The Inside Story of Enda Kenny's Desperate Fight for Place in History

10 April 2016 Sunday Independent POLITICS 19 The inside story of Enda Kenny’s desperate fight for place in ryhisto HE former Fine Gael The Taoiseach went into TD, Denis Naught- his fateful meeting with en, of the so-called Rural Independ- Micheal Martin and set Tents, sat down to lunch with Enda Kenny last off an unexploded bomb, Thursday March 31: “Look,” writes Jody Corcoran said Naughten, “when you’re talking to Micheal Martin you might suggest a Fine Gael, were included, Fine Gael was with Fine Gael in opposition. Independents, Fianna Fail hopeful of the backing of Sean Fianna Fail had, and con- partnership government.” Canney and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Mo- tinues to have four of the five As a central figure in the ran, although neither of these Rural Independents — Noel painstaking negotiations be- men are over the line at that or Grealish, Mattie McGrath, tween the two Civil War po- this stage, far from it, indeed; Dr Michael Harty and Michael litical parties and an array of and even if one or other did Collins, and probably the fifth, Independents, Naughten had commit, Fine Gael would still Denis Naughten, if push came gathered from his contacts be one or two short — and that to shove; it also believes it that such a ‘partnership’ ar- was before the Healy-Raes took could turn Canney and ‘Boxer’ rangement might be a runner. their deeply personal decision. from Fine Gael, to add to Fini- So this was the moment, After lunch with Naughten, an McGrath and Shane Ross of then, on the last day in March, the acting Taoiseach reached the Independent Alliance. In over lunch in the Dail with an out to another experienced short, Fianna Fail believes it erstwhile colleague, that the Rural Independent, Noel Gre- could put together just about putative deal — what Fine alish, who is on friendly terms enough to form a Fianna Fail- Gael would subsequently pres- with Kenny’s close associate, led minority government. As ent to the public as an “histor- events would transpire, the ic opportunity” — first began two Healy-Raes are now also to crystallise in the feverish ‘It would turn likely to follow. mind of the acting Taoiseach. Throughout the entire Until then, he had been out that the process, however, the Inde- uncertain which way to turn, pendents have remained cau- in effect, to save his own blood, bones tious to both parties and they political career and emerge remain so: while they were triumphantly as an historic and the deep always aware Fianna Fail was figure in his own right — the willing to support a Fine Gael- first Fine Gael leader ever run of the Civil led minority government, albe- to be re-elected Taoiseach War meant it tacitly — the Independents in successive governments, are unsure for how long and which he may yet do. Michael Healy- in what circumstances — no At that point, March 31, such reciprocal commitment Fine Gael had secured the Rae just could was forthcoming from Enda support of just four of the Kenny, despite repeated con- eight Independents it needed not go there’ firmation requests by them to NEGOTIATIONS: The rural Independent deputies, from left, Noel Grealish, Mattie McGrath, Denis Naughten, Dr Michael Harty and Michael Collins arriving at to assure the relative stability him behind closed doors. Government Buildings for talks with the acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and Fine Gael negotiators on the formation of a new government. PHOTO: Tom Burke of a Fine Gael-led minority But the acting Taoiseach government. Senator Paddy Bourke from was and remains in no form space’ either then or now was Barry Cowen of the Fianna and received, a copy of that Saturday was aware of the with Enda Kenny around; fur- The four were Michael Mayo. Grealish confirmed to facilitate the creation of a he willing to create. Fail negotiation team and, poll, and background data, on ‘grand partnership’ plan, but thermore, the Independents Lowry, Denis Naughten, and to Kenny that it was also his ‘safe space’ for the Independ- For him to do so would separately, Mattie McGrath Wednesday, the day of the Dail was firmly of the view that are left with what was also Michael Fitzmaurice, all of opinion Fianna Fail might ents, to ease their anxiety that be to risk the almost certain and Michael McGrath, also of vote, and before Enda Kenny “Fianna Fail won’t go for it”, presented as the only show in whom have an association be open to this putative Fine whichever party may lead flight of the majority of Inde- the Fianna Fail team. and Micheal Martin met. and also of the belief that it town, a Fine Gael-led minority with Fine Gael to varying Gael, Independents, Fianna such a minority government, pendents