Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have reached agreement on a historic joint framework which they hope will see them enter into a “full and equal partnership” for five years.

In a message to members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, chairman Martin Heydon wrote: “The Taoiseach has asked me to inform the parliamentary party that he met Micheál Martin earlier today and that they have agreed a policy framework document that could form the basis for a Programme for Government. They reaffirmed their commitment to forming a majority government of three or more parties/groups that will last five years with full and equal partnership between FG and FF at its centre.”

The joint framework document is not expected to be published until then.

After members of the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parliamentary parties are briefed on the agreement on Wednesday afternoon it is expected the framework will then be sent to smaller parties.

There is also an understanding that Fianna Fáil will hold the Taoiseach’s role in the first period of Government.