Six weeks on from the General Election, and we are finally getting closer to the business end of talks to form the next government.
After significant movement yesterday, the next administration is starting to take shape - and it is looking slightly differently to what we might have expected.
There was significant forward momentum when the Regional Independent Group of seven TDs sat down for their first formal talks with the negotiating teams of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
The group had met themselves earlier in the day and agreed to negotiate as a "cohesive group" with a joint policy paper.
When they arrived in Government Buildings at lunchtime they were coy about what exactly those policy priorities would be, other than - in the words of Seán Canney - "the interests of the State in total and their regions of Ireland".
The Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry was undeterred by the focus of recent days on the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.
He would continue to lead the group, saying: "I'm absolutely happy, I'm resolute, and we are very determined that we are going in here to do the best we can for the people who have elected us to Dáil Éireann."
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
While Mr Lowry is the older and wiser political operator of the group, first-time TD Barry Heneghan - aged 27 - will bring some youth to the team.
He had a pep in his step entering Government Buildings - "We are doing our best to get it over the line for the Irish people," he said.
The group sat down with Jack Chambers and Norma Foley of Fianna Fáil and Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe of Fine Gael.
They presented a document with priorities spanning all government departments. It is understood to be around 30 pagers in length.
They then met with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste paving the way for "intensive negotiations" over the weekend, going through those policies line by line.
Another significant development yesterday was the talks between Kerry Independents Danny and Michael Healy-Rae and Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.
What was up for discussion in the meeting where they were accompanied by other members of the Healy-Rae political dynasty, was not some sort of "ad hoc" or "confidence-and-supply" arrangement.
Rather they looked at policies on farming, fishing, the environment and health which the Kerry TDs would like to see in the Programme for Government in return for a commitment to support the coalition for five budgets.
The process will continue throughout the weekend, but a coalition of four parts - made up of the 86 TDs of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the seven Regaional Independents and the two Healy-Raes - is beginning to take.
This would give a sizeable government majority of eight - with 95 TDs in total.
Taoiseach Simon Harris, told RTÉ News that it was an "absolute must" that the incoming administration could deliver five budgets and that should be stated explicitly in any Programme for Government.
There is also a determination from all those involved to have a deal in place by the next Dáil sitting on 22 January.
Whether that is doable will become clearer over the weekends.