to Fianna Fail, prob- That night, both Cowen However, the Sunday Inde- was a possible ruse to woo government — either that, degrees, Fitzmaurice through Fail arrangement. that the other, in opposition, ably enough for that party to and Michael McGrath inti- pendent had released details even more Independents to or an election none of them the former Fine Gael TD for The following night, would give the administration lead a minority government, a mated to these Independents of the poll to both Fianna Fail the Fianna Fail side. Whatever want, which only a few would his Roscommon constituency, however — that is, on Friday a fair wind. result that would immediately that, well, yes, maybe Fianna and Fine Gael negotiators last Fianna Fail’s motivations enter with confidence. John Connor. The fourth was week last April 1, Fianna Fail The alternative would be bring about the end of Enda Fail might be open to such a Saturday evening, shortly then, the prospect of the party As presented, Fianna Fail Michael Healy-Rae, who at would stick a spanner in that the collapse of such a gov- Kenny’s political career. deal, but that the head of Enda before publication. Micheal going for such a deal now are has been outmanoeuvred by that stage was odds-on to be particular works. ernment after six months, or At that stage, last Wednes- Kenny would be the price. Martin came on the telephone slim to none. Enda Kenny, the master of not the new Minister for Rural But on the Thursday, the less, or more, exposing the day, Kenny had full reason to This can be interpreted almost immediately to state That awareness in Fine senior, but ground hurling and Affairs in a Fine Gael-led upshot was that the acting Independents to the possible believe Fianna Fail had him in two ways: Fianna Fail was that Fianna Fail was “up for Gael did not stop Enda Kenny with hard pulling at that; but minority government; but as Taoiseach had two irons in the retribution of an electorate in its sights anyway; not to telling Kenny ‘over your dead it”, that is, for the first time he walking into his fateful this weekend, Fianna Fail is it would turn out, blood, bones fire — a Fine Gael-led minority prepared to strike out at every mention the lion’s share of body’ would the party do a dispelled the notion that the meeting with Micheal Martin still talking to those majority and the deep run of the Civil government, or the grand opportunity. his own parliamentary party deal — in other words, not a party was not really interested on Wednesday with a stick of of Independents minded to War meant he just could not ‘partnership’ arrangement In fact, Enda Kenny had which has now allowed Kenny chance; or, well, yes maybe unexploded dynamite in his back Micheal Martin, and go there in the end. with Independents as a buffer gone out of his way to state seven weeks, and two, possibly such a deal could be reached, hand: he offered Martin the Fine Gael is assessing how In a moment of high between the two main parties. that Fine Gael would not three attempts by Thursday, to but that Enda Kenny would ‘Fianna Fail ‘grand partnership’ deal, even much longer it can allow drama, the lesser known of the He was certain of neither; support a Fianna Fail-led form the government he had have to go, otherwise it would though he knew Fianna Fail Enda Kenny remain leader — two brothers would exert the in fact, both looked like minority government, a asked of them for time and never wash with the Fianna was telling would not accept it, and would which is not much longer after influence of an older sibling: coming up short to put him “threat” subsequently publicly space to do. Fail grassroots. most certainly not accept with this Thursday if there is no Jackie Healy-Rae would turn over the line, and with that confirmed by Richard Bruton The acting Taoiseach Into this heady mix came a Kenny “over Kenny still in situ. breakthrough. Hence the in his grave, or words to that the ever-decreasing certainty and Eoghan Murphy on the formed his reason to so sus- Sunday Independent/Mill- Then Kenny let off his current flurry of activity. effect were uttered by Danny of his continued leadership national airwaves. pect the motivations of Fi- ward Brown opinion poll your dead bomb: it was a ‘grand part- The President, Michael D Healy-Rae, and over the dead of Fine Gael would weaken Indeed, last Wednesday, as anna Fail after he had set last weekend which nership’ or nothing; minority Higgins, meanwhile, is sit- bodies of all that went before further, and with it his place he concluded his final meet- about exploring the Fine heaped even more body” would governments would not work ting by the telephone in Aras them, would a Healy-Rae from in history.

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