Rural independents hold 'frank and blunt' meeting with two big parties

Cork TD Michael Collins voting in February's election.

Rural independent TDs have told Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that they are willing to discuss government formation - if the two parties are serious about their approaches.

A group of five rural TDs - Mattie McGrath, Richard O'Donoghue, Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae and Michael Collins - met with Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe at the Department of Agriculture tonight to discuss the policy document the two parties released last week, a conversation Michael Healy-Rae called "frank and honest".