Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is now assured of a comfortable working majority in the Dáil after the Green Party tonight agreed to enter a coalition deal.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said that he would second the nomination of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach tomorrow when the Dáil meets.
It comes after nearly three weeks of negotiations between the two parties. Fianna Fáil's parliamentary party meet today and unanimously endorsed the coalition deal.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent met this morning to finalise agreement on the shape of the new government.
However, members were not told today how many government departments the party would get, though there was speculation at the Mansion House this evening that it would get two full ministries.
Former Fine Gael minister and Independent TD for North Tipperary Michael Lowry has confirmed he has agreed to support Fianna Fail in the formation of a government when the Dáil resumes tomorrow. "I am doing this in exchange for delivery of a significant package to improve health services, roads infrastructure, community facilities and other public services in North Tipperary and also in the interests of providing a stable government whose policies I can support," he said.
Independent TD for Kerry South Jackie Healy-Rae signed a deal with Mr Ahern on Monday that is worth tens of millions of euro for his constituency.
Finian McGrath, an Independent TD in Dublin Central is also understood to be close to agreeing a package in exchange for supporting Fianna Fail.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil offered acting PD leader Mary Harney a transfer to the Department of Foreign Affairs, in a bid to overcome Green objections to her remaining in the Department of Health and Children.
However, Ms Harney refused the offer outright and is to resume her command of health, including the plan to build private hospitals on public hospital grounds, when the new Dáil meets on Thursday.
- Fine Gael have appointed Brian Hayes as their interim health spokesman. He succeeds Dr Liam Twomey who lost his seat in the general election.