The prospect of Micheál Martin being elected Taoiseach for a second time has increased following an “intensive” weekend of talks on forming a government.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael negotiating teams worked across the weekend on a number of issues, as well as conducting two sessions of talks with Regional Independents in a bid to have the policy aspects of a programme for government settled within the next two days.
That would allow the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to approve the document at a Wednesday meeting before a special ard fheis next Sunday.
Fine Gael plans to hold four regional meetings which it is hoped will be completed before the Dáil sits again on January 22.