Hopes are rising tonight that a new government deal could be sealed this week.
The pressure is now on for the negotiators from the Greens, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to get down to business and sign-off on a Programme for Government this week.
Thursday evening is the latest deadline that has been jointly set by the party leaders.
This is necessary if a planned timeline of a new government by the end of the month is to be realised.
The momentum is there amongst the parties as it was revealed tonight that the business committee of the Dail - where all parties are represented - have agreed to suspend next Thursday’s House sitting.
This was agreed so that TDs from the potential new government partners may have time to sell the potential deal to their supporters.
The plan could be then for the new coalition party leaders to come back to Leinster House and sign off on the new Programme for Government next Friday.
If all the pieces fall into place, this could see a vote for a new Taoiseach in the National Convention Centre on Thursday June 25 after a postal vote of FG, FF and Green members.
Plenary sessions of all three negotiating parties will continue tomorrow on one of the crux issues, transport.
Tonight one source said the Green Party reps were “geeing themselves up” for an important day today where their policies will have to come out on top or a deal could be off.
Transport is key to the Greens as this is where huge amounts of carbon emissions come from through the nation’s fleet of private and public vehicles.
They have promised their voters in the general election that a 7% reduction on carbon emissions every year is a red line for entering coalition.
Elsewhere in Leinster House, the rural independents group met with the three party leaders, FF’s Micheál Martin, FG’s Leo Varadkar and the Green Party’s Eamon Ryan.
Independent TD for Tipperary, Mattie McGrath, spoke out against the Greens.
He said that a form of the red carpet, a “green rug,” was being laid out for Mr Ryan by the other two leaders.
Mr McGrath is afraid this would not be good for rural Ireland and the agriculture industry.
