Ireland's Centre-Right Parties Secure Coalition Deal

Ireland's dominant centre-right parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, have successfully reached a coalition agreement with independent lawmakers, ensuring they will continue to govern for another five years. Independent lawmaker Michael Lowry confirmed the deal will be formally approved soon, with the coalition expected to hold two super junior ministries. The agreement will allow the independents to have representation in the Cabinet while maintaining the two main parties' control over full ministerial positions. Lowry expressed satisfaction that many of the independents' policy points have been incorporated into the draft government program. The coalition needs to finalize approvals from both the independents and the larger parties, but ratification is anticipated to be a formality given their collaborative campaigning. A new government could be established as early as January 22, following the completion of necessary talks.