Green Party rules could still scupper the deal

WHAT DO THE PARTIES NEED TO PASS THE DEAL?

GREEN PARTY: Requires two-thirds support from its 2,600 members, a higher amount than the other parties, which means a deal could yet be scuppered.

FIANNA FÁIL: Needs a simple majority of its more than 18,000 members, with a onemember one-vote policy in place.

FINE GAEL: Has an electoral college system which gives greater weight to its TDs, senators and councillors than the party membership. Given that the parliamentary party [TDs and Senators] has endorsed the deal it is expected to pass comfortably.

RESULTS DATE: All three parties will return their results on Friday, June 26.

IF IT’S DEFEATED, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

A ‘political crisis’, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. There are a number of scenarios to consider.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could hold talks with the 19 Independent TDs and the other two smaller parties, Labour and the Social Democrats. However, Labour and the Social Democrats have already ruled themselves out of government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and a government composed of a high number of Independents would be very unstable and unlikely to last. Any new deal would require a new Programme for Government and a new attempt to get it past their memberships.

The Taoiseach could request President Michael D Higgins dissolve the Dáil and call another general election. However, it is unclear if the President would be willing to do this. The President may tell the Taoiseach that all avenues have not been exhausted. This could lead to talks between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.