Enda Kenny in late push for key Dáil votes

Enda Kenny is attempting to make up lost ground in his bid to form a government, after launching negotiations several days after Micheál Martin opened talks with potential coalition partners.

The Fine Gael leader is this weekend scrambling to secure vital Independent and smaller party support — ahead of Fianna Fáil — to avoid defeat in the first battle of the post-election war.

The move comes as outgoing Diaspora Minister Jimmy Deenihan says that he believes it is now time for the two party leaders to settle their differences and make a deal in “the best interests of the country”.