The Taoiseach says he’ll take a personal interest in the development of areas along the Shannon Estuary, including Moneypoint, if the Programme for Government gets the go-ahead.
Members of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens are continuing to cast votes today, ahead of the results being announced on Friday.
Time is running out for members of the three parties hoping to have their say on the new programme for government.
With deadlines for the receipt of postal ballots coming on Thursday, ahead of the results being announced on Friday, the die is being cast in most cases by today.
If it’s given approval, Micheál Martin will be elected as Taoiseach on Saturday, but if it’s rejected, Leo Varadkar says there’s no plan B and that Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail could reach an agreement in a matter of weeks.
The Fianna Fail leader says that won’t be the case as he doesn’t have a mandate to enter talks with Sinn Fein.
Micheál Martin says his party members have given clear instructions:
The requirement for two-thirds support amongst the Green Party is a significant hurdle, and today a Clare green party member has warned that the programme for government will leave people behind.
Barry O’Donovan, who unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Killaloe Municipal District in last year’s local elections, says the plan includes some good elements, but also regressive taxes which he says won’t be good for the environment or the people or the people of Ireland.
He says a just transition is needed to achieve climate change and he doesn’t believe that will happen under the proposals.
The Taoiseach, meanwhile, says he will take a personal interest in the development of areas in the Shannon Estuary such as Moneypoint, if the Programme for Government gets the go-ahead.
Leo Varadkar says the Shannon LNG Project isn’t receiving government backing or funding due to the fact that it would be used to import fracked gas, but that it could still go ahead under private sector development.
Speaking during an exclusive interview for local radio, he’s said that better uses can be made of the Shannon Estuary.
