Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be scrambling for even more Independents to prop up their expected coalition after it emerged Seán Ó Fearghaíl is on course to be voted back in as the Ceann Comhairle in two weeks’ time.

Another Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil-led coalition could be complicated by whether the two parties are willing to make concessions sought by the other.

The next Government will most likely be a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael coalition propped up by "sensible" independents. Although a handful of seats are yet to be filled, it is expected that Fianna Fáil will be the largest party with 48 seats, Fine Gael will have 38 TDs and Sinn Féin will 39 seats.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said Fianna Fáil's negotiating team will be chaired by outgoing Minister for Finance Jack Chambers

Fine Gael is willing to ‘recognise’ the additional seats Fianna Fáil has secured, but not at the expense of parity of esteem in government

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman says there are ‘no regrets’ about going into a three-party government in 2020, but said the two main coalition partners did them ‘no favours’.

With the two large parties look set to share power again, the shape of a programme for government can begin to be gleaned from their election promises.

Parity of esteem is the glue that keeps a coalition together,” said one senior Fine Gael figure. It is thought a continuation of the rotating taoiseach arrangement and near p