Micheál Martin still hoping to outflank Enda Kenny

Fianna Fáil will hold last-minute round table talks with 15 Independents on Monday and Tuesday amid growing concern next Wednesday’s second crunch taoiseach nomination vote will end in another stalemate.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and his four-person negotiation team of Michael McGrath, Barry Cowen, Charlie McConalogue, and Jim O Callaghan agreed the meetings last night after day-long discussions with Independents and smaller parties.

After holding a three-hour meeting with the Healy Rae brothers and the five-strong rural TDs group of Denis Naughten, Mattie McGrath, Michael Collins, Michael Harty, and Noel Grealish, Fianna Fáil met with the six-strong Independent Alliance and the Greens.