These are the Independents who could play kingmaker in government formation talks

Independent TD Michael Healy Rae was the first in Kerry to be elected and said he is willing to consider everything when it comes to approaches from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Picture: Domnick Walsh

While political parties are getting ready to meet with an eye to forming a government, it is independents who may play kingmaker in the coming weeks.

Already, some independents have begun to make their intentions known about whether they would work with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, which together would have 86 of the 88 seats needed to form a Dáil majority.