Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan says the proposal for a coalition between the 'historic foes' Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is a 'no-brainer'.
Yesterday, Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar signed off on a policy document that could form the basis for a coalition between the two parties.
The Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parliamentary parties will be briefed on the document this afternoon at separate meetings.
If approved by TDs, senators and MEPs, the document will then be given to smaller parties - such as the Greens, Labour and Social Democrats.
While those parties have so far ruled out such a prospect, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have said that their proposed coalition should include at least three parties.
Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show today, Minister Flanagan said there's currently only a 'framework and a handshake', and lots of work is now needed to figure out the details.
While both parties have agreed to enter government on an 'equal footing', Minister Flanagan said the specifics of how that would work have yet to be decided.
On the prospect of a 'rotating' Taoiseach position, he said: "The idea that any particular party leader might go first or second... these issues have not been discussed: they are just the subject of speculation at this stage.
"The important thing here is that we move on and see if we can form a government - it's over two months now since the election.
"I believe it's a no-brainer, really... I very much welcome the proposed deal between the two historic foes."
He said he believed after the election there was 'no other permutation' possible other than one involving two of the three largest parties in the Dáil - Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Minister Flanagan suggested: "It was clear from early on that Sinn Féin wasn't going to be one of them... so I believe therefore that the deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil was ultimately a no-brainer."
He acknowledged that while it's clear some ministers won't be returning to office, there will be an 'equality of authority and ministers' between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael if an agreement is reached.
