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Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are due to start "in-depth, detailed talks" with a view to forming the next Dáil (Irish parliament).

Negotiating teams from both parties said they would enter talks as equal partners.

Fianna Fáil won the most seats in January's election with 38, one ahead of Sinn Féin which had the highest number of first-preference votes.

Parties need 80 seats to form a government.

No single party has enough seats to govern.

In identical statements, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin held "constructive discussions" over the last two days about policy issues and the current political situation.

The two parties will also continue discussions with the Green Party.

The statements said that both leaders are "acutely aware of the enormous challenges facing the country particularly with the onset of Covid-19".

In a letter to Fine Gael's parliamentary members, Mr Varadkar said his intention was to allow more time for Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil to form a government but that the coronavirus outbreak was "a dramatic change in context".

He added that he and Mr Martin agreed that any government involving the parties would be based on "an agreed policy platform that builds on and protects the progress made by the last two governments".

The previous Fine Gael-led government was supported by Fianna Fáil in key votes in a confidence-and-supply agreement.

Mr Varadkar said he would seek the parliamentary party's approval next week before any formal talks on a programme for government begin.

Mr Martin has ruled out forming a coalition with Sinn Féin.