The majority of Clare Fianna Fáil Councillors say they will vote in favour of the Programme for Government, but there is a split within the party on whether it should enter into government as planned.
Of the 13 Clare Fianna Fáil Councillors, eight have said they will vote yes, including Clare Colleran Molloy, Pat Daly, Joe Killeen, Shane Talty, Cillian Murphy and Pat McMahon.
Pat Hayes says he will vote yes, despite having reservations over the deal, while Lissycasey Councillor PJ Kelly told Clare FM he’ll reluctantly accept the deal, despite describing it as the worst of all options.
The long-time Councillor says he is voting yes because the alternative is another election, and this comes even though a campaign group calling for Fianna Fáil members to vote no lists him among its supporters.
Ennis Councillor Pat Daly thinks it was a mistake that Sinn Féin weren’t brought to the table, but says he’ll vote yes as another election could prove disastrous for Fianna Fáil.
Two of Clare’s Fianna Fáil Councillors are undecided – Bill Chambers and Mark Nestor, but the Ennis representative says he is leaning towards a No vote and is disappointed about the lack of support the Irish language within the document.
The remaining three say they will vote No – Councillors Tony O’Brien, Pat O’Gorman and Alan O’Callaghan.
He disagrees with the idea of a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party coalition and says that a national govenment should have been formed to see us through the next 18 months.
Seperately, the Ennis Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceanntair have given the deal their backing.
