As the Labour/DL talks resume this month there is now no doubt among both hierarchies but that the merger will go ahead. The initial process involves reaching agreement on political principles. Those at the top, as opposed to grassroots members on both sides, believe this can be achieved easily enough. After that, the organisational problems, which will be much more difficult, in that they centre on personalities and constituencies, will be tackled.
The six-a-side negotiating teams, led by Labour's Brendan Howlin and Tommy Broughan and DL's Pat Rabbitte and Eamon Gilmore, will sell the deal as of benefit to the left generally. Rather than just adding 18 Labour deputies to DL's four, they want to draw from a larger pool and increase the left to the point where, for the first time, it can lead a government. The highest left vote was 22 per cent in 1992, dismal by European standards, and the aim is to broaden the appeal with new policies and ideas.
Both sides are anxious that the situation should be sorted out and agreed policies in place before Christmas so candidates can be immediately selected for the June European and local elections. An initial argument - that the merger should be postponed so local rows between rival politicians could be resolved, categorically, by the electorate - was rejected as some candidates would be lame ducks from the start.
Predictably, seats and jobs are the difficulty. Where both parties have strong representatives, especially where both have sitting deputies, there is little enthusiasm for the merger, although some are now beginning to feel that they might help each other and get two seats for the new group. Then there's the issue of jobs. It is accepted that Rabbitte will become a leading figure in the new grouping, as Proinsias De Rossa's future position is unclear (he may run for Europe), but what position will he get? Labour leader, Ruairi Quinn, it is reliably reported, would not tolerate Rabbitte as finance spokesman. So, it is now being speculated that the new party will use the so-called "SIPTU type solution" and create a new post of second deputy leader. There will be many such moves in the months ahead.