Discussions are continuing between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael with party leaders expressing the hope that a government could be in place by January

Soc Dems meet over govt decision, FF and FG talks resume

by · RTE.ie

The Social Democrats will hold a parliamentary meeting today with a decision likely to be made by the end of this week on its approach to government formation talks, while talks between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are to resume.

The Social Democrats met with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael yesterday and the meetings were described as good humoured and collegial.

The party must soon decide if it will continue with these talks or remain in opposition. The expectation is that it will choose the latter.

Labour will meet tomorrow when a similar decision will be discussed by party members.

Discussions are continuing between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael today, 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, Jack Chambers and Helen McEntee, to put in place the parameters for these talks.

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