Independents:Independent Mayo TD Beverley Flynn is understood to have reached a verbal agreement with the Taoiseach to support the new coalition Government for its five-year term.
There was increased speculation last night that the deal involved Ms Flynn being given a junior ministry and re-entry to Fianna Fáil at some stage during the lifetime of the Government.
However, neither Ms Flynn nor Fianna Fáil would reveal details of the agreement. A spokeswoman for Fianna Fáil said the matter "was with the Taoiseach".
The deal with Ms Flynn brings to four the number of Independents who have signed up to support the Government, in deals worth hundreds of millions of euro. Tony Gregory, the fifth Independent, was not approached for his support for the Coalition.
Kerry South TD Jackie Healy- Rae clinched a deal with the Taoiseach on Monday, while Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry and Dublin North Central TD Finian McGrath signed agreements with Mr Ahern on Tuesday.
An upbeat Ms Flynn said in Leinster House yesterday that she had secured a very generous verbal agreement with Mr Ahern, which was tied down just hours before the vote for taoiseach took place.
Pressed later in an interview on Mid-West Radio whether she would return to the party and if there was likely to be a junior ministerial position in the offering, she said she could not comment, but "I'm very pleased with what is agreed".
Both of those questions were very relevant, "but all that I can say is no comment but all will become apparent shortly".
Ms Flynn dismissed the idea that her bankruptcy proceedings being issued by RTÉ against her due on Monday before the High Court was overshadowing any deal that could be secured.
"Monday's scheduled proceedings is not overshadowing my position with the Taoiseach. It is my private business and I will deal with it," she insisted.
Ms Flynn added: "I am absolutely delighted with what has been secured for Mayo. Bertie Ahern has verbally agreed a very generous package for the county and I will be supporting him in the vote for taoiseach this afternoon.
"I do not have a signed agreement. I did not seek one. I fully accept the word of the Taoiseach. I do not need to be waving about a piece of paper," she said.
Ms Flynn added that the deal was confidential "but I know the Mayo electorate will see it as very generous. I cannot comment any further about what is contained in the deal at this time, but I am really delighted and I fully trust Bertie Ahern to deliver as promised".