GREENS WALK

SHOWDOWN talks will take place today as opposition parties bid to force a hobbled Government to pass its final law by Friday and trigger an immediate general election campaign.

The Government reluctantly conceded to the talks on the Finance Bill after the Greens ended weeks of procrastination by pulling out of coalition yesterday.

It left Taoiseach Brian Cowen leading a minority Fianna Fáil administration with just the bare minimum of ministers — seven — permitted by the Constitution.