FG and Labour assign negotiating teams
The Fine Gael and Labour leaders are to meet this afternoon to decide if enough common ground exists between them to begin talks on forming a Government.
This morning, the Taoiseach-in-waiting Enda Kenny talked to Eamon Gilmore on the phone after a failed attempt yesterday.
Both men exchanged pleasantries, chatted for a few minutes and agreed to sit down face-to-face this afternoon.
Senior members of both parties have already met separately and assigned their negotiating teams, as work must begin immediately if a deal is to be struck in time to put before a special Labour conference next weekend as is required by the party's rules.
One thing that may upset Labour though is that Fine Gael is adamant that at all times it will keep its options open, in other words parallel talks could go on with any other group or party, though excluded from that is Fianna Fáil.
