Dublin Central Independent TD Tony Gregory and Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae are no strangers to supporting minority governments at a price.
On his election to the Dáil in 1982, Gregory negotiated the now infamous "Gregory deal" with Charles Haughey. In return for supporting Haughey as taoiseach, he secured a multimillion-pound injection for his inner-city Dublin constituency, which was beset by poverty, neglect and drugs.
Healy-Rae, who left Fianna Fáil before the 1997 general election when he failed to win a party nomination, was elected as an Independent TD.
After the election, Fianna Fáil and the PDs lacked an overall majority. Healy-Rae was one of three Independents to support the government throughout its five year term. He won funding for projects in his area and chairmanship of the environment committee.
