The Latest Breaking News from Mary Lou McDonald

Mr Martin’s Fianna Fail emerged as the largest party following the Irish general election at the end of November.

The 78-year-old, who was credited with being a key backroom figure in Sinn Fein, died last week.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy has lodged his nomination papers for elections to the Dublin parliament.

Mary Lou McDonald said the incoming government in Dublin must also take ‘urgent’ steps to start planning for unity.

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

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

With the dust settled on the 2024 Irish general election, attention has turned to the negotiations which will lead to the formation of the next coalition government. Despite finishing in second place, with a seat tally of 39 (in a parliament of 174 seats), Sinn Féin will not be invited…

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also said it was unlikely that a new administration would be formed before Christmas.

Eoin O Broin said that while Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have the numbers to form a government, the deal has not yet been reached.

The two parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century have fallen just short of the combined number of TDs required for a Dail majority.

Ireland has, in effect, full employment, an expanded workforce and a booming economy. So why is it such a nation in flux, asks columnist and author Fintan O’Toole