Government formation: Formal coalition negotiations to commence later this week

The three leaders assessed the original framework document put forward by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over a possible coalition

The leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have concluded an opening meeting over government formation talks and agreed all sides will formally start negotiations on Thursday.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told the Irish Examiner that negotiations were expected now to take a number of weeks but that there had been a good beginning to the process.