The leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party are due to meet today as talks on forming a Government enter their final few days.

The leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party are due to meet today as talks on forming a Government enter their final few days. 
The negotiations take place against the backdrop of a Green Party leadership contest, after deputy leader Catherine Martin declared that she will run against Eamon Ryan for the position.
After an intense day of talks came to an end shortly before 10pm last night, negotiating teams for the parties said good progress had been made over the 12 hours of discussions on a number of areas.
This included the issue of transport, where a sticking point has been the proportion of spending on cycling and walking infrastructure versus roads.
As well as this, areas like energy and communications are also close to being finalised.
However, there were no breakthroughs on the larger issues of contention, which will require compromise if a government is to be formed.
These include how to achieve a 7% reduction in carbon emissions, and whether the pension age should be 66 or 67.
Those are among the issues likely to be discussed by the party leaders later.
While some much-needed momentum has been injected into talks this weekend, Ms Martin – herself part of her party’s negotiating team – declaring her intention to seek the party leadership has cast a shadow on the talks.
She says she will not campaign or canvass until the process has concluded, but this has done little to allay the concerns of the other two parties.
The Dublin-Rathdown TD wrote to around 100 party members yesterday confirming her intention to run.
Those members contacted include people who have nominated her ahead of the deadline, and those who have contacted her directly asking that she run for the position.
Sources claim she has received over 200 nominations – four times what is required. 
Ms Martin said the timing of the leadership election is “less than ideal” given that government formation talks are entering a critical phase.