A deal for a new government has to be made within the next few days, a Fianna Fail TD has said.
Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath, who is on the party's negotiating team said that a deal for a new government needs to be agreed on ahead of June's deadline when some legislation is due to lapse.
He said party members must vote to approve a deal and admitted there is concern amongst Fianna Fáil members about a coalition with Fine Gael.
Speaking on RTE radio he said: "We are having extensive engagement with councillors and there are different views but I can tell you one thing.
"We will not be taking the support of our members for granted. Our party is built on the support of our members, so their say is crucial."
He added: "If we do manage to agree a draft programme for government, it will probably be the largest exercise of democracy within a political party that has happened in this state.
"Thousands of members will have the final say as to whether Fianna Fail will enter government."
McGrath admitted that now they're in week four of these negotiations a decision has to be made very soon.
"Not having a government with the capacity to legislate has a real cost.
"It has a real cost in relation to the type of supports that need to be put in place and can only be put in place through legislation."
When asked if a deal could be made by next week he said: "I think it needs to be.
"The reality for us as a party is that we need at least 10 days to go through the process and giving our members a vote which is their right under our rules.
"If you take the last week of June as the deadline for having a government then that is a reasonable deadline.
"A deal needs to be done next week - we have days, not weeks and Fianna Fail remains committed to doing all we can to get this over the line. The country needs a new government and it needs it soon."
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