Daniel McConnell: Pandemic brings a focus to negotiations

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe: helping lead Fine Gael into government formation negotiations

Last Wednesday afternoon, while the country remained gripped by the Covid-19 crisis, a small group of TDs from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil gathered in a spacious room on the second floor of Agriculture House on Kildare Street.

None of them arrived through the front door, opting instead for the back entrance which is accessible from within the Leinster House complex to allow them avoid any unwanted media attention.