The pre-negotiation posturing between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats ended yesterday when the sides faced each other across a table in Government Buildings.
Ten days after the general election the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, met for a discussion ahead of the meeting between their negotiating teams. The arrangements had been made during a telephone conversation on Saturday.
While Fianna Fáil has been making a show of keeping its options open on arranging support from Independent TDs, Mr Ahern seemed very positive about the negotiations between the two parties yesterday. He said he hoped the talks could be concluded by the weekend.
The Fianna Fáil team is the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, and the Government chief whip, Mr Seamus Brennan. The PDs are represented by the Attorney General, Mr McDowell, the party chairman Mr John Minihan, and Laois-Offaly TD Mr Tom Parlon.
The PDs are likely to seek two senior ministerial posts and two junior posts. It has been speculated that if Mr McDowell remained as Attorney General, this could solve part of the problem of senior positions for the PDs. However, he has indicated that he does not wish to continue in that post.
When Mr Parlon joined the PDs in January it was widely speculated that he did so on the basis of a promise of a post from Ms Harney, if the party got back into government.
Under the previous coalition arrangement the Taoiseach allowed the PDs four of his 11 nominees to the Seanad. However, one senior Fianna Fáil source pointed out yesterday that the party had a number of general election candidates who had almost been elected and would benefit from being made senators. Apparently a lot of interest had been expressed in the Seanad in recent days.
Fianna Fáil is to have a meeting today to examine who the best candidates would be for these positions.