Fine Gael begin efforts to form minority government

Fine Gael’s to begin the process today of trying to firm up the support of Independents for a vote for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach next Thursday.
Meanwhile the Independent Alliance says it wants to attend a joint meeting with Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin.
With the only viable option remaining now for a Government being a minority one, both FG AND FF are aiming to have at least a number of Independents declare firmly for Enda Kenny or M M by the end of the weekend.
That will be a tough task given that the Independents don’t want to do this unless some agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is in place beforehand.
Fine Gael is also setting out its stall, saying that some form of written agreement from Fianna Fáil would be required before next Thursday’s Dáil sitting.
Meanwhile it’s understood the 6 member Independent Alliance is calling for a joint meeting with both Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin.
But given relations between teh two big party leaders are far from cordial after recent days, it’s not certain that such a meeting would take place.