Mayo Fine Gael councillors 'opposed to Grand Coalition'

Fine Gael members of Mayo County Council are unanimously opposed to entering into government with Fianna Fáil.

That's according to a report in the Irish Independent. 

It reported that during a conference call with Minister of State Helen McEntee this morning, the Mayo councillors said they will not support any move to form a coalition with their rivals in Fianna Fáil.

The ten councillors on the call with the minister spoke against the deal which is set to be agreed by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The teleconference call with Ms. McEntee followed a separate online meeting on Bank Holiday Monday where the Mayo councillors decided they would not support the landmark 'Grand Coalition' agreement.

Fine Gael’s councillors are due to hold a conference call later this evening to discuss the outcome of the meeting with Minister McEntee .

“It’s madness – we came third in the election so why would we go into government,” one councillor told the newspaper.

 “If you come third in the All-Ireland you don’t lift the trophy,” he added.

Another councillor is quoted as stating: “Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Social Democrats and Greens all wanted us out of government so now they can go off and form a government.”

Fine Gael sources say they expect a number of the party's other council groupings to raise objections over the coming weeks, the report added.