Government talks to resume tomorrow as Seanad seats continue to fill
Talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on Government formation will resume tomorrow.
They have not met at all today as both parties continue to draft documents and have been holding their Parliamentary Party meetings this evening.
Earlier the Dáil debated the issue of water charges for four hours.
The outgoing Environment Minister Alan Kelly described the plan to suspend charges and possibly scrap them as economic, political and environmental sabotage.
Minister Kelly says charges are needed to see water conserved and the infrastructure upgraded.
Meanwhile, Lynn Ruane, Ivana Bacik, Ronan Mullen and Michael McDowell are the latest candidates to be elected to the new Seanad.
Lynn Ruane pipped outgoing senator Sean Barrett for the last Trinity seat, while, Labour's Ivana Bacik joined long-serving senator David Norris in being elected to the Trinity College panel.
Independents Ronan Mullen and former Tánaiste Michael McDowell were elected to the NUI panel this evening.
Alice Mary Higgins, the daughter of President Michael D. Higgins, is ahead of Padraigh O'Ceidigh for the final NUI seat.
