An independent chair could help bring parties closer to realistic deal

Whatever Enda Kenny and Michéal Martin feel about each other personally must be put aside to deal with the country, writes Fergus Finlay.

I’m not in a position to criticise what seems like an inordinate delay in forming a government. I’ve been involved in this process before, and on one occasion, back in 1992, it took 48 days. So I know some of the issues and some of the sensitivities involved.

And I don’t, on this occasion, carry a torch for any of the parties engaged in the process. I think both of the main party leaders have played the deck of cards they were dealt as well as they can, and both have a legitimate interest in trying to negotiate the most advantageous outcome from this process. However, neither Enda Kenny nor Micheál Martin has (so far anyway) betrayed any sense that they want to put party before country, and they are due respect for that.