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EurActiv (27 February 2020)

Dick Roche

The post-Brexit negotiations with the UK are particularly vital for Ireland and dealing with them requires a stable government in office, writes Dick Roche.

Dick Roche is a former Fianna Fáil politician. He was the minister of state for European affairs when Ireland conducted the two referendums on the Treaty of Lisbon of the European Union, in 2008 and 2009.

Ireland’s 8 February general election delivered an indecisive result. The top three parties Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Fine Gael returned to the 160-member Dáil with 38, 37 and 35 seats, respectively, each a long way short of the 80 votes needed to form a government.

Sinn Féin, a GUE group member, did spectacularly well and won 24.5% of the popular vote. Fianna Fáil, a Renew Europe member, followed with 22.2%.  The governing Fine Gael party (EPP) won 20.9%. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael both lost seats.

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