Social Democrats reject Labour Party’s offer to form left-leaning bloc

The Social Democrats have rejected the Labour Party’s offer of forming a left-leaning negotiating bloc as part of government formation talks.

It comes following a meeting between the two parties at Leinster House on Friday.

The Labour Party had called for a centre-left platform to engage with the larger parties as part of talks to form a government.

However, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said they would be going it alone and plan to meet with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael next week.

The two larger parties, with a combined 86 seats, are just short of the 88 required for a majority.

If they wish to return to government together, they would need one smaller party as a junior partner or a handful of independents.

Mr O’Callaghan said that his party entering government formation talks is based on its dealbreakers and not on who the party is speaking to.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the party is committed to creating a “centre-left bloc” of parties.

Speaking outside Leinster House on Friday, Mr O’Callaghan said: “It was a productive meeting.

“We outlined the key areas for us in terms of our dealbreakers that we ran during the campaign in housing, healthcare and childcare, and disability services and climate action.

“We are hoping to meet with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael next week.”

Asked if the centre-left bloc has emerged from the talks with Labour, he said: “No, we were clear throughout the election campaign that we are running on our own two feet.

“For us to enter government, it is contingent on us getting an agreement on our dealbreakers, it’s not contingent on what other parties are doing on government formation.

“Whether other parties are not going into government is for them to decide.

“We have been clear all along that our participation in government will be based on dealbreakers.”

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Bacik said: “It was a commitment I have given throughout the course of the election campaign, was that the first people we would engage with, the first parties we would engage with after the election would be those parties who share our vision and our values, our social democratic vision for change, for an active state.

“We have met now with the Green Party and the Social Democrats today.

“We had a very constructive and cordial meeting with Cian, Jennifer (Whitmore) and Gary (Gannon).

“We discussed policy priorities, we discussed potential for co-operation and I look forward to continued collaboration.

“We’re very serious about building a common platform on the centre left.

“I’ve always said throughout the campaign, we’re a party that’s not content to sit on the sidelines.

“We are very serious about delivering change with the communities we represent and that we feel honoured to serve.”

Meanwhile, substantive government formation talks between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are due to take place next week.

Party leaders Simon Harris and Micheal Martin attended the British-Irish Council meeting in Edinburgh on Friday, but neither attended the post-meeting press conference.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill criticised Mr Martin for “ignoring” Sinn Fein’s mandate after the General Election.

Mr Martin has repeatedly said he will not go into government with Sinn Fein, saying his party has made a policy decision not to enter coalition with them.

Ms O’Neill told reporters at the British-Irish Council that Mr Martin will decide who he goes into government with.

“That’s clear. But I do think that it’s completely disrespectful to ignore the fact that Sinn Fein are the second largest party in the Dail, having returned 39 TDs,” she said.

“I think it’s disrespectful of him to ignore the fact that we have such a significant mandate for change.

“I think also the thing that’s not lost to me is the irony of Micheal Martin’s approach – the fact that this is a man who comes to Belfast regularly and talks about partnership and inclusivity and coalition and respect and parity of esteem, but that does not apply to our party.

“So I think that irony will not be lost on the voters either.”