Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has launched an effort to re-establish a minority Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats government, supported by pro-Fianna Fáil Independent TDs, as the general election campaign enters its final days.
"I have said continually that Fianna Fáil people should continue on to the Progressive Democrats in areas where the Progressive Democrats are. And in other areas where there are other Fianna Fáil like-minded candidates, we should transfer to them," he said, speaking in Sligo.
From 1997 Mr Ahern led a five-year coalition with the Progressive Democrats supported by Independents Jackie Healy-Rae, Mildred Fox, Harry Blaney and, subsequently, the Independent Donegal South West TD, Tom Gildea.
All of the parties will hold their final press conferences today in advance of the 24-hour restriction on election coverage on television and radio stations, which begins at midnight.
Fearful of over-confidence and reinvigoration of Fine Gael support, senior Fianna Fáil figures repeatedly sought to downplay the significance of yesterday's Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, which found that the party's support had risen by five percentage points in 10 days.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte urged all those who want a change of government to vote for them on Thursday: "We are going to fight this right through to the end of poll on Thursday," said Mr Kenny.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen called on Fianna Fáil supporters to transfer to the Progressive Democrats, even if some of them were still annoyed by party leader Michael McDowell's handling of the controversy about Mr Ahern's personal finances early on in the campaign.
The Taoiseach's strategy to push for a minority FF/PD government is the first in a series of options that Fianna Fáil will engage in after the election results are announced, if Fine Gael and Labour, or Fine Gael/Labour and the Greens do not have the numbers to form a government.
Privately, however, senior Fianna Fáil figures are doubtful that such an alliance can be realised if Fianna Fáil does not win 75 seats, which is at the top end of what is now deemed possible given its belief that it has about a 39 per cent share of the first preference.
Some of them believe that the party could return with between 68 and 71 seats, particularly if they lose out on transfers.
The significance of transfers was highlighted by Mr Ahern yesterday, when he appealed to all voters to consider giving the party a preference vote of any kind.
The Irish Timespoll put Fine Gael and Labour on the defensive, as they sought to refocus the public's attention on to public services, particularly health, though they insisted that the poll does not reflect voters' views.
"Those who believe, like the Taoiseach does, that the health service is world class, well, they can vote Fianna Fáil," said Fine Gael deputy leader, Richard Bruton.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent is to issue his final pre-election call to supporters today, although he is not expected to call explicitly on them to transfer to Fine Gael and Labour. The Greens decided two years ago at their annual conference to run as an Independent party.
Last week Mr Sargent, who clearly favours a rainbow-style government, said he did not believe that Fianna Fáil and the Greens could form a coalition, on the basis of the polls as they stood then.
However, the arithmetic has changed somewhat since then. Though senior Fianna Fáil figures yesterday warned of the difficulties of forming such an alliance, it is clearly being closely examined.
