Healy-Raes meet with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as government formation talks gather pace

The group of seven Independent TDs, which includes Sean Canney, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Kevin ('Boxer') Moran and Gillian Toole, are seen as now the most likely third-party grouping in the formation of the next Government.

Fianna Fáil negotiator Norma Foley said there is an 'absolute determination' to deliver a programme for government which will last five years, targeting January 22, 'if at all possible'.

Fianna Fáil negotiator Martin Heydon said big progress has been made in putting together a draft programme for government and there is a 'pace' to the talks. 'We've a lot of work put together between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on points of differentiation, points of communality for a programme for government.'

Read at Irish Independent