ENDA Kenny has defended the appointment of special advisers on six-figure salaries that exceed guidelines set down by his own administration.

Fine Gael and Labour negotiators have struck a draft deal for coalition government, which they will put to their rank and file in separate meetings today.

Fine Gael and Labour negotiators are battling to resolve final key issues in a draft deal to form a coalition government by next week.

Talks on a potential coalition government are continuing with Fine Gael reporting progress as they hit the weekend deadline.

Negotiating teams from Fine Gael and Labour once more faced each across the table at Leinster House this afternoon as efforts continued to thrash out a coalition deal.

Talks between Fine Gael and Labour on forming a coalition government will continue today ahead of a weekend deadline.

Negotiating teams from Fine Gael and Labour were going head-to-head for a second full day to strike a deal on forming a new coalition Government.

TOP-LEVEL negotiations between the probable government partners are to focus on the main policy differences exposed during the campaign.

The two main parties striving to crack a deal on coalition government have named their negotiation teams.

FINE Gael and Labour yesterday boycotted a private briefing with Finance Minister Brian Cowen over allegations his department breached its confidential system for costing proposals put forward by political parties.

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday unveiled a series of internal party changes aimed at boosting election prospects ahead of a two-day parliamentary party meeting in Clonmel this week.