Update 12.55pm: Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen has said that Fine Gael must accept the possibility of Micheál Martin becoming Taoiseach.
“We are entering negotiations and discussions with them on the basis that there is an ‘either/or’ situation here, and that they are accepting the principle, no matter how distant it may be in their view, that Micheál Martin could lead a Government,” he said.
“They have to accept that in order for us to sit down and explore the options of a viable Government, irrespective of which of them lead it.”
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[/raw]Dara Calleary says FF open to supporting FG minority government in talks #iestaff
— McConnellDaniel (@McConnellDaniel) April 10, 2016
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[/raw]We are moving toward end game says Dara Calleary.. hope so #iestaff
— McConnellDaniel (@McConnellDaniel) April 10, 2016
Earlier: The Independent Alliance has dismissed claims that it has been offered Cabinet positions in return for supporting a minority Government.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are set to lay out their proposals in historic talks this week.
Both parties are expected to outline how a minority Government would work, if they were win the support of independents.
The Independent Alliance's Shane Ross said that while they have joked about gaining ministerial office, it has never been seriously discussed.
"We've negotiated with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for months in open and closed sessions, and they have never mentioned, and nobody has ever mentioned to me once, even in one-to-ones, about a Cabinet post," he said.
Independent Mattie McGrath said that he is content that the parties are finally edging closer to Government formation.
"We know that the Government will have passage, not an easy passage, but will have passage on Budgets, will have passage on votes of confidence for at least three years," he said.
"Hopefully, there'll be simple ground rules that will apply to both parties signed up to a deal.
"That's what we want … and then we can work out a Government policy and decide who to support - but that will be no good if we haven't that road map laid down and hopefully they're edging ever so close, ever so slow, to that."
