Boost for Micheal Martin as Taoiseach backs off Halloween confidence and supply deadline

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has backed down on his Halloween confidence and supply deal talks deadline after a senior official u-turned to say the crunch date was "never a deadline and more of a target".

Mr Varadkar's spokesperson accepted defeat on the deadline exactly a week after it was put down, saying while the Taoiseach still wants to secure a two-year deal he accepts it may take until December to forge an agreement.