Bertie Ahern believes Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been on an “inevitable path” towards coalition for the past decade.

The former Taoiseach said that, despite their histories, the two parties are “not that different” when it comes to policy

He was speaking after the parties signed off on a programme for government with the Green Party last night.

The deal will now go to the memberships of all three Parties for approval.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mr Ahern said the two parties have been “rolling in an inevitable path” towards coalition since Fine Gael came to power in 2011.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s economic policies, European policies and a lot of the departmental policies are not that different.

“You might have cultural difference and historical difference but I don’t think on the order of the day there is much diversity.”

"Inevitable"

He said Fine Gael “very much took up” the bailout agreement negotiated by Fianna Fáil after the crash.

“They followed that – I suppose they had to follow that because of the Troika – but they did follow it and I think Michael Noonan followed it with good spirit,” he said.

He said that moment, followed as it was by the confidence and supply agreement, was key in terms of bringing the two parties closer together.

“I don’t see it as [something that is happening] now and I think that is why there is no great excitement now about this,” he said.

“I know it is historic – it is the first time they are in government together – but I think it was becoming inevitable.

“Particularly since confidence and supply because that had its ups and down but in reality, it worked well.”

Green Party

Mr Ahern said it was a “bit surprising” to see three Green Party TDs abstaining from voting on the deal but said he expects the party to secure the two-thirds majority it needs to get the deal over the line.

“It is a tough threshold to get […] but I think it depends really how much the negotiating team go out and campaign for this and explain it,” he said.

He said the party appears to have “got a lot” out of the negotiations, adding that their TDs now have a lot of things to work towards in government.

“it seems to me that if Catherine Martin and Eamon Ryan are on side with this, they should be able to carry it but it is a tough threshold, there is no denying that,” he said.