Government formation talks set to resume tomorrow

The second round-table talks between Fine Gael and 15 Independents, and smaller parties, are to take place tomorrow.

The race to form the next government is entering one of its most crucial stages.

Caretaker taoiseach Enda Kenny and senior ministers will tomorrow sit down with the Independent Alliance, five loosely-linked rural TDs — the Healy-Rae brothers, Maureen O’Sullivan, Katherine Zappone, the Greens and Social Democrats — in a bid to secure support for the taoiseach-nomination vote in just eight days’ time.