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Varadkar and Martin to meet amid election speculation

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Leo VaradkarImage source, PA

The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) and opposition party leader are to meet later amid speculation a general election could be called.

The meeting between Leo Varadkar and Miche谩l Martin could determine the timing of the election, reports Irish broadcaster RT脡.

The election could be held within a month, analysts suggest.

The leaders set out their priorities for extending the D谩il term in letters exchanged before Christmas.

Mr Varadkar set out a number of issues in his letter that he said he wanted resolved before agreeing to an election date.

The Taoiseach called for his Fianna F谩il counterpart to "agree to vote with the government where necessary, rather than abstain".

Image source, PA

But Mr Martin has said there was "no question" of his party supporting the government in confidence votes.

Why does Fine Gael need Fianna F谩il's votes?

The results of the Irish general election in May 2016 failed to secure Fine Gael a majority government.

To form a government - a process which took more than two months - Fine Gael sought a confidence-and-supply agreement with opposition party Fianna F谩il.

Both parties are electoral rivals.

But the agreement has seen Fianna F谩il facilitate the passage of four budgets by the minority administration.

This agreement was extended in December 2018 for one more year, which ensured a general election could not be held before 2020.