Sinn Féin has detailed discussion on government formation

The Sinn Féin parliamentary party had a detailed discussion on government formation talks earlier.

Party Leader Mary Lou McDonald reported back on her engagement with other parties.

The meeting heard that the numbers allow for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to form a government with the support of Independents.

The party discussed the nomination for Ceann Comhairle and Sinn Féin will be making a nomination.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats will continue to engage in government formation talks after holding meetings with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, as well as Sinn Féin and Labour, according to the party's deputy leader.

Cian O'Callaghan told the Social Democrats parliamentary party that the meetings "had been positive and constructive with a good exchange of views".

He added: "These talks have been exploratory to date but I expect that next week they will become more focused - particularly on the dealbreakers we highlighted during the election campaign.

"Those dealbreakers were the delivery of 50,000 genuinely affordable homes during the lifetime of the next government; the full implementation of Sláintecare; quality public childcare; a senior minister for disability and credible climate action to avoid up to €20 billion in EU fines," Mr O’Callaghan said.

Separately, talks between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are set to resume.

Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee said her party had "very positive engagement" with the Social Democrats yesterday and has also been speaking to the Labour Party.

Speaking in Brussels, she said Fine Gael wants to put together a strong programme for government that is underpinned by a strong economy and acknowledges the significant challenges that Ireland faces globally.

"We are open to any party that wants to be part of that," she said, adding that she has had "positive engagement" with Fianna Fáil's deputy leader Jack Chambers this week.

"We have agreed to set out a parameter under which we will engage and our teams have since met and we've a plan now for the coming weeks.

"I look forward to working with Fianna Fáil in setting out what we want in a strong programme for government in the years ahead, one that really focuses on delivery for the people of Ireland."

Labour will meet tomorrow to discuss whether to proceed with government formation talks or to step back.

Discussions continue between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

Discussions are continuing between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with party leaders Micheál Martin and Simon Harris expressing the hope that a government could be in place by next month.

Mr Martin said he was hopeful that substantive work could be completed before Christmas.

He added that 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 whether he would be taoiseach in the next government, Mr Harris said his answer would be "rather boringly" the same until there was an agreement.

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.

The newly-formed Regional Group of Independents look the most likely to support a new Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government.

The group has nine TDs: Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Seán Canney, Marian Harkin, Verona Murphy, Carol Nolan, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole.

It will appoint a negotiating team next week for government formation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Before that, Mr Lowry, the group's lead spokesperson, will sit down with the deputy leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to put in place the parameters for these talks.

This follows on from a conference call between Mr Lowry, Mr Harris and Mr Martin in recent days.