FG and FF To Sign Document Outlining Their Plans For A New Government

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are set to agree a framework document on a grand coalition between the two parties today.

It will spell out what they would hope to achieve in an historic agreement between the two old political rivals and could also indicate if we will get a new government or are edging toward going back to the polls.
Teams from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will today formally agree a document describing what they want to achieve in government together - the first time such a coalition would happen.
The document likely to be approved today has been described as radical by some in the two parties and will include a guide for moving towards a single tier health service, more state intervention when it comes to childcare and an expansive housing programme.

But it's likely to be light on specific policies. So far the Greens, Labour and the Social Democrats have shown little interest in joining a coalition led by the two parties for a variety of reasons.
Winning the support of some of those parties and independents will be crucial in deciding whether this is another significant Good Friday Agreement - or whether we could be going back to the polls in a few months' time.