Fianna Fáil's parliamentary party has agreed to enter government formation talks with everyone but Sinn Féin.
A meeting of the party's TDs has ended after four hours of discussions.
There was no challenge to Micheál Martin's leadership after the election, and it's understood the room is behind the stance on not negotiating with Mary Lou McDonald's party.
Fianna Fáil's Marc MacSharry said it was "just not possible" from a policy perspective for the party to contemplate a government with Sinn Féin.
Marc MacSharry says there was overwhelming support in the FF parliamentary party for not doing a deal with Sinn Féin pic.twitter.com/OoFxipphpb
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 13, 2020
One TD said they would have no credibility if they did after repeatedly saying they wouldn't do it during the election.
That would leave only two options on the table for Micheál Martin if he hopes to form a government.
One would be a 'grand coalition' of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens or another party to make up the numbers.
The other option would be a return to a confidence and supply agreement, but with Fianna Fáil leading it.
One Fianna Fáil PP member tells me don't entirely rule out them working with Sinn Féin.
"You can't change your principles overnight. But maybe you can over three weeks"— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 13, 2020
