Fine Gael sticks with plan to phase out USC

The real talks begin next week. What we’ve heard until now about government formation will mean nothing once the two leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil sit down face to face next week for the first time.

That was the assessment yesterday of Fianna Fáil sources, who are now fuming that Fine Gael has ruled out hopes of forming a minority government. Many though, believe that Fianna Fáil’s dream was always pie in the sky stuff.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny had been pressing to meet Micheál Martin yesterday, but this was dropped as talks continued with the Independents. The two are now expected to sit down on Wednesday, after a fresh but pointless vote for taoiseach in the Dáil, and begin discussing the mechanics of operating a minority government.