Updated, 19:11

FIANNA FÁIL has confirmed it is ending its bid to lead a new government, after Micheal Martin registered a third failure in his bid to become Taoiseach.

For the third time in four weeks, Micheal Martin failed to win the support of any TDs outside his own party - and again recorded the support of only his own 43 TDs in Fianna Fáil.

That was despite a 'now or never' ultimatum from the Fianna Fail leader last night, claiming he would withdraw from his efforts to form a minority government if he did not attract more support today.

Enda Kenny registered the support of just 52 TDs, one more than last week - with independent TD Katherine Zappone voting for him.

However, he remains far off a majority - and would require the support of a further six TDs in order to win any Dail votes where Fianna Fail agrees to abstain.

Afterwards, Kenny spoke of 'a sense of urgency' and issued an invitation for more talks.

"I'd like to invite Deputy Martin to meet with me to authorise the continuation of discussions and negotiations on the formation of a government," he said.

Micheal Martin said after this vote, it was time 'to move on' from previous disputes - but questioned whether that was possible in the current case.

"There are very significant concerns relating to these discussions, and whether this entire process can be completed," he said.

"The single most important change required to make any new arrangement work, is to abandon the mindset of trying to spin and control everything."

One ultimatum leads to another

14 Independent TDs abstained today and are refusing to budge until the two larger parties agree that they each have an equal right to lead a minority government.

Their statement, signed: pic.twitter.com/pR8QS0AzEJ

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) April 14, 2016

This could be seen as an ultimatum of its own to Fine Gael - saying that the larger party must be prepared to install Micheal Martin as Taoiseach, if the independents choose to back him in a government.

Shane Ross commented that independent TDs were accustomed to being "lovebombed" in talks with the two larger parties - but "the problem here is that you won't lovebomb each other".

Katherine Zappone - the only independent who had attended any coalition talks, and who voted in Kenny's favour today - said she had voted in the hope that it might speed up the process of forming a government.

However, this morning the Dublin South West TD had tweeted to say she would be abstaining in today's votes.

There was one moment of co-operation between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil today - in the Dail vote to arrange the next day of business.

They have agreed to reconvene next Wednesday morning at 10:30am - but with no agenda agreed in advance, and with the day's work 'to be considered on that date'.

With no business scheduled, this could serve as an informal deadline for government talks - raising the prospect that, without progress on that date, Enda Kenny could himself concede defeat and seek to dissolve the Dáil.