Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has suggested he is ready to change his tune on working with Sinn Féin.
Speaking to reporters in Cork, he said there are “serious policy issues” to be addressed, however, he added that there is “an onus and an obligation on all sides” to form a functioning government.
He said: “For any government to sustain into the future, there has to be a coherent sustainable programme for government that can be implemented and delivered and implemented.”
He warned that there is “significant incompatibility in terms of policy platforms of ourselves and Sinn Féin.”
“I am putting down that marker now.
“Our policies and our position and principles haven’t changed overnight or in 24 hours but what is important is that the country comes first.”
“After the last election, we did facilitate the formation of a functioning government and I think there is an onus and an obligation on all to ensure that such a functioning government is formed after this.”
"We will obviously listen, the people have spoken, and there is no greater democrat than I..." @MichealMartinTD on #GE2020. @fiannafailparty #CorkSouthCentral #CorkSC pic.twitter.com/1PaGAqlgNM
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 9, 2020
His comments echo that of the party’s business spokesperson Robert Troy who said Fianna Fáil will have to hold talks with all sides – including Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.
He says the parties have a duty to provide a stable government for the country, adding that the only way to do that is to “talk to all political parties.”
He said: “Where there is no ultimate winner; where two people come together with differences of polices there needs to be explored in terms of, is there any compromises.
“We need to have a government in the national interest to provide stability to deal with Brexit but we also need to have policies that when they are fully scrutinised are realistic and are going to deliver for people who are suffering in terms of health and housing.
"There is a duty and onus on all people who are elected ... to work together to address the challenges that our people face at this time."
The deputies were not deemed elected after the first count in Cork South Central, however, it is expected that both will be re-elected.
Micheál Martin says he got the impression Fine Gael took a "if we can't get in we're going to tear down everything around us" approach that helped Sinn Féin in this election #GE2020
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 9, 2020
Speaking about the overall national result, Mr Martin said: "We will obviously listen - the people have spoken... But that said we will not pre-empt the outcome itself, as it's very clear to us the destination of the final seats in many constituencies cannot be called right now.
"I think we're looking at a far more fragmented political landscape... we're also looking at considerable volatility in voters. People are getting elected today who didn't get elected in the local elections [last May].
"That said, one's policies and one's principles don't change overnight... For any government to sustain into the future, there has to be a coherent, sustainable programme for government that can be delivered."
