The Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton says a vote transfer pact with Fine Gael would guarantee a stable economic future for the country.

The two parties have agreed to the pact, despite opposition from some backbenchers.

Both Fine Gael and Labour will still put forward their own distinctive policies in manifestos.

Ms Burton says the pact offers the people economic stability that is not an option with other parties.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has told Newstalk Lunchtime a voting agreement would be "very sensible".

While a Labour minister says a vote transfer deal between his party and Fine Gael would be the best way to see the current coalition returned to power after the general election.

However Brendan Howlin has told the Irish Times that his party would still put forward its own distinctive policies to convince voters to give them their support.

He believes those policies would include the proposed repealing of the eighth amendment.

And former Fine Gael strategist Frank Flannery says it might make sense for both parties.

"And what the parties can now do is show what now is possible as a result of the achievements of the last five years" he told Newstalk Breakfast.

"And if they do it together, they will be more convincing I think to the public".

"And there is nothing wrong at all with telling people before the election what it is you're going to do, rather than leaving to after the election when you sit down and do a Programme for Government" he added.