Ind group discusses govt talks as Martin to meet Soc Dems

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is set to meet with the Social Democrats today while the newly-formed Regional Group of Independents is also meeting to discuss government formation talks.

Members of the group confirmed the meeting, as talks continue to take place between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and smaller parties.

Speaking to RTÉ News on his way into Leinster House, newly elected Independent TD for Dublin Bay North, Barry Heneghan, said he is "still just chatting to everyone, getting calls from every side".

Deputy Heneghan, who is being advised by former TD and government minister Finian McGrath, said his priorities include "a new A&E" for his constituency.

The Regional Group confirmed that it has agreed to nominate Wexford TD Verona Murphy for the position of Ceann Comhairle.

Independent TD Carol Nolan has also now joined the group.

'Good, positive engagement' in meeting between FF and FG, says Martin

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said the deputy leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had "a good, positive engagement" during a meeting yesterday evening.

He said Fianna Fáil's Jack Chambers and Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee discussed "mapping out the structure of the talks, talking [about] each departmental area, each area of policy" and added that he hopes they can get substantive work done "before Christmas".

Asked if a government would be formed ahead of the incoming Trump presidency in the US, he said he knew people were anxious to form a government after the General Election and that when the Dáil resumes in the New Year it would be ready for the election of a Taoiseach.

Asked if that would be him, Mr Martin said he was going to go through discussions and he respected all parties involved in those discussions.

Mr Martin said the controversy surrounding newly elected TD Eoin Hayes was a matter for the Social Democrats, but he added: "I might have other observations on that later, but I think for today's meeting, we focus on policy and substance."

Mr Hayes was suspended from the Social Democrats' parliamentary party after he confirmed he sold his shares in software company Palantir for just under €200,000, one month after he was elected to Dublin City Council.

Deputy Hayes confirmed that he will take his "seat as an independent" when the Dáil resumes on 18 December.

Harris meets with regional group of independents

Speaking on his way into today's Cabinet meeting, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he had concluded meeting all eight independent members of the regional group yesterday evening.

He had also had a "very good" meeting with Mr Martin earlier this week and a number of good phone conversations as well.

Asked whether he would be Taoiseach in the next government, Simon Harris said his answer would be "rather boringly" the same until there was an agreement.

He said he met Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik yesterday and he would meet the Social Democrats this evening.

Mr Harris said Independents seemed serious about wanting to be in government and that he was satisfied there was a way forward, subject to being able to get a serious policy framework created.

Murphy accuses Bacik of contradiction in coalition position

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has said Labour leader Ivana Bacik is contradicting herself by telling the public she is interested in entering a government while telling party members she will not.

The Irish Independent reported this morning that Ms Bacik was recorded telling her party's ruling body that she has no intention of going in to government with Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil and would only speak to them as a courtesy.

The newspaper reported that notes of a Labour central council meeting last Saturday show Deputy Bacik told the meeting she did not believe the party secured a strong enough mandate to enter coalition.

"We will meet the big three as a courtesy, but with no intention of going into government," the Labour leader is quoted as saying, in the notes compiled by a party representative.

Deputy Murphy said "we have Ivana Bacik saying two things", saying the Labour leader is "telling the media she is interested" and to her party "not really. Which one wins out, I don't know".

Additional reporting Eleanor Burnhill