New programme for government could be agreed early this week

A draft agreement on a deal for a new government could be reached by early this week.

Government formation talks ramped up across the weekend as a new opinion poll showed an election “bounce” in popularity for both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

The aim is to put an agreement in place before the Dáil returns on January 22nd.

According to The Irish Times, large parts of the draft programme for government have already been signed off.

However, the share-out of portfolios and ministerial jobs has yet to be settled by the two party leaders, Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, and the representatives of the Independent TDs who are expected to join the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition.

Kerry Independent TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae are also involved in the process.