Look who’s talking: the line-ups in government formation talks

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are circling each other while the Greens may offer to join in, but with a manifesto that may chafe with the bigger parties’ rural supporters

Fianna Fáil’s negotiation team: the party believes Leo Varadkar’s statement during the first leaders’ debate that he was open to a coalition with them helped Sinn Féin. Picture:Gareth Chaney/Collins

In the aftermath of Election 2020, it appeared that no party wanted to ask another out to dance. Last week, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil bumped into each other and exchanged numbers. And their first proper date will take place in the coming days when the two sit down to exchange policy papers.

This is the preliminary stages of forming a government and, for many, it will be tedious to watch. The public will grow ...