Regional Independents want deadline for smaller parties to decide on govt formation

The Regional Independent group have piled on pressure to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to announce when they expect a decision from smaller parties on government formation.

Representatives from the group, which is chaired by former Communications Minister Denis Naughten, and consists of TDs Cathal Berry, Sean Canney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy, and Matt Shanahan, met with the negotiating teams from the two civil war parties this afternoon, but say they will not be used as a "last-minute addition to make up numbers".