On the crucial vote for Taoiseach, the Sunday Tribune has established that Ahern is on the verge of having the support of 84 TDs - 78 Fianna F�il deputies, two PD deputies and four Independents. Fianna F�il has not given up hope also that the Green Party will be part of the next government.

High-level contacts were ongoing last night between the two parties. It is understood that Ahern has already spoken with Green leader Trevor Sargent and further contacts are likely today.

Senior Fianna F�il sources are confident that a deal can be salvaged.

"There's a sense that involving the Greens would be the right thing in terms of stability, " one Fianna F�il source said. There was less optimism in Green circles.

"If Fianna F�il want us involved then it's up to them to talk to us. But we need to be talking about a new government with a definite Green tinge, " one senior source said. Any deal would have to be concluded by Monday evening to allow the Greens hold a special conference to endorse the party's entry into government.

With Ahern certain to be elected Taoiseach on Thursday, the Greens will need to overcome the difficulties of holding a mid-week conference at such short notice.

Fianna F�il has also moved closer to securing the support of four Independent TDs - Jackie Healy-Rae, Beverley Flynn, Michael Lowry and Finian McGrath. Draft agreements are likely to be in place by Tuesday evening, after which Ahern will have direct contact with the Independents.

There was ongoing contact over the past week between Ahern's advisor Gerry Hickey and the Independent TDs.

Finian McGrath yesterday said his own talks had been "constructive and productive". Beverley Flynn said her "negotiations were still ongoing" while Jackie HealyRae was waiting last night for a final response to what he described as "a very reasonable wish list".

The Taoiseach also had talks yesterday with acting PD leader Mary Harney.

While discussions will intensify over the coming days, one PD source said last night that it was "more or less read" that the party's two TDs would support Ahern in Thursday's vote. Harney was kept informed last week by Fianna F�il of the various contacts with independents and of discussions with the Green Party.

"She wasn't at the negotiating table but she was kept fully inside the loop, " one Fianna F�il source said. Sinn F�in's ard comhairle yesterday postponed a decision on how the party's four TDs will vote on Thursday.

Caoimhgh�n � Caol�in said there was still "insufficient information" about the programme for government of a new Ahern-led coalition.

Meanwhile, consideration is being given to the nomination of a new Ceann Comhairle. The position will be filled by a Fianna F�il TD if Ahern leads a coalition involving the Greens, which would have a comfortable D�il majority.

Louth TD Seamus Kirk's name has been speculated upon in Fianna F�il circles.

But if the next government has only a slim majority, the position will be offered to an opposition TD - a move which would strengthen Ahern's position in D�il votes.

Several Labour names have been mentioned, including R�air� Quinn and Brian O'Shea. Quinn said yesterday he was "not commenting one way or the other". He declined to say if he had been offered the position.