Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are meeting for the first of three days of policy talks today.
But it’s still unclear when a new government may be formed as the country grapples with the coronavirus.
The Greens are still pushing for a national Government.
Local Deputy Malcolm Noonan says he hopes it is an option.
The slow dance around a government continues and it’s expected much of the talk today will relate to the response to the Coronavirus, rather than policy negotiations.
The numbers are tricky as even a Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil coalition wouldn’t have the seats needed for a majority
They’re eight seats short and the Greens are refusing to engage in government formation talks.
They instead want a government of national unity.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are going to look at making up the numbers with Independent TDs.
But there is some argument for not changing a government while the Coronavirus crisis is ongoing as this is not the best time to be changing ministers in key positions.
The Coronavirus has made the process of forming a government even more uncertain as these talks start
