Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Michael McDowell will have further talks today to try to end finally the row about Mr Ahern's explanation of his private finances.
But the Progressive Democrats leader is seeking a private guarantee from Mr Ahern that no further issues will emerge to threaten the Taoiseach's credibility before he commits to staying in power.
In addition, Mr Ahern must apologise publicly in some form for failing to inform Mr McDowell that he had bought his Dublin home from a businessman who attended the 1994 Manchester dinner where he received £8,000 sterling.
Mr Ahern has no intention, however, of returning to the Dáil to make any further statement on his personal affairs.
RTÉ reported last night that the PDs had received information from a third party relating to the Manchester dinner, which was causing concern to the party.
RTÉ said that the information was provided directly to the party, independently of the media, yesterday afternoon and it was now being examined by senior party figures.
Mr McDowell yesterday finally broke the silence he had maintained since Mr Ahern gave details in the Dáil on Thursday morning of the circumstances in which he had bought his house in Dublin.
Mr McDowell said damage had been done to the Government over the last week, but he said he was determined to "repair that damage.
"The Government is safe if the damage to the Government that has been done in recent times is repaired," said Mr McDowell, who said pointedly that he would talk again today with the Taoiseach.
Fianna Fáil and the PDs, Mr McDowell said, both "have the capacity to overcome the difficulties which were not of my creation, or my party's creation in recent times".
Mr Ahern and Mr McDowell met socially last night at a Gonzaga College dinner in Dublin following Mr Ahern's return from a constituency tour in Limerick and Clare. They agreed to talk again today.
In Limerick earlier yesterday Mr Ahern struck a conciliatory note and promised to consult Mr McDowell about his future dealings with the Mahon tribunal, subject to the tribunal's demands for confidentiality.
"We don't want any change. We are not trying to precipitate any difficulty. We don't want in any way to be difficult. We don't want this Government to break down."
Mr Ahern and Mr McDowell had not spoken since Thursday morning until they met at the Gonzaga function last night. However, Government sources indicated that discussions had been continuing between them through intermediaries.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said last night that Mr McDowell's handling of the crisis had managed to take attention away from the Taoiseach's acceptance of the Manchester monies.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, speaking in Clare, said Mr McDowell must clearly outline his problems with Mr Ahern.
"There are only so many times that [ he] can lead his divided troops up the hill only to lead then down again.
"What exactly is his complaint? Is he saying that he does not believe the Taoiseach? And is he saying that even though he does not believe the Taoiseach, he is, nonetheless, prepared to formally stay in office with him until he gets a harder excuse to leave?" asked Mr Rabbitte.
Green Party TD John Gormley said Mr McDowell and the PDs had clearly lost their nerve.
"They sulked, they threatened and then did nothing when faced down by Fianna Fáil."
He added: "This was a real test of his mettle and he has failed abjectly. Both Des O'Malley and indeed Mary Harney would have handled this situation far more expertly," said Mr Gormley.