Gormley: It will be difficult to agree a deal

FIANNA Fail and the Green Party were supposed to be inching closer to a deal around 3.30pm yesterday afternoon when the latter notified journalists to say the negotiations had been temporarily suspended.

The Green negotiating team of John Gormley, Dan Boyle and general secretary Donall Geoghegan went to consult with the seven other members of the party’s reference group to discuss the latest developments.

When the negotiating team returned to Government Buildings to resume the talks shortly before 5pm, the mood seemed almost grim.