The Dáil is facing another stalemate next week with the overwhelming majority of Independent TDs unlikely to vote for either Enda Kenny or Micheál Martin when the House votes on candidates for taoiseach next Wednesday.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are then expected to talk to each other on how a minority government will be formed, but Mr Martin is likely to insist Fine Gael backs down from its position it will not support a Fianna Fáil minority government.

All 15 Independent TDs still in talks with the two main parties are expected to abstain or vote against both Mr Martin and Mr Kenny when the Dáil sits next Wednesday.

Mr Martin yesterday rang Mr Kenny and said he was prepared to talk to the acting Taoiseach after next Wednesday’s Dáil sitting.

Fine Gael has called for the two party leaders to meet before then, claiming Mr Kenny had texted Mr Martin asking him to do so.

Fianna Fáil claimed Mr Martin did not see the text before making his position known to the media.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae accused the two parties of behaving like children over such a trivial issue, while Shane Ross, another Independent involved in the talks, said it was "adolescent".

On the main issue of government formation, Fianna Fáil has indicated it will support a Fine Gael minority government on a case-by-case basis. But Fine Gael has said it will not offer similar support to a Fianna Fáil minority government.

In the likely event of nobody being elected taoiseach next week, the Dáil is expected to meet a week or a fortnight later to vote again.

Economic reforms

Between the two votes, Fianna Fáil sources say the party could begin to talk to Fine Gael on how a minority government could work while relying on the support of the main opposition party.

This favoured "Tallaght strategy" approach would mirror the policy followed by Fine Gael in 1987 when it did not oppose economic reforms proposed by the Fianna Fáil minority government.

Fianna Fáil expects the negotiations to centre on budgetary parameters, political reform measures such as the drafting of the budget and how motions of confidence and other Dáil matters could be handled.

Fianna Fáil has stressed any talks between the two parties after next week’s vote, in the event of it ending in stalemate, must be conducted as equals.

At the same time, both parties would pursue the support of Independents for a minority government led by either Mr Kenny or Mr Martin.