FF and Greens put off ‘the personnel’ issue

THE talks between negotiating teams from Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have concentrated on policy areas only and will not turn to the actual composition of the government until the end of the process.

FF deputy leader Brian Cowen and two of Bertie Ahern’s most experienced ministers, Seamus Brennan and Noel Dempsey, are leading the negotiations on behalf of the bigger party.

More than a year ago, the Greens set up the Hamilton Committee, in honour of its late general secretary Dermot Hamilton. That committee has worked at formulating positions and strategies during talks for government. That level of preparation allowed the party speedily to enter meaningful negotiations with FF on policy — talks began within 48 hours of documents being exchanged.