The leaders of the main parties have once again (three times now) failed in their bids to become the next Taoiseach of Ireland.
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The Dáil will sit for the third time this afternoon in an attempt to vote for a Taoiseach – with no decisive outcome expected.
Minutes after Thursday’s vote, a downbeat Kenny addressed Martin across the chamber and invited him to return to partnership negotiations.
Kenny was backed by 52 members of parliament in the 157-seat lower house. That meant he won the support of just two outside his own party and one of the 15 independents he wants to return to power alongside.
There are still 13 independent TDs who have not yet declared who they will back in today’s vote, but their decisions will be crucial as to whether a minority government can be formed.
Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out the Irish Republican Army-linked party as a potential coalition partner citing its hard-left economic rhetoric and its paramilitary past.
Fianna Fail has tonight announced it is to negotiate with Fine Gael to facilitate a Fine Gael minority led government.
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On March 10 and April 6, the Dail Eireann failed to elect a Taoiseach during its first and second meeting after the general election.
