Fianna Fáil confirms talks with Greens

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fáil party is to enter into formal talks with the Green Party tomorrow to see if they can find a basis for forming a coalition Government.

Talks will be held at Government buildings in Dublin, it was announced tonight, after the Green Party National Executive Committee met and endorsed a recommendation from leader Trevor Sargent that they should enter exploratory talks about forming a coalition.

Both parties today separately completed their study and assessment of the policy and discussion documents, which had been exchanged in recent days.

In a statement, Fianna Fáil said it had "now been informed by the Green Party that, following meetings of their parliamentary party and their National Executive Council, that the documents contain sufficient common policy objectives to allow for formal talks to commence between both sides as to the possible formation of a coalition government.

"Fianna Fáil is of a similar view. Talks, therefore, have now been arranged between delegations from both parties, beginning tomorrow morning and continuing, it is expected, for a number of days."

The Fianna Fáil delegation is comprised of ministers Brian Cowan, Seamus Brennan and Noel Dempsey.

The Green Party delegation will be made up of John Gormley, party chairman; Dan Boyle and Donall Geoghan, the party's general secretary.