Fine Gael and Labour close to agreeing pact

Fine Gael and Labour are close to agreeing an election voting pact which will see party leaders and canvassers ask voters to give their outgoing coalition colleagues their second vote in some cases.

Labour has held a number of policy forums in recent months where grassroots members made it clear that they were opposed to any joint election manifesto.

However, party sources have confirmed that a voting pact is now on the cards. This was indicated by senior members of government yesterday.