The options for the formation of the next government were thrown open again last night after the breakdown of talks between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party and the disclosure that the Progressive Democrats have already begun talks on a new programme for government with Fianna Fáil.
The former Labour leader, Ruairí Quinn, appeared to raise the prospect of a deal between his party and Fianna Fáil if a government is not elected next Thursday.
Mr Quinn refused to rule himself out as a potential ceann comhairle. "That's a very interesting proposition. It's not for me to speculate on. I'm not aware of any such proposal." He said he would have to wait and see what happened. "I'm a member of the Labour Party. I will be guided by what the Labour Party thinks is the best thing to do."
With just five days to go before the first meeting of the 30th Dáil, the shape of the next government remains unclear. The opening of talks between Fianna Fáil and the PDs means that the Taoiseach may be falling back on a deal with his current partners and like-minded Independents.
However, Fianna Fáil negotiator Séamus Brennan said the gap between Fianna Fáil and the Greens could still be bridged, and his party was ready for further discussions.
"We are very practical people and we have a mandate that we can't just tear up," he said. "It's incumbent on both sides if they want to move it on and I believe there is ground to bridge these gaps and we are available for discussion and I believe party leaders will be available too."
Mr Brennan said he thought both sides were "very close" to a deal and he was "somewhat surprised" they were not able to conclude one.
He refused to say if Fianna Fáil would like to talk to the Labour Party if no government is formed next week. The Taoiseach has "a number of options and I know that as Taoiseach he will be reflecting on those options", he said.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent insisted that no avenue leading to the party's involvement in any future coalition government had been closed off, despite the breakdown of talks with Fianna Fáil.
"We are not giving up now. The point is we have taken this as far as we can and the ball is now in the hands of others. Our door is open to all who wish to discuss the formation of a sustainable and stable government," Mr Sargent told a press conference in Dublin.
He refused to specify the difficulties both sides failed to resolve during 40 hours of negotiations, but he said there had been some agreement on all issues. However, he did say "big ticket" areas where it was not possible to reach common ground included climate change, education, local government reform and healthcare.
Mr Sargent made no mention of corporate donations and refused to go into detail when asked if common ground had been reached there. He said the talks with Fianna Fáil did not involve the role of the PDs or Independents in a government. "It was all to do with policy."
Mr Quinn said that his party will vote for Enda Kenny as taoiseach next Thursday as per its alliance with Fine Gael but that the situation could change after that responsibility has been discharged.
"If there is no taoiseach elected after next Thursday then every party, as Trevor Sargent has already said, has a responsibility to find a solution. I think everybody wants to see a stable and sustainable government," he said.
A Labour spokesman said last night if the Taoiseach contacted Pat Rabbitte next week and said he wants to see him then out of courtesy Mr Rabbitte would do so. But he added that it is still Labour's aim to put Fianna Fáil out of power.