Micheál Martin meets Joan Burton amid government talks

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin and Labour leader Joan Burton met on Tuesday evening as talks on government formation continue but Labour has ruled out involvement in any new administration.

The pair’s hour-long conversation was described as very cordial and wide-ranging, with “no commitments sought or given”, by a Labour source.

Labour TDs remain of the view that they should not participate in a new government after losing 25 seats in the general election.

“It’s their collective view that Labour didn’t receive a mandate to go back into Government. They’re also very firmly of the view that Fianna Fáil need to get off the fence. Fianna Fáil got very significant numbers in the election,” the Labour spokesman said.

“There’s a clear pathway to a government there. And rather than people looking at us now, Fianna Fail should fulfil its own responsibilities.”

Just seven Labour TDs were returned to Leinster House following a bruising election for the party last month. Willie Penrose was re-elected in Longford-Westmeath, along with Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan from Limerick and Minister of State Seán Sherlock in Cork.

Brendan Ryan, who represents Dublin- Fingal, has also returned to the Dáil along with Minister for Public Expenditure an Reform Brendan Howlin (Wexford), Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly (Tipperary) and Ms Burton (Dublin West).

Independent TDs

Meanwhile In a significant break in the political logjam a group of five Independents have said they are prepared to intensify discussions with Fine Gael with a view to forming a government in the national interest.

The five TDs have sought a meeting with acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny to initiate talks on a programme for government.

Following a meeting on Tuesday between Independent TDs Michael Collins, Noel Grealish, Michael Harty, Mattie McGrath and Denis Naughten, they issued a statement on their intentions.

“Following the discussions over the last 12 days with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, we believe that Fine Gael is seriously determined to form a government and as the party is in the driving seat , withan eight extra Dail votes . We are now prepared to sit down and actively engage on a programme for government,” said the TDs.

The TDs said they were firmly of the belief that no agreement could be achieved without the co-operation of Fianna Fáil and they would continue to insist that any programme will be a ‘political partnership agreement’ which would be a partnership agreement across all constructive TDs.

"We are not making any determination on who we will support for the Office of An Taoiseach at this stage, but we believe that the current political stand-off by all parties is not in the best interest of this country, of those who are homeless, those who are on trollies, those who are unemployed or struggling to meet day to day bills and the issues that affect rural Ireland.

“As a result of our decision, we have now sought an early face to face meeting with Enda Kenny with a view to initiating talks on a political partnership agreement,” said the statement.