The Progressive Democrats are set to hold two senior and two junior ministerial posts in a renewed coalition with Fianna Fáil, which is now almost certain to be formed next Thursday.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are expected to discuss the share-out of government posts on Tuesday, after work is completed on the Programme for Government. It is considered likely that Ms Harney will be given the new post of Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and that the present Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, will also become a full minister.
Current minister of state Ms Liz O'Donnell and new Laois/Offaly deputy Mr Tom Parlon are also expected to become ministers of state. However, the old post of "super junior" minister is likely to be abolished.
This formula was invented for Democratic Left and the PDs in coalitions where they only had one full minister, to ensure that they had back-up at Cabinet meetings. It allowed for the appointment of a minister of state with an entitlement to sit at Cabinet meetings.
However, with Mr McDowell now expected to join Ms Harney at Cabinet, this post is no longer seen as necessary.
Reliable sources said yesterday that while a deal had not yet been completed between Mr Ahern and Ms Harney, it was very likely that the PDs would be given the two senior and two junior posts they are seeking.
Ms Harney yesterday publicly made her case for increased representation. Speaking after a two-hour meeting with Mr Ahern, she said: "The Progressive Democrats must have a meaningful role in the next government. We have doubled our representation in terms of seats. We had a meaningful role in the last government and we must have a meaningful role in this government."
Meanwhile, speculation is continuing that the notoriously cautious Mr Ahern may make a number of changes to the Fianna Fáil ministerial team. While the loss by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms Mary O'Rourke, of her Dáil seat creates a Cabinet vacancy, this will be filled by the elevation of Mr McDowell. Therefore, to promote anyone to Cabinet will involve the demotion of an existing minister. The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, at the age of 66, is seen as one who might be shifted by Mr Ahern.
There has also been speculation that current ministers Mr Joe Walsh, Mr Michael Smith, Ms Síle de Valera and even Dr Jim McDaid could be moved to make way for new Cabinet members. However, changes of this scale are considered unlikely.
Officials from both parties will continue drafting the Programme for Government over the weekend.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste yesterday agreed on a number of points of difference between the parties in the negotiations. These included a commitment to a scaled-back national stadium and the issues of personal tax cuts and privatisation. The completed document is to be put to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party at noon on Tuesday, to the Fianna Fáil national executive at 5 p.m. that day, and to the Progressive Democrats' general council at 7.30 p.m.
The Dáil will hold its first post-election meeting on Thursday. Mr Ahern is expected to be elected Taoiseach, following which he will travel to meet the President at Áras an Uachtaráin to receive his seal of office.
He will announce the composition of the Cabinet on his return to the Dáil, with the line-up of Ministers of State to be revealed some days later.