Kenny & Gilmore begin coalition goernment talks after Irish election

From www.rte.ie/news

It is understood Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore have begun their meeting in Leinster House.
Subsequent meetings this evening or tomorrow will see the negotiating teams sit down across the table.
However, a number of senior Fine Gael and Labour deputies are already in Leinster House - including Fine Gael's Phil Hogan and Michael Noonan and Labour's Ruairi Quinn.
The expectation is that a deal will be done in time for a special Labour conference next weekend. Taoiseach Brian Cowen has wished the leaders of Fine Gael and Labour well in their talks on forming a coalition government.
Speaking in Roscrea, Mr Cowen also said his office was available to both leaders to make the transition of power as smooth as possible.
Mr Cowen said the election results were very difficult for Fianna Fáil.
He wished party leader Micheál Martin well in the task of re-building the party, defining its policy and being a constructive opposition.
Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore spoke on the telephone earlier today.
After some confusion about a missed telephone message, both men spoke for a few minutes at around 10am this morning and they agreed to meet for the preliminary talks.
The real business of forming the next Government will get under way this evening or tomorrow, with an effective deadline of the weekend.
Some Labour backbenchers urged their party to play hardball in the talks over the weekend and there are differences between the parties.
However, the expectation is that a deal will be done in time for a special Labour conference next weekend.
Elsewhere, Independent Shane Ross said he has not been contacted by anyone in Fine Gael to discuss supporting that party.
Mr Ross says he believes a deal between Fine Gael and Labour will be done very quickly.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Peter Robinson telephoned Mr Kenny this morning to congratulate him on his suscess in the election.
Mr Robinson said he hoped to meet Mr Kenny soon after he is elected Taoiseach and said he expected to have a good relationship with the incoming Government in Dublin.
Recounts have resumed in Galway West and Laois-Offaly this morning.
A recheck is ongoing in Wicklow. The recheck was requested by Fianna Fáil's Dick Roche.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Roche said there had been many errors in the Wicklow count - at no fault of the count staff - and it was increasingly likely there will be a full recount.
Mr Roche's request has been criticised by his running-mate Pat Fitzgerald.
Mr Fitzgerald said neither of the Fianna Fáil candidates had a chance of picking up a seat and that the Europe Minister should have 'let it lie'.
Of the 154 seats in the Dáil now filled, Fine Gael has 70, the Labour Party has 36, Fianna Fáil has 18, Sinn Féin has 13, and Independents and others have 17.
During the counts, Fianna Fáil saw its first preference vote more than halved, down to just over 17%, with candidates failing to secure significant transfers.
There are now no Fianna Fáil TDs in Meath, Tipperary, Sligo, Kerry, Leitrim or Roscommon.
The Green Party saw all six TDs lose their seats.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he is not concerned that his party will be drowned out in opposition in the Dáil by Sinn Féin and Independents.
Speaking on The Week in Politics, Mr Martin said his party would now be focusing on renewal.