THE leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have agreed a framework on forming a coalition government.
Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar agreed a policy framework document on Tuesday which will pave the way for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to enter into government that will exclude Sinn Féin.
The two parliamentary parties will be briefed on it today ahead of engagement with other potential coalition partners.
The parties have agreed to seek to enter government on the basis of a “full and equal partnership,” effectively ending 98 years of fierce rivalry between the two Civil War parties.
The two leaders agreed to work towards forming a majority government for five years but only on the basis it will involve a number of other parties.
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TDs from the Social Democrats, the Labour Party and the Green Party, along with independents are now to be given the framework document for consideration.
It is thought that Micheál Martin will become taoiseach as his party polled more votes than Fine Gael.
The two parties are currently short of the 80 seats to required to form a majority government.
The first point agreed by the reference group is that "nothing distracts from the central task of protecting our people during the present Covid-19 crisis."
On the coalition, the group states that the next government offers the prospect of a "stable durable government, which has broad based legitimacy" for the next five years.
It also states that any coalition must have a "new mission and sense of purpose which demonstrates urgency for doing things differently, and reflects our values and our ability to lead change at critical times."
Fianna Fail won 38 seats during the February election with Fine Gael dropping to 35. Sinn Féin took 37 seats, changing the two party system in the Republic for the first time since the formation of the state.
