Pressure on Independent TDs to back Enda Kenny or Micheál Martin

Independents are set to come under mounting pressure over the coming days to decide who they will support to form a government, after Micheál Martin and Enda Kenny finally agreed to hold talks after the next Dáil taoiseach nomination vote.

Exactly five weeks on from the election, the Fianna Fáil leader was forced to contact the leader of Fine Gael after the Irish Examiner reported yesterday that Mr Kenny was considering cancelling next Wednesday’s Dáil taoiseach nomination vote as it would produce no clear winner.

Speaking to reporters in Leinster House, Mr Martin said that, during the 20-minute conversation, Mr Kenny confirmed the vote would take place as scheduled before Mr Martin said the pair should meet afterwards to decide on how to move forward.