Irish party teams to start talks on government formation

Simon Harris and Micheál Martin said they had a positive and constructive meeting on Monday

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are to begin talks about the possible formation of a government on Tuesday following a meeting between party leaders Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.

They described the meeting as a "positive, constructive engagement".

Fianna Fáil won the most seats in the Dáil (lower house of parliament) in the Irish general election at 48, with 88 needed to secure a majority.

However, even combined with Fine Gael's 38 seats, they will still need more support to form a coalition government.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out sharing power with Sinn Féin – the largest opposition party.

Sinn Féin won 39 seats.

'Need for a stable government'

In a joint statement, Mr Martin and Mr Harris both agreed on the "need for a stable government, underpinned by mutual respect and clear policy direction for the next five years so that it can deliver for the Irish people in face of great challenges".

The two party leaders have now asked their negotiating teams to start talks.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has already met a number of independent Teachtaí Dála (TDs) in order to gauge their support.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said it is "bad practice" for Fianna Fáil to exclude Sinn Féin from potential government formation.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Fianna Fáil leader is excluding hundreds of thousands of voters

Last week, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris appointed Justice Minister Helen McEntee to be chief negotiator in the talks and said his party is open to speaking with independents.

Harris would not be drawn on ministerial positions in a new coalition government.

The Irish broadcaster RTÉ is reporting that the leader of Labour Ivana Bacik, which won 11 seats, is to hold separate face-to-face meetings with Martin and Harris next week.

The last Irish government was a coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

The position of taoiseach (prime minister) was rotated between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.