Three groupings of independent TDs have emerged in recent days. A group of nine, headed by Denis Naughton and including Cathal Berry, Sean Canney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy, Matt Shanahan and Peadar Toibin, announced themselves on Tuesday.

Lowry and Grealish have left the Rural Independents, which now comprises Michael and Danny Healy Rae, Mattie McGrath, Michael Collins, Carol Nolan and Richard O’Donoghue. A third group comprising Michael Fitzmaurice, Marian Harkin and Michael McNamara have joined Thomas Pringle, Catherine Connolly and Joan Collins.

These groups will meet the major parties in advance of next week’s Dail sitting.