FIANNA FAIL and Progressive Democrats negotiating teams will have their first meeting in Dublin this afternoon, and expect to have agreed a programme for government by the weekend.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, and the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, met for more than an hour in Mr Ahern's office yesterday afternoon to discuss the formation of a government. It could not be ascertained last night whether they had discussed how many Cabinet seats, junior ministries and other posts would be held by each party.
Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats are now set to have 81 Dail seats between them when the Dail resumes on June 26th, unless the rechecking of votes in Dublin South East results in Mr Michael McDowell of the PDs retaining his seat contrary to expectations.
If a member of one of the present Government parties or an independent is elected Ceann Comhairle, the Fianna Fail/PD alliance will then be just two seats short of 83, the number required for an overall majority of one.
Although enough independents are expected to support the formation of a government led by Mr Ahern, none would confirm this yesterday. Independent Fianna Fail deputy Mr Harry Blaney, Wicklow's Ms Mildred Fox, television deflector candidate Mr Tom Gildea, former Fianna Fail man Mr Jackie Healy Rae and Dublin Central deputy Mr Tony Gregory all said they had not made up their minds, and would wait to bear what Mr Ahern had to say to them.
Mr Michael Lowry has said he will support Mr Bruton, while the Socialist Party deputy, Mr Joe Higgins, has said he will support neither candidate for Taoiseach.
Fianna Fail will be represented at the negotiations by its chief whip, Mr Dermot Ahern, and environment spokesman, Mr Noel Dempsey, with advisers Dr Martin Mansergh and Mr Gerry Hickey.
Former minister Mr Bobby Molloy and justice spokeswoman Ms Liz O'Donnell will represent the Progressive Democrats with advisers Mr John Murray and Mr Maurice Roche.
The programme for government is expected to detail specific objectives for personal tax reductions, action against crime and the setting of public spending targets. The programme will cover all areas of government policy, and spokesmen for both parties said last night that they foresaw no major disagreements.
The four Progressive Democrat TDs and one of their defeated deputies, Ms Helen Keogh, met in Dublin yesterday afternoon to discuss the outcome of the election and the future of the party. PD sources say there is unanimity within the party that going into government is the only realistic option.
A number of Independent deputies yesterday set out conditions they want to see met before they decide whom to support in the vote to elect a Taoiseach.
The new Kerry South TD, Mr Healy Rae, who ran as an Independent only because he failed to get a party nomination, said yesterday that he wanted to see if he could "sort out certain small problems in south Kerry" before making a decision.
He mentioned employment and local roads as issues which were of concern to him and said: "If Bertie Ahern wants to discuss this with me I am available." While declining to state what he would do if not satisfied on these "small problems", he said he was not afraid of another general election, and would increase his vote if one took place.
Mr Blaney said that if Fianna Fail did not commit itself to another referendum on abortion, and to a policy of seeking a British declaration of intent to withdraw from Northern Ireland, he would not support it.
Mr Gregory said: "I will listen to what they have to say and I will then say something back to them. But I won't engage in hypothetical negotiations before then."
Donegal South West deputy Mr Gildea said he had made no decision on whom he would support for Taoiseach. The retention of television deflector systems was his main aim, but he would also be seeking action on other issues affecting rural communities such as unemployment, emigration and poor infrastructure.