THE Progressive Democrats are expected to get one senior Cabinet position and two junior ministries from negotiations with Fianna Fail on the formation of a new coalition government.
As talks between the parties continue today, sources in Leinster House indicate that the PDs leader, Ms Mary Harney, will also be given the title of Tanaiste, although the post will be stripped of its office. In addition, Ms Harney is expected to hold a senior ministry, while the position held by Mr Pat Rabbitte, which allows him to attend Cabinet meetings, will go to one of her colleagues.
While speculation grew about the share out of Cabinet seats Mr Bertie Ahern and Ms Harney said they had not yet addressed the issue and were concentrating on devising a programme for government.
They await the outcome of the marathon count in Dublin South East. Should the outgoing TD, Mr Michael McDowell of the PDs secure the seat this would ease the difficulty of creating a government. Sources also say the chairmanship of a prestigious Oireachtas committee would also be available to the PDs.
The party has just four Dail seats, but Seanad places may be available for the two TDs who lost their seats, Ms Mairin Quill and Ms Helen Keogh.
Following an hour long meeting with Ms Harney yesterday, Mr Ahern confirmed he had had some "loose" contact with newly elected Independent deputies but could not receive any support from that quarter unless Fianna Fail and the PDs had produced a programme for government.
"I have to look at the issue of Independents support and get elected Taoiseach. Then we have to both ensure that the government continues to win votes from those Independents ... I do not think we are going to get formal arrangements from Independents. But, certainly, I am going to try to find out what their thinking is and both Mary Harney and I can assess where we are likely to receive support," he said.
The Independent TD for Dublin Central, Mr Tony Gregory, last night confirmed he had not been approached by any party to consider accepting the job of Dail Ceann Comhairle, "or support for anybody". In spite of speculation that Mr Desmond O'Malley would be interested in the post, it seems unlikely that it will be filled from within the new coalition due to its combined strength of just 81 seats.
After the election of the Ceann Comhairle, 83 seats are needed for a working majority.
The central issues in the discussions involve the economy, taxation, employment, environment, marginalisation, crime and Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern said. He and Ms Harney had already had a "very successful" briefing from officials at the Department of Finance to ensure their proposed figures were feasible.
Meanwhile, the development of policy on the North involved attempting to procure "a cessation of violence that would lead to all party inclusive talks without preconditions".