Fine Gael and Labour have discussed holding a joint press conference at Government Buildings on Tuesday morning to ask the Irish people to re-elect the current government - before the Taoiseach goes to Áras an Uachtaráin to seek the dissolution of the Dáil and call the election, writes RTÉ's Conor McMorrow.
It is understood the agenda for Tuesday’s cabinet meeting is “extremely light”. Well placed sources say that the schedule for the meeting contains just two annual reports and the appointments of a number of ambassadors.
These are seen as “rubber-stamping” exercises and the meeting, which usually commences between 10.15-10.30am, could be over very quickly.
A joint press statement from Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton on the steps of Government Buildings "has been discussed". It is not clear if this would mean the start of Election 2016 or if the Taoiseach would go into the Dáil chamber and formally dissolve the 31st Dáil.
"Enda Kenny is the father of the Dáíl and he does respect Dáil procedures so he may go in there and do it," said one source.
All of this comes with a huge health warning. As the old dictum goes, "It’s the Taoiseach’s prerogative when he calls the election".
One source close to Mr Kenny pointed out that the Taoiseach "is having great fun with this". The fact that he said a number of weeks ago that he had the date for the election in his head but he was not yet ready to share it backs up that theory.
A date at the end of February has been chosen as polling day - this will most likely be either Thursday 25 February or Friday 26 February.
Asked about the Labour Party’s preference for when the Dáil should be dissolved and the election called, one party figure said that, "We’ve no say in this. It’s up to the Taoiseach".
There is another school of thought that that the election may not be called until after Tuesday. The Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, is among the ministers who are eager to see the Criminal Law Sexual Offences legislation pass all stages in the House before the Dáil is dissolved.
This bill will reform the law and bring in stronger sanctions, aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation, child pornography and online grooming.
Tony O’Brien, the Director General of the HSE, is due to appear before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday morning to discuss abuse allegations at a foster home in the South East.
Another - much more innocuous - reason being bandied about is that some Fine Gael candidates’ election posters are not ready yet.
