Leo Varadkar has no plans to meet Michael Lowry or broker a deal with the controversial Tipperary TD.
The taoiseach-in-waiting’s position was outlined yesterday before he met the Independent Alliance last night in a bid to shore up the support of the five TDs in time for next week’s Dáil vote.
The newly elected Fine Gael leader needs 58 votes to become taoiseach. Enda Kenny was elected after four attempts last year by 59 votes to 49. Crucially, Fianna Fáil abstained but he had the support of Mr Lowry and Michael Harty, the Clare TD.
Mr Varadkar will meet Micheál Martin today to discuss the confidence and supply agreement. The main opposition party must agree to abstain from the vote for taoiseach, expected to take place on June 13, to avoid an election.
Mr Varadkar will also meet Dr Harty today along with Denis Naughten, the independent TD and communications minister, and Katherine Zappone, the children’s minister.
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Along with Fine Gael’s 50 TDs, the five Independent Alliance TDs, two independent ministers and Dr Harty, Mr Varadkar’s team is confident they can get 58 votes.
His spokesman ruled out the notion yesterday that Mr Lowry would be needed for next week’s crunch vote. He said there was no meeting scheduled between the pair and that although Mr Lowry could decide to support Mr Varadkar, he did not expect anything to be offered in exchange for his support.
During last year’s general election Mr Kenny vowed that he would not do business with Mr Lowry, who is considered politically toxic after having been enveloped in controversy for two decades following the Moriarty Tribunal report of 2011. The taoiseach later insisted “no benefits” had been given to Mr Lowry in return for his support, although the former Fine Gael TD continued to claim he had an “understanding” with the minority coalition.
In an interview with the Tipperary Star last September, Mr Lowry said he had secured a 40-bed, modular unit in Clonmel Hospital at a cost of €60,000 per week to the HSE. He claimed it was the result of background work he had done with Mr Kenny’s government. A spokesman for Mr Varadkar pointed out it would be normal for any TD to discuss a matter of public interest from their local area with a member of the government.
On his way into last night’s meeting with Mr Varadkar, Shane Ross, the Independent Alliance TD and transport minister, said the group was seeking a commitment that the universal social charge is phased out and a promise that more free votes would be allowed on issues that arise. He also said that his groups’ legislation and priorities should take precedence over Fianna Fáil’s.
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“Our issues are obviously far more important to us than the Fianna Fáil issues,” Mr Ross said. “On Tuesday, we are going to vote for Leo Varadkar for taoiseach, provided we see that they get the priority we think they deserve. We’d like to see free votes on as many issues as possible. That is our ethos.”
The alliance also wants promises outlined in the programme for government accelerated. It is understood that they discussed a range of issues they want progressed through the Dáil by the summer recess and demanded better progress on others that they had prioritised, including investment in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, the re-opening of Stepaside garda station and the provision of a mobile catheterisation lab in Waterford Hospital.
Mr Varadkar also held talks yesterday with Tom Curran, Fine Gael’s general secretary, about reforming the party. It is understood that a “productive” meeting was held and a range of issues will be brought to the party’s executive council to ensure greater interaction between elected representatives and the ordinary members.
Mr Varadkar lost grassroots votes in last week’s leadership election, garnering 3,772 votes to his rival Simon Coveney’s 7,051. Mr Varadkar won due to the weighted voting system that saw him secure the majority of the elected representatives.
The housing minister yesterday said he was not dwelling on the outcome. “I wanted to be taoiseach and that didn’t work out. I am moving on, I am not someone who mopes around,” he said.
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He has already met Mr Varadkar and indicated yesterday that he would like to continue in his cabinet role but that the pair have not reached a conclusion in their talks.
Mr Coveney renewed his appeal to the incoming taoiseach not to punish his cabinet team — particularly the health minister Simon Harris — who is rumoured to be among those that could be demoted.