Fine Gael strike deal with Independents to retain control of Longford council

FG and the two independent councillors have sealed a deal to gain power of Longford council for the next five years.

Once the elections finished on Monday of this week, with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael locked at eight seats each, the horse trading was bound to begin.

In the end, such negotiations did not last long, with the two independents (Turlough McGovern and Mark Casey) opting to form a majority along with the FG councillors.

Also read: Fine Gael polls 13% higher than Fianna Fáil in Longford local elections as the parties share sixteen seats

Leader of FF in the council, Seamus Butler, expressed his disappointment at this turn of events when he spoke to the Leader.

“I thought that we were dealing with people for whom their word was their bond. However, that is not how it turned out,” Butler remarked.

Butler revealed that the negotiations were ongoing until Tuesday evening.

“We made offers that seemed to be acceptable to both parties. 

However, in the end, the talks didn’t go our way,” he stated.

Despite this setback for Fianna Fail, Butler still feels that his party could work with Fine Gael.

Also read: Six new faces and three recounts as Longford local elections produce plenty of drama

“We may still be co-operating with Fine Gael at district level,” Butler explained.

Fine Gael councillors are meeting tonight (Tuesday) and they will appoint a leader of their party in the council.

Colm Murray was leader of FG in the outgoing council but the Kenagh man lost his seat.

Speaking to the Leader, one of the party’s poll toppers, Paul Ross, said that, “Fine Gael have had a good working relationship with Turlough McGovern. We look forward to working with Mark.”