Offaly TD Barry Cowen has said Fianna Fail did not get a mandate for power and called on Sinn Fein to form a new government of the left.

“I don’t believe 22 per cent of the vote is a vote of confidence in our ability to govern," Mr Cowen said.

"I don’t believe losing a few seats is an indication of success. [Sinn Fein] need to take their ambition seriously now and ensure we get a government from the left.”

Having heard Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald this morning, he said she is adamant "the vote for her and the left is a vote for change".

Expand Close Sinn Fein will work to form a ‘people’s government’, leader Mary Lou McDonald said (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sinn Fein will work to form a ‘people’s government’, leader Mary Lou McDonald said (Niall Carson/PA)

"Her and the left leaning parties should get together, form a government, find the €22 billion and off they go,” he said.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael won less than half the votes in the general election so the onus should be on the other parties to govern.

"Let them go off now and show they’re confident, they’re able, they’re capable and they can put a programme for government in place that reflects the ambition and the promises that they gave the people, and allow the people adjudicate on them in a future day," he said.

Given that Sinn Fein had committed to cuts in property tax and the USC, he said he did not know how they will fund local authorities and the just transition from a carbon-based economy.

"People have expectations based on the commitments they made and they need to be put to the test and they need to get into government, put down the megaphone and start governing.”

Then Fianna Fail and the public can adjudicate on Sinn Fein's performance, added Cowen.

The Fianna Fail front bench public expenditure spokesman was speaking at the Laois-Offaly count centre in Portlaoise where he is poised for re-election along with his party colleague Sean Fleming.

Fianna Fail had been aiming to win a third seat in the five-seater but Offaly candidate Peter Ormond did not poll strongly enough and Carol Nolan, the Independent who left Sinn Fein because of her opposition to abortion, will retain her seat.

With six outgoing TDs seeking re-election because of a constituency boundary redraw, Fine Gael's TD in Offaly, Marcella Corcoran will lose out, leaving Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan as the only government representative returned.

Online Editors