Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are meeting to discuss policy as efforts to form a government continue.

It is the first of three days of talks between the two parties.

The slow dance around a government continues and it is expected much of the talk on Wednesday will relate to the response to the coronavirus, rather than policy negotiations.

The numbers are tricky as even a Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil coalition would not have the seats needed for a majority

They are eight seats short and The Green Party are refusing to engage in government formation talks.

They instead want a government of national unity.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are going to look at making up the numbers with Independent TDs.

But there is some argument for not changing a government while the coronavirus crisis is ongoing as this is not the best time to be changing ministers in key positions.

The coronavirus has made the process of forming a government even more uncertain as these talks start.

Reporting by Sean Defoe