Simon Coveney and Micheál Martin in panicked pleas for Independents to make a decision

Fine Gael minister Simon Coveney and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin last night urged Independents to make a decision on their parties’ bids for power in panicked phone calls and meetings across the country.

They made contact with 15 Independents still in talks about forming some kind of minority government as negotiations between the two biggest parties broke down.

With pressure from both sides intensifying on the unaligned TDs due to Fine Gael’s desire to ensure support for today’s vote and Fianna Fáil’s insistence it will not talk about any policies until Independents decide on who they are backing, both parties pushed home the message to the disparate groups.