Detailed policy papers are to be exchanged this week between Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin in a bid to kickstart Government formation talks.

Government formation talks will resume later this week with the picture clouded further due to the coronavirus.

The nine-member group of independents have met with both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin today and urged both leaders to “get on with it” in terms of forming a government.

A bitter personal row between Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin marred the first day’s sitting of the 33rd Dáil, which failed to elect a Taoiseach.

A new technical grouping of nine TDs has been formed in Dail Eireann which could play a crucial role in the coming negotiations regarding the formation of a new Government.

“People voted for change, the majority voted for Sinn Féin, it makes no sense to go back to the country, to ask the same question again. An election costs €40m to €50m."

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The Greens have ruled out supporting the Government amid increasing election speculation while ministers have openly confirmed there is now a growing chance of a February poll.

Independent TD and former minister Denis Naughten said he will only support the Government on a case-by-case basis, should a vote of confidence be called.

Michael Clifford looks back at the year that was.

But the Taoiseach has defended Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy by claiming some people “are always angry” no matter what the Government does.

Tabling the motion against the minister tonight in the Dáil, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy outlined how high rents, unaffordable homes and homelessness were at an all-time high.

There is no denying that Irish politicians, in recent weeks, have said things about immigrants to this country that betray an appalling ignorance — as well as a lack of basic humanity.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has written to Noel Grealish denouncing Dáil comments in which Mr Grealish singled out money being sent home by Nigerians living here.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has written to Noel Grealish denouncing Dáil comments in which he singled out money being sent home by Nigerians living.

If things are going well then the end of possibility seems remote. It things are not, then our fickleness is exposed and something close enough to fear usurps hope.

He told Newstalk Breakfast that he thought some politicians were “playing the race card” because they think it will work in their favour and they were doing it by using comments like “we have to house our own.”

Your editorial lifted the spirits — ‘Remittance comment controversy: A shameful misuse of our parliament’ (Irish Examiner, November 14).

Over the weekend Sinn Féin held its annual conference in Derry.

A number of violent incidents in the past few years have culminated in the Justice Minister’s appeal to Ireland to be tolerant, writes Neil Michael

A Traveller organisation has urged politicians to learn from a Fianna Fáil senator who has apologised for offensive online remarks.

Galway West TD Noel Grealish shamelessly suggests that some money sent home by Nigerian immigrants in Ireland may have come from crime or fraud (Irish Examiner report November 13). This allegation made under Dáil privilege was not substantiated by any evidence and, whether he intended it or not, his allegation is adding fuel to the

'Ask Audrey' has been the newspaper's hysterical agony aunt “for ages, like”.

A large number of moderate MPs, especially young women, will not contest next month’s British election. Many say they cannot endure the aggression representatives face.

Independent TD Noel Grealish has been accused of “disgraceful racism” after suggesting money being sent from Ireland by Nigerian migrants could be the proceeds of crime or fraud.

Independent TD Noel Grealish has been accused of "disgraceful racism" after raising questions in the Dáil around money being sent home by migrants.

What the country does not need replicated is the scenes that developed in Oughterard. Surely, even in the midst of various domestic problems, this country should offer a warm place of refuge, even if only temporarily, for some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, writes Michael Clifford

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has blamed "grossly misleading" information about asylum seeker numbers for the decision to scrap plans for a direct provision centre in Oughterard after a weeks long racism row stand-off.

Publican Rory Clancy, spokesman for a demonstration supported by over 2,000 people at the weekend, said the community was once again asking the department to “come and speak to us here in Oughterard”.

Independent Alliance Minister John Halligan has hit out at Independent TD Noel Grealish’s decision to stand over his comments about migrants “sponging off” the State.

President Michael D Higgins has rowed into the asylum seekers debate claiming some people have "abused" the facts about people coming to Ireland.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has urged people in rural Ireland not to be “exploited” by “anti-immigrant” groups trying to “whip up” race hate in the aftermath of the Oughterard direct provision stand-off.

"The system of direct provision is wrong and is one we need to bring to an end," she said.