It will take a while for all the small print to be finalised but it is only a matter of time before a new Government takes shape.
Fianna Fáil, as the largest party, will once again go into power with Fine Gael, this time supported by a small group of Independents.
Micheal Martin will almost certainly be the next Taoiseach with Simon Harris reverting to a supporting role and likely having to wait three years before he resume his place as the country’s leader.
For Laois’s long-serving Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming, he’s hoping to once again be appointed to a ministerial role, something he has held since 2020.
He has been Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs since 2022 and was Minister of State in Finance prior to that since 2020.
But the internal wranglings of the two big parties and the need to spread the big jobs across Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents as well as geographically and by gender means that there won’t be enough to keep everyone happy.
“I’m available and look forward in serving in any position that Micheal Martin thinks I’m suitable for,” Deputy Fleming told LaoisToday at Leinster House before Christmas.
“Fingers crossed, I will wait and see. What I would say nobody could ever predict on this. We did better in the election than anyone expected. “I’m hopeful – but it’s his call.”
First elected in 1997, his most recent General Election success was seventh in a row.
“It is a big thrill but it’s more of an honour now than a thrill,” he said of his first day back in the Dáil.
“The first day you get it, you’re walking on air and your family are walking on air and the longer it goes – I’ve been elected now a number of times – and the initial thrill is not there but as that has moved on, it is an honour that the people of Laois, time after time, have re-elected me.
“The first time (1997) was a party but it is really an honour that the people of Laois have continued to vote for me and my vote increased in this election compared to the last election.”
Compared to 2020 when there was considerable uncertainty about the shape of the next Government, it is generally accepted the two Civil War parties will do business once again.
“There is a bit more calm about it this time,” he acknowledged.
“However the big change is that there are well over 60 new TDs. You have to go back to 2011 when Fianna Fáil lost a lot of seats and a lot of others came in at that stage.
“It has been the biggest changeover of new TDs coming into the Dáil so it is going to take some time to get to know my new Fianna Fáil colleagues.
“I’d be familiar with the different people in my own party but definitely to get to know all the new people will take time.”
In terms of the next Government he did acknowledge Fianna Fáil’s greater number of seats (they have 49 compared to Fine Gael’s 38) when it comes to who is the lead party.
“I hope Fine Gael are happy to go in with Fianna Fail,” he added cheerily. “We are the bigger party – we are not going in with anyone, they are coming in with us.”
But he also added that the detail of who gets more jobs and when is a “media and party hacks” fascination that isn’t replicated by the general public.
“I expect Micheal Martin will be the Taoiseach and how long that will be I’m not sure. That will be negotiated close to the end.
“Can I actually say – those things entertain a lot of people and consume a lot, but really what people want to see is the Programme for Government.
“When we have a Programme for Government and there is a section for each Government department, the job is laid out for the next five years and that is what counts to people.”
The Dáil meets next on Wednesday, January 22.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our 2024 General Election coverage here
