Kerry Deputy Michael Healy Rae says he is not putting himself forward as a new Minister for Rural Affairs but is open to the responsibilities a member of the Dáil holds.

Deputy Healy-Rae and his brother Danny have met with both the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to discuss the formation of the new Government.

Independent TDs are expected to be crucial components of new Dáil, and deputies Healy-Rae will meet with their supporters tomorrow night to make a decision on who'll they'll back.

Michael Healy-Rae is welcoming the fact that negotiations have begun:

He says the major parties have been slow to realise the urgency of the situation: