Statement by the Fine Gael negotiating team

The Taoiseach wrote to Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin in August setting out an ambitious programme as part of an extension of the current Confidence & Supply Arrangement, and seeking an agreed election date for the summer of 2020.

We welcome the commitment from Fianna Fáil to extend the Confidence & Supply Arrangement which will allow us to continue taking Ireland forward together.

This commitment further strengthens Ireland’s hand in negotiating a successful outcome to Brexit, and securing all that we have achieved to date.

Our programme focuses on Brexit, job creation, investment in infrastructure including health and housing, and meeting the needs of hard-working Irish families. We are determined to ensure that the social and economic progress made since 2016 can continue.

Fine Gael in Government, with the Independent Alliance and independent Ministers, are focused on an ambitious agenda. This was set out in the Taoiseach’s letter to Deputy Martin from August, which includes:

• Securing a successful outcome for Ireland and the EU from Brexit;
• Prudent management of the public finances, including a continuation of existing public sector pay policy, and improving living standards;
• Implementing Project Ireland 2040 with a strong focus on balanced development across Ireland;
• Healthcare reform, including the Sláintecare Implementation Plan;
• Investing in infrastructure including housing, roads and public transport;
• Enacting gender pay gap legislation and raising participation by women in public life;
• Expanding and developing further the Affordable Childcare Scheme and introducing paid parental leave in the first year of a child’s life;
• Setting an agreed trajectory for a price for carbon by 2030;
• Delivering our programme to prepare Irish workers and businesses for future technological changes;
• Implementing the Action Plan for Education;
• Delivering the roadmap for pension reform, including auto-enrolment;
• Fighting crime and protecting people by delivering on the Commission on the Future of Policing.

ENDS