Ireland has moved a step closer to forming a new government. Irish media says a deal was reached Tuesday between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group to form a government a month and a half after the election gave no party a majority of seats needed to control parliament.

Ireland’s centrist political parties struck a deal to form a coalition government, backed by a handful of unaligned lawmakers, after weeks of negotiations, according to the Irish Times.

Ireland's two dominant centre-right political parties are close to finalising a coalition deal with independent lawmakers to return to power for another five-year term, two lawmakers said on Tuesday.

Ireland’s two dominant political parties will return to power for another five-year term after agreeing a new coalition deal following weeks of negotiations.