for senior ministry.

“I am always ready to serve, but that’s up to the Taoiseach. It is a competitive environment and I won’t be taking anything for granted,” he said.