Labour and Democratic Left are hoping to conclude negotiations on the merger of the two parties at a meeting later today. A number of outstanding issues still have to be addressed by the two negotiating teams, headed by Mr Brendan Howlin TD and Mr Eamon Gilmore TD.
Sources in both parties, however, expect that they will be in a position to sign a deal by tomorrow, at the latest.
The deal will involve members of both parties coming under the banner of the Labour Party, with the retention of that name after the merger.
It is also being proposed that the Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa TD, will be offered the new position of president of the Labour Party in the transitional period.
It is understood that an important feature of the negotiations has been the candidate strategy to be adopted in the local and European elections next year, as well as the next general election.
If the deal is agreed today, it is planned that both parties will put it before meetings of their national executives next Thursday. The merger plan will have to be ratified by the calling of special delegate conferences of Labour and Democratic Left, tentatively planned for December 12th.
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