'I didn't think we'd be a scapegoat until we got into government': Thursday deadline to be missed as talks drag on

Green Party sources say that recent reports of a crisis within the talks are due to the two civil war parties "briefing media" against them in an effort to pile pressure on their TDs.

Green Party sources say reports of crisis levels being reached in the talks are a result of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil "briefing media" in order to build pressure on negotiators.

additional reporting by Paul Hosford

Talks to form a government continued late tonight after reports that they had been on the brink of collapse and now look likely to miss their Thursday deadline.