Independents being courted by Government parties want rural concerns addressed

TD Denis Naughten, of the nine-member Regional Independents, said: “We're in no rush and they (the parties) have two weeks to get it passed. We will be talking to them. We need clarification on issues."

Key Independents who are needed to bolster the three-way coalition have concerns about a lack of supports for rural areas but are still being lined up to back the new government.

The leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens have sent a joint letter to independent groups along with their proposed programme for government.