The Fianna Fáil leader says a Government deal could be done within days.

Negotiators from the Green Party, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will meet over the weekend as they try to finalise an agreement.

On The Hard Shoulder this evening, Micheál Martin said he’s hopeful the talks will finish up next week.

“The negotiations going on are earnest and serious and they will meet over the weekend,” he said.

“The objective is to get the talks concluded by next week, certainly before the end of next week.”

He said he remains confident members of his party will back the deal when it is put to a postal vote.

“There is a strong realisation there that the country needs a government,” he said. “The people need a Government that can last five years with a majority, to take decisions that can give effect to an economic recovery for the country – but also that changes the nature of society.”

He insisted the next Government will be able to affect change in housing, healthcare, the environment, taxation and education, even though the country is facing “huge financial issues” as a result of the virus.

He said he believes it will have “the backbone to make the right decisions and to take the right visionary approach in terms of getting out of this crisis.”

Deputy Martin said the country will be running a budgetary deficit for the next two or three years and “strong borrowing” will be needed to fund the recovery.

You can listen back to the full interview here: