Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has today appointed his full negotiating team for talks with other parties and deputies of the 34th Dail on forming a government.
The team will be lead by Fine Gael deputy Leader, TD for Meath East and Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. Also on the team will be;
• Paschal Donohoe, TD for Dublin Central, Minister for Public Expenditure and President of the Eurogroup
• Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD for Dun Laoghaire and Minister of State at the Department of Finance
• Martin Heydon, TD for Kildare South and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture
• John Cummins, TD for Waterford
• John Paul O’Shea, TD for Cork North West
The team has been mandated by the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael parliamentary party to negotiate a progressive government with like-minded parties and deputies based on the principles of good faith and parity. A comprehensive and robust program for government that delivers 5 budgets and 5-years of stable governance is the goal of any talks that could lead to Fine Gael entering a coalition.
Waterford’s own Deputy John Cummins who was previously the party’s spokesperson on Housing, local Government and Heritage has been placed at the centre of Fine Gael’s negotiating team. Deputy Cummins has 15 years of experience as a politician, having served as a councillor, Mayor on two occasions and a Senator for the past four and half years.
Speaking following the announcement by the Taoiseach of the negotiating team, Deputy Cummins said: “It is an honour to have been asked by An Taoiseach Simon Harris to be part of the Fine Gael negotiating team. I am very grateful for the opportunity, and I look forward to negotiating in good faith with other parties and deputies with a view to forming a strong and stable government for the next five years.
Deputy Cummins continued: “As we face into potential choppy waters from an international economic perspective, the need for a strong and stable government has never been more important and as mandated by our parliamentary party, we will now enter government formation discussions. I believe we have a strong team that can deliver for the people of Ireland”.