The Fianna Fáil leader has called on his party members to put the needs of the country ahead of the party.

Micheál Martin was speaking after the Green Party last night agreed to enter formal government-formation talks with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

The Greens' 12 seats would provide a government majority of five, which is expected to be bolstered by deals with independents

The party warned any programme for government would have to be “transformative on climate action” and approved by a two-thirds majority of its members.

File photo of Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan, 23-04-2020. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Deputy Martin told Newstalk that members of Fianna Fáil understand the urgent need for a Government with authority to deal with the pandemic.

“All of them get the urgency and necessity of this because of the crisis that COVID-19 has brought on the country and the world and a lot of people get the necessity to deal with the existential crisis that climate change represents as well,” he said.

“Obviously, there are many members that have concerns and will be worried about it but it seems to me that the overarching consideration is the needs of the country and the people of the country over and above party self-interest.”

He said he wants the COVID-19 recovery to be built on fairness and to begin as soon as possible.

File photo of Government Buildings. Picture by: Eleanor Keegan/RollingNews.ie

The three-party leaders are expected to meet tomorrow to draw up a timetable for the negotiations.

“What is next now is hopefully the three party leaders will meet over the next day or two and then we can work out the modus operandi – the parameters of how the talks could commence between the different teams representing each party,” said Deputy Martin.

“If we can get a programme for government with policy content agreed, then that is the key issue for the country.”

He said any new government must have the authority to last five uncertain years amid the pandemic and the looming threat of Brexit.

“The British Government seem at this stage to want to press ahead with it – notwithstanding the enormous shock that COVID-19 is bringing to the British economy, the Irish economy, the European economy and the global economy,” he said.

“I would still hope that wiser council would prevail in the UK. We all, as politicians, have an obligation to the people out there who need their jobs protected and need some sense of hope that there can be order in the midst of crisis.”

The Green Party’s TDs and Senators are believed to be split on the idea of entering talks – after their 17 demands for government were met with a mixed response by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings, 07-03-2020. Image: RollingNews

The parties refused to agree to a key target of reducing carbon emissions by 7% - although the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar did say it was something he would like to work towards.

He welcomed the Green Party decision last night, noting that “"Ireland needs a stable government to manage the remainder of the COVID emergency and to rebuild and renew our society and economy over the next five years.”

The Greens have warned that if the talks do not include strong proposals on climate action and commitments to a more sustainable and fairer society, it will walk away and pursue its mandate in opposition.