As Government talks appear to be deadlocked, one of The Avondhu region TDs believes that the Labour party should go into Government.
Senior Labour politician Seán Sherlock says his party should be open to entering Government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – but only if no other option is on the table.
The Labour Party has six TDs but Sherlock is the first of his party’s six-strong group to publicly moot the possibility of entering Government.
“A lot of people have contacted me about that possibility. It is something that is increasingly coming into focus in my view. If the Green Party and the Social Democrats rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and if a government of national unity does not come about, then it is something that Labour needs to consider if it means that a stable government can be established,” he said.
At present the Labour party are stuck in a campaign to appoint a new leader after a dismal showing in the recent election. Sherlock has thrown his weight behind Alan Kelly in the contest.
Meanwhile Independent TD Mattie McGrath has said that proposals for the formation of a National Government must remain part of the ongoing political debate.
Deputy McGrath said that the country urgently needs a unified approach to the present crisis.
“I have been calling for the formation of a national unity government since the immediate post general election period. It was clear then that we need a united front to deal with the problems facing us in health and housing.
“It is even more obvious now that we need to adopt this approach given the scale of the Covid-19 crisis. We should immediately set about creating a programme for a national government – at least for the duration of the present crisis.
“I am therefore repeating the call that I have been making for several weeks now, which is that all parties need to unite and give the country stable governance.”
