With a programme for government agreed, all we need now is a government to implement it. We’ll know in less than a fortnight whether the party memberships of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party can set aside their ideological and historical differences.

If they do, we know Micheál Martin will initially be Taoiseach.

But the identity of the next Minister for Agriculture is a mystery at this stage.

That doesn’t prevent a little idle speculation.

The complexity of selecting this cabinet is considerable.

The three party leaders will each select their ministerial nominations – six for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and three for the Green Party.

Junior

It means that people like Jackie Cahill and Martin Heydon will be hoping for a junior rather than a senior ministry this time.

Fianna Fáil’s agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue would be in pole position under normal circumstances, but is not being widely tipped, even though he was a capable opposition spokesman.

The complexity of selecting this cabinet is considerable

Similarly, Michael Creed, as outgoing minister, might in other circumstances be expectant of a second stint.

Joe Walsh, who had a similar calm and collected approach to Creed, served in three separate administrations.

However, Creed’s name is not on people’s lips. There will be three ministers from Cork; Micheál Martin, Michael McGrath and Simon Coveney, all from a single constituency, and that is probably Cork’s lot.

So who then?

Among the Fianna Fáil “certs” for a ministry, Dara Calleary stands out. He was on Fianna Fáil’s negotiation team for the agricultural leg of the talks. So too was Barry Cowen – don’t rule him out. The wildcard might be Anne Rabbitte, who is being tipped to be the sole woman on the Fianna Fáil team.

Will her support of the Beef Plan’s protest last summer help her case? She did end up vocally supporting one side in the split in Galway. Was that wise?

The Fine Gael names include two women, Heather Humphreys and Helen McEntee. Of all these names, Humphreys is the only one with ministerial experience, and may be the favourite at this stage.

Farmers might welcome Simon Coveney back, but would he return? My money’s on the Mayo man.