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Fianna Fáil Ministers expect the Greens to support the forthcoming budget and remain as stable partners in Government until the end of its term in 2012, in return for the deal the smaller party obtained in the negotiations for the renewed Programme for Government.

A senior Fianna Fáil source told The Irish Timeslast night: “I hope they realise they are in for the 2½ years; you’re in and you stay in.”