Varadkar and Martin meeting 'constructive' but concludes without resolution

The two leaders agreed to consider what was raised and to meet again next week.

However, senior party sources said that neither party was prepared for an immediate withdrawal for fear of undermining progress in the Northern talks.

In a terse joint statement, the parties said: “The two leaders had a constructive meeting. They discussed Dáil numbers and possible legislative proposals which could be passed in a further Dáil session. They agreed to consider matters further and to meet again next week.”

Mr Martin was spotted heading back toward his office in Leinster House shortly after 7pm along with his chef de cabinet, Deirdre Gillane, and both appeared to be in upbeat mood.

The two leaders and their chief advisors met in an office just off the ministerial corridor which links Leinster House and Government Buildings.

Earlier in the day, Mr Varadkar declined three opportunities to rule out dissolving the Dáil before its scheduled return next Wednesday.

The Taoiseach has summonsed his parliamentary party to a special meeting in Dublin on Friday.

Fianna Fáil has been in a confidence and supply arrangement with Fine Gael since they failed to secure a majority in the last general election in 2016.

The confidence and supply agreement was extended in December 2018 amid Brexit uncertainty and to prevent a general election being held before 2020.

With the decisive election in the UK which saw a Conservative government returned, there has been pressure on Fine Gael to call a general election if the revised Brexit deal passes the UK parliament.

Mr Varadkar has previously said his preferred date for holding the next general election is May 2020, but an ongoing housing crisis and a record number of people on hospital trolleys has seen the Government come under sustained pressure.

In December, Fine Gael Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy narrowly survived a motion of no confidence with the support of some independent TDs.

With a motion of no-confidence in the Health Minister Simon Harris set to be tabled by a number of Independent TDs if the Dail returns next week, the motion highlights how precarious support for the Government is.