RTE News is reporting that Fianna Fail and the Green Party have finally agreed a draft programme for government:

The Green Party and Fianna Fáil have agreed a draft programme for government.

The 90-page document is to be put to a special Green Party conference tomorrow afternoon and will also be discussed by the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.

Speaking this evening, Minister Séamus Brennan said the draft programme covered all major policy areas but did not deal with distribution of Ministerial Portfolios.

Mr Brennan said these would be decided by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern when they meet tonight or tomorrow morning.

Trevor Sargent said they believed the roadblocks which led to the collapse of talks on Friday have been worked through.

But he said it would be the party's members who will democratically decide if the party is to enter the next Government.

Mr Sargent also said members at tomorrow's convention will not be told how many ministries the party can expect if they approve the coalition.

Speaking at a news conference in Dublin, he said they would not be discussing Government formation tomorrow but only the policy platform agreed with Fianna Fáil.

He said it was recognised there would be a role for the two deputies from the Progressive Democrats and for Independents, but that was a matter for the Taoiseach.

He said he was very happy that if the deal were approved, there would be major changes in people's employment and quality of life.

The cynic in me wonders if this is the last sniff of democracy they'll get for the next five years? Anyway, from the above it seems that the PDs are definitely in, as are a smattering of former-FF Independents.

IrishElection.com has the statement from the Green Party. They also ask a number of "What now?" questions, including the crucial question: how many of the Greens' policies from their election manifesto will make it into the government programme without being watered down?

The Sunday Independent is reporting that Fianna Fail and the Greens are resuming coalition negotiations - maybe all is not lost?

Bertie Ahern

"Fianna Fail renews contact with Greens on coalition talks

Fianna Fail has confirmed that it has made contact with the Green Party again this afternoon with a view to restarting coalition negotiations.

A spokesperson for the party said contact is now expected to proceed between the two parties this afternoon.

It was suggested earlier today that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was anxious to meet the Green Party leader Trevor Sargent in a bid to revive the stalled talks.

This followed an article Mr Ahern penned in today's Sunday Independent in which he said there is much common ground between the parties, despite the breakdown of their coalition talks.

Green party negotiator Dan Boyle said he believes the Taoiseach is sending a clear message that he thinks agreement between the two parties is possible."

Update: More news on this and other developments today from RTE News.

Dail

So, in the aftermath of the Irish General Election, Bertie has been courting the Green Party in order to put together his grand coalition involving PDs and various Independents. After a week of negotiations, there is still no resolution and the Greens appeared to throw their toys from the pram and walk away from a shot at Government. However, this morning's Sunday Independent is hinting that Bertie himself may intervene with the negotiations and hammer out a deal with the Greens' boss, Trevor Sargent.

It would appear that he has the PDs in the bag, with Mary Harney holding onto the Health portfolio and a couple or three ex-TDs being appointed to the Seanad.

If I were  member of the Green Party, I'd have to wonder how a party with just two TDs (Progressive Democrats) gets a major seat at the cabinet table and a few seats in the Seanad, whereas the Greens - with 6 TDs - are offered one portfolio (Environment being the obvious choice). Could we see another ministry headed by a Green TD? And how many Fianna Fail noses would b put out of joint by this move?
 
Or will Bertie press ahead and form a government without the Greens? He could do this, based on the numbers, relying on support from PDs and various Independents. However, this wouldn't be hugely stable, and it would involve appeasing some very local demands from the Independents.

The Dail sits on Thursday to elect a Taoiseach - we may well see a FF/PD/Green agreement in place by then. Bertie is quite experienced a pulling the rabbit out of the hat.

What an interesting couple of weeks it's been for Bertie Ahern. After spending an inordinate amount of time with Ian Paisley (Dr. No) and appearing like his long lost brother while on TV, he then went to London and addressed the combined British Houses of Parliament - the first Irish Leader to do so.

I think it's safe to bet Bertie never thought he'd step inside Westminster, let alone address its MPs and Peers.

It also looks like he's pulling in a few favours from his international buddies, improving his statesmanlike image in the run up to the Irish General Election (May 24th). Check out this party political broadcast from Fianna Fail - truly, the Bertie fan club is quite exclusive!