With the 34th Dáil resuming later this month, the 'heavy lifting' of Government formation talks must get underway this week.

As the deadline for formation talks looms, this next few days will be critical for the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

On Newstalk Breakfast, the Irish Independent's Ireland editor Fionnán Sheehan said the "heavy lifting" of developing a programme for Government document must be done this week.

"[Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael] effectively have to get the bulk of a programme for Government document sorted this week, into early next week," he said.

"The leaders will then have to sort out any remaining items of contention - then they have to do a consultation with party members, probably the following weekend ahead of the Dáil returning on the 22nd."

Green Party portfolios

According to Mr Sheehan, the programme for Government document will be largely dictated by the Green Party portfolios in the previous Government.

"It’s not as if there are any major items of contention between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil that you can’t sort fairly easily," he said.

"It’s more the awkward issues of what happens with transport? What happens with energy? Do you split the two of them up?"

Mr Sheehan said the Green Party were criticised for "prioritising public transport" while lacking on the "delivery of projects".

He said the incoming Government will have to consider how sustainability and road-building programmes can "get going side-by-side".

"Likewise, with energy, there was a view that the Department Eamon Ryan had was just too big and too broad," Mr Sheehan said.

Image shows: (l to r) Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

"Then on Roderic O’Gorman’s side – taking imigration out of the Department of Children seems to be a priority there and moving it in to the Department of Justice."

Mr Sheehan said there is "some sensitivity" between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil when it comes to the Department of Justice.

"Fianna Fáil have been hugely critical of Fine Gael’s management of the Justice portfolio over recent years, with Helen McEntee," he said.

Mr Sheehan said another area of contention for the two parties is Fine Gael's proposed Department of Infrastructure.

Feature image shows the first sitting of the Dáil in December 2024, RollingNews.ie via Oireachtas Press Office