A draft programme for government will be distributed later on Wednesday to the TDs

Ivana Bacik and Ged Nash said the next government would be of the ‘status quo’

The Sinn Féin leader was nominated by two party members, Pearse Doherty and new TD Joanna Byrne.

‘We have to see does Donald Trump essentially decide to start a trade war with us,’ one TD said.

But they said that ‘not a single’ bit of Christmas shopping had been done.

Ms Murphy is widely expected to emerge with the most votes following a deal between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with the Independents.

The next government is expected to be made up of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and a group of independents

The Sinn Fein president said her party may not have won the recent Irish election, but in some ways ‘won the campaign’.

Simon Harris said he has a duty to speak to independents and parties who want to form a ‘stable government’

Talks about forming a new government following the general election are continuing

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said they have not yet had a ‘substantive’ response to their policy priorities outlined during formation talks.

Ivana Bacik said notes taken during a meeting and shared with the media were inaccurate.

The Taoiseach said he did not doubt the sincerity of the eight independents vying to be in government.

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch won more than 3,000 first preference votes in the general election, narrowly missing out on a Dáil seat.

It is expected that independents will form the third part of a coalition government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil

The New York businessman will become the 47th president of the United States on January 20th

Ivana Bacik held separate meetings with Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin on Tuesday.

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Analysis of data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union also reveals that the incoming Dáil will rank among the lowest in the world

Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald said her party is the only one that Fianna Fáil has not spoken to in terms of a new coalition government.

Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the recent poll, securing 48 of the Dail’s 174 seats, ahead of Sinn Fein on 39 and Fine Gael on 38.

Fianna Fáil's Catherine Ardagh has encouraged people to report any remaining posters to politicians, who can be reached via email or social media.

Simon Harris said he was open minded as to whether Fine Gael and Fianna Fail secure a majority with the support of independent TDs or a smaller party.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with a combined 86 seats, are just short of the 88 required for a majority.

The Independent TD for Kerry said the meeting lasted an hour and it was “productive and positive”.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she had set up meetings with Green leader Roderic O’Gorman and the Social Democrats

Leader Mary Lou McDonald said it is ‘still very much game on’

Micheál Martin said his party had now mandated him to begin negotiations with others to form a government that ‘can last the full term’

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also said it was unlikely that a new government would be formed before Christmas.

What are the options available to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael? And could a coalition be formed without them?

Fianna Fáil was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dáil’s 174 seats

With only two of the Dáils 174 seats left to be decided, Fianna Fáil is the clear winner of Friday’s general election and is set to emerge with the most TDs on 48.

A return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael government looks odds on, but uncertainty remains oaround the make up of the other parties.

The Fianna Fáil leader looks set for a return to the role of Taoiseach – a position he held between 2020 and 2022.

Fianna Fáil is on course to be Ireland’s largest party after the general election

Fianna Fáil looks on course to secure the most seats and had a stable vote in many areas

The gangland figure missed out on the last seat in the Dublin Central constituency to the Labour Party’s Marie Sherlock.

Cian O’Callaghan said he is ‘delighted’ with his party’s performance.

Ivana Bacik did not rule out going into government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

Roderic O’Gorman said ‘that’s politics’ of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail’s criticism of the Green Party.

Simon Coveney said a smaller party would be a better coalition partner than a smattering of independents.

Both were elected on the final count as it brings to a a close over 60 hours of counting in the general election.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael looked well placed to return to power but Sinn Fein insists it could be part of a new government of the left.