Two Independent TDs will sit at Cabinet in a new three-way coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
In addition to these “super junior” posts in the new government, the Regional Independent Group will also have two junior ministers.
Alongside this, Kerry Independents Michael and Danny Healy-Rae are also expected to support the incoming government after talks between them and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Tuesday.
Fianna Fáil negotiator James Lawless told RTÉ Radio that they are included among nine Independents expected to back the government and he understands they will also be offered a junior ministry.
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Government sources said they were not doing constituency deals with the Independents, with one senior source insisting the Independents could have “jobs or constituency deals – but not both”.
Two of the seven members of the Independents group will sit at cabinet as super junior ministers but without full status of cabinet ministers and without command of a full government department.
The full text of the new programme will be made available today in advance of meetings of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parliamentary parties, which are expected to give their overwhelming approval to the deal. The two parties will then begin processes to ratify the agreement among their members.
The programme for Government is understood to be largely a synthesis of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael manifestos.
While sources said the programme for government would not be explicit on VAT, it is understood there is political agreement for VAT on energy to stay at 9 per cent and fall from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent for food, hospitality, hairdressers and entertainment in the next budget.
Sources briefed on its content indicated that the incoming Coalition would not recommit to a 2:1 spending ratio in favour of public transport over new roads investment, trumpeted by the Greens in the last Government, with the new programme said to be “silent” on this issue.
The Government will be “ambitious on public transport and roads”, a figure involved in drafting said, but added: “There won’t be as many cycle lanes built, that’s for sure.”
Senior sources said capital spending on public transport infrastructure would continue, arguing this would likely maintain the ratio or exceed the previous commitment.
It is understood there are no plans for referendums on inserting the public ownership of water or a right to housing in the Constitution.
Two “super junior” posts – in addition to two ordinary junior ministerial jobs – are seen as a coup for the Independents. However, the new Government will have to pass legislation to provide for the posts, a bill which will almost certainly lead to accusations of “jobs for the boys”.
Key negotiator Michael Lowry said it had been a “long and painstaking process”.
Independent sources said last night that the super junior jobs will be filled by Noel Grealish and Sean Canney, with Marian Harkin and Kevin “Boxer” Moran taking the two junior, or Minister of State, roles. That would leave Mr Lowry and new TDs Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole as backbenchers in the Independent group.
[ ‘It has been intense’: Inside the room of Government formationOpens in new window ]
Government sources said they were not doing constituency deals with the Independents, with one senior source insisting the Independents could have “jobs or constituency deals – but not both”.
However, the focus of some TDs on local issues was clear. Dublin Bay North Independent Barry Heneghan emphasised that he would be seeking investment in hospital and schools in his constituency.
Sources involved in the process said the new Government would be a three-way partnership with the Independents taking the place the Greens had occupied in the last administration. Independent representatives will attend meetings of the party leaders regularly.
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