The Independent Alliance says it has agreed to further dialogue with Fine Gael following a meeting with the Taoiseach today.

The group says it discussed the alliance's "Charter for Change" in detail and agreed to exchange documents ahead of more talks.

Relations between the two sides had been tense after Shane Ross of the Independent Alliance described Enda Kenny as a "political corpse".

Meanwhile the Social Democrats told the Taoiseach today that there must be an all-party forum on political reform before a new Government is elected.

The party’s three leaders, Stephen Donnelly, Roisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy, all met with the Taoiseach today.

Following the meeting, Donnelly said “there was an agreement on all sides of the urgent need for freeform” in order to tackle “significant crises” currently affecting Irish society.

Today's talks come ahead of the return of the Dail on Thursday, when none of the party leaders is expected to have enough support to be elected Taoiseach.