Major elements of the Green Party's policies, including the need for a carbon tax and an end to corporate donations, will be highlighted in a document to be handed over shortly by the party to Fianna Fáil.
The document will form a central role in helping Fianna Fáil to decide if real and substantial negotiations can begin with the Greens next week, or whether it must concentrate solely on the Progressive Democrats and the Independents.
The opening contact from Fianna Fáil, by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's programme manager, Gerry Hickey, was made yesterday afternoon. He sought an exchange of position papers to help establish "the extent to which our respective policy approaches have a basis for further discussion".
The Greens have already begun preliminary preparations to hold a national convention the weekend after next, which will be necessary to approve, or reject the outcome of any negotiations from the talks, if they begin.
Work on streamlining the party's general election manifesto began in the days after the election, though sources insist it is an attempt to highlight core issues, rather than delete potential troublesome ones.
The Greens' negotiating team comprises Dublin South East TD John Gormley and ex-Cork South Central TD Dan Boyle. The party's national co-ordinator, Cllr Dominick Donnelly and the chairwoman of the party's national council, Trish Forde-Brennan, will also be involved.
The decision to open up another front in the preliminary coalition contacts strengthens Fianna Fáil's hand, since it can play the Greens off against the Progressive Democrats and, or the five Independents.
Meanwhile, Mr Ahern flatly rejected suggestions that he would order an end to the use of Shannon airport by the US military as one of the prices of putting together a coalition. Speaking in Berlin before a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel last night, the Taoiseach said: "I will not change my position on Shannon."
Two Independent TDs, Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath, signed a pre-election letter demanding an end to Shannon's availability to the US. The Green Party's six TDs did not, although some unelected Green candidates did sign it.
Dublin North Central TD Mr McGrath has given contradictory signals about his attitude to the future use of Shannon, indicating first that it "was not one of my holy grails", to then saying that he would need change.
Meanwhile, PD leader Mary Harney has reacted with irritation to party president Tom Parlon's decision early yesterday to cast doubt on Fine Gael's ability to form a coalition. He had dismissed the prospect of a Fine Gael-led administration out of hand.
"I think there was a lack of realism about that particular possibility in terms of the numbers. I mean it's all about the numbers and I don't think we will really see Fine Gael coming up with the numbers to form a government," said the former Laois-Offaly TD.
In a pointed statement last night, a party spokesman said: "The national executive of the PDs has mandated Mary Harney to decide the best course of action for the party in terms of the options for government or otherwise. Mary Harney has been keeping her counsel on these matters. She has not ruled anything in or out. She now intends to take a short break," said the spokesman, who was requested to provide a formal comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael strongly rejected Mr Parlon's views: "We still believe there is scope for an alternative government to be formed that is not led by Fianna Fáil and we are continuing to work on that basis."
Though Fianna Fáil has made official contacts with four of the Independents, including ex-party TD Beverley Flynn, Mr Ahern has not yet ordered contact with Mr Gregory.