ANALYSIS: If the election result dictates that a coalition be formed, the parties are prepared for intensive talks and quick decisions, reports Mark Brennock, Political Correspondent
All the political parties have internal decision-making mechanisms at the ready in case they are called on to negotiate a programme for government.
In the case of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the party leaderships have total discretion about both choosing negotiators and deciding whether to accept any particular deal. However Labour, the Progressive Democrats, the Green Party and Sinn Féin are obliged to consult their ruling bodies and membership before agreeing to go into government.
Mr Bertie Ahern has complete freedom to negotiate with other parties and Independents after the election.
In 1997, he and a senior official first held discussions with Independents to ensure they had the necessary support. Mr Ahern then nominated a four-person team to negotiate the programme for government with the Progressive Democrats.
The same would happen this time, according to a party spokesman. And once the deal is concluded and approved by Mr Ahern, that's it.
Fine Gael has slightly broader consultation. The party leader and his front bench make the decision to enter negotiations and nominate negotiators. Any final deal is then also considered and ratified by the front bench.
Within the Progressive Democrats, the parliamentary party is empowered to open negotiations, while consulting with the party's general council during talks. This consultation would probably involve informal contact rather than full meetings of the 60-member body, which contains delegates from every constituency. A final deal would then have to be approved by the General Council.
The Labour Party's general council meets to decide whether to approve the opening of negotiations. Once a deal is agreed in talks with potential government partners, it must be put for approval to a special national delegate conference. Such a conference could theoretically be called overnight but it is likely that a few days notice will be given.
The Green Party and Sinn Féin have similar procedures. The Greens 17-person national co-ordinating committee - the party executive - would first meet, together with any newly elected TDs, to decide to open negotiations and to nominate a negotiating team.
This team would include the two existing TDs, and a non-TD who would have the particular role of representing the party membership and reporting back to them on the advantages and drawbacks of whatever programme for government emerges.
As with Labour, a special national convention of the party would have to be convened to decide whether to approve the final deal.
And while no party says it is prepared to deal with Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin is prepared in case it has to deal with them.
The party's ardcomhairle is due to meet a few days after the election and review the outcome. If there were any prospect of negotiations, the leadership could then nominate a negotiating team. A special ardfheis would then have to approve the idea of going into coalition in principle, before also deciding whether to approve the programme for government.