A deal has been reached between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to allow for the formation of a Fine Gael-led minority government.
Sources have told The Irish Times that an agreement has now been reached more than two months since the country went to the polls in late February.
Before the talks concluded, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald revealed that talks with Independents would begin as the final agreement was being drafted.
“We are hoping we can reach a satisfactory conclusion today and then obviously there will be talks with the Independents as well,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
The draft of the agreement between the parties is believed to focus on how a minority government will work – the Times reports that there are believed to be around 30 points dealing with separate areas of policy.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan expects a new government to be in place next week.
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