Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is prepared to “let Micheál Martin sweat” and did not seek a mandate to continue talks with Fianna Fáil from his party.

Fine Gael’s Government formation discussions with the Green Party will hinge on the rural/urban divide, according to party sources.

Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to press his rival Micheal Martin for equal treatment for Fine Gael if it enters coalition with Fianna Fail.

Negotiating teams are set to ramp up talks to form a government next week with senior ministers, party managers and leaders all weighing into what could take a number of weeks to cobble together a new coalition.

“That looks to me like it's the only real option at the moment. So I think what we're now doing is a kind of a mating dance with a result - which looks like it's going to be a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition," he said.

“The people have spoken, the primary function of forming a government now falls to Sinn Féin.”

Fine Gael will be relieved at the shock exit poll for the election but also expects to lose Dáil seats in parts of the country, party chairman Martin Heydon has said.

Housing spokesman Darragh O'Brien said that thousands of apartments had been bought by big funds and struggling first time buyers were left in limbo

Demoted Fianna Fáil TDs Timmy Dooley and Niall Collins look set to remain stripped of their frontbench jobs after scathing criticism of their parts in the Dáil voting scandal.

Senior Fine Gael figures have launched stinging attacks on Fianna Fáil TDs who voted on behalf of their colleagues in the Dáil, deeming their actions “cavalier” and “arrogant”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told his TDs and senators he believes British prime minister Boris Johnson could win an election if his campaign is based on the new EU-UK Brexit deal.

Fine Gael is proposing new legislation to asses opposing parties' spending plans.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is preparing to fight an early winter snap general election to win a third term for Fine Gael if a Brexit deal is hammered out by Halloween.

“Ah, we are not doing much, only seeking to determine the future course of our country” — a quip from one senior politician when asked how the talks have been going, amid chatter that the two sides are simply sitting around drinking tea all day. The routine has become the same, writes Daniel McConnell.

“Ah, we are not doing much, only seeking to determine the future course of our country” — a quip from one senior politician when asked how the talks have been going, amid chatter that the two sides are simply sitting around drinking tea all day. The routine has become the same, writes Daniel McConnell.

The strategic reason Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil sat out the presidential election, is that tactically they did not want to arrive with either injuries or red cards for the real game that starts tomorrow.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are already on a collision course before talks on a new confidence and supply deal begin this week.

Fine Gael TDs and senators have been told the party is to consider holding a special conference after the next general election on coalition options for going into government.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insists Fine Gael is taking claims from Senator Catherine Noone that she was bullied for years by a Seanad party colleague “very seriously” and will take “any necessary action” needed to resolve the dispute.

Fine Gael senator Catherine Noone’s allegations of sexism and bullying against a colleague are to be investigated by party bosses.

Ireland’s spiralling rental crisis is failing to be addressed because one in every five TDs are landlords and have a clear conflict of interest on the issue, campaigners have warned.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has voiced concerns about the welfare of the unborn over proposals to legalise abortions in all cases up to 12 weeks of gestation.

All eyes will be on Fine Gael’s special parliamentary party meeting this afternoon where TDs and senators will discuss their views on plans to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The likelihood of Fine Gael ministers voting against plans to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks has increased, after the party said ministers can vote with their conscience in the Dáil.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the weekly Fine Gael party meeting in Leinster House that he believes Frances Fitzgerald did nothing wrong and that she will be vindicated.

The Taoiseach will open the annual Fine Gael think-in this morning, with the housing crisis top of the agenda.

Fine Gael TDs are attempting to appease Waterford’s John Deasy after the experienced Fine Gael TD was overlooked for promotion by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

What jobs there were were mostly for the boys, writes Lise Hand

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar’s “shock and awe” start to his leadership campaign has given him an early but decisive lead over Housing Minister Simon Coveney in the race to become Taoiseach.

Fine Gael has been scrambling to book venues for its leadership hustings due to the short timeframe of the contest.

As Enda Kenny announces his retirement he says he is 'honoured and privileged' to have served as leader since 2002. Now, Ministers Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar are set to declare candidacy for the now vacant position of Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

A Government minister is urging the Dáil and Seanad not to block the abortion recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly, saying that providing there is no “legal impediment”, the findings should not be “interfered with”.

“Sit down Deputy Doherty, sit down.”

Water charges are going to be reintroduced by the “back door” along with mandatory metering, according to Right2Water TDs who oppose recommendations on the future funding of services.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has opened an early lead on his main rival Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar in the race to succeed Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty says Enda Kenny needs to be at the table when the Brexit negotiations begin.

Rebel Fine Gael TDs have accepted that attempts to push Enda Kenny to hand over his leadership in the coming weeks have now effectively come to an end.

A defiant Enda Kenny has killed off internal Fine Gael attempts to topple him after silencing rebels with a promise to “conclusively” address his leadership next month.

When Kenny finished, an extensive round of applause began and there was no debate, writes Daniel McConnell.

Fine Gael ministers believe they will have a new leader by Easter after Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he will “conclusively” address his future after he returns from his White House visit for St Patrick’s Day.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are among senior Fine Gael figures urging Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe to reconsider his decision not to contest the party leadership, once Mr Kenny steps down.

There are concerns TDs and senators responsible for recommending the future of water charges to the Dáil for a vote will not finish their work by the March deadline.

The Government has been forced to defend plans to rejuvenate rural towns and villages after the opposition claimed the promised €60m cash injection will amount to just €100,000 per community.