Read more: New Irish leader promises a 'new Ireland'
Enda Kenny has made his approach to Labour to form a Coalition government between the two biggest parties in Ireland when the new Dail sits on March 9th.
The Fine Gael leader has contacted his Labour Party counterpart Eamon Gilmore after record breaking wins for both organisations.
With counts still undergoing in four constituencies and final figures not expected until Tuesday, Kenny and Gilmore have begun the bargaining for power.
Kenny made his first call to Gilmore on Sunday night according to RTE News and talks are expected to continue through Monday.
Fine Gael, in power for the first time in 14 years, will send Director of Elections Phil Hogan to lead their delegation while Labour will most likely be represented by a team led by former leader Ruairi Quinn.
A Fine Gael spokesman has confirmed that Kenny ‘left a message’ on Gilmore’s phone on Sunday night.
Formal discussions began between the two parties on Monday morning with both adamant that no deal is guaranteed.
New Labour TD Dominic Hannigan has also confirmed that the lines of communication have opened with Fine Gael.
“The weekend was the honeymoon period for both parties and everyone needs to knuckle down now and get to work,” said Hannigan.
However, Alan Shatter of Fine Gael has warned that it would be ‘premature’ to rule out a union with independents, who have won a large number of seats in the 31st Dáil.
Both Labour and Fine Gael will have to hold special delegate conferences to rubberstamp any move into coalition.
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