Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin has been elected taoiseach (Irish prime minister) for the second time after chaos in the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) subsided.
The Dáil was suspended several times on Wednesday after a bitter row between government and opposition parties.
Martin is one of the longest serving TDs (MPs) in the Dáil having been first elected in 1989 to the constituency of Cork south central and was previously taoiseach between 2020 and 2022.
He will now hold that office until 2027 when Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris is due take over.
In his acceptance speech, Martin said that it was “a sad development in many parliaments in the world that they have become more angry and divisive.
“They have become forums dominated by the inflated rhetoric of demonstrations rather than a place where different groups can argue in good faith and respectfully disagree,” he said.
He added it was the anniversary of the death of his father Paddy.
“This week every year I remember all he did for us and the values which he lived by every day,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Martin travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin (the presidential residence) to meet Michael D Higgins where he received his seal of office.
He then returned to Leinster House where cabinet ministers were appointed.
The 15 incoming ministers, alongside the taoiseach and tánaiste, arrived at Áras an Uachtaráin shortly before 20:00 local time to receive their seals before taking part in the first official cabinet meeting.
Martin was due to be elected taoiseach on Wednesday but there were chaotic scenes in the chamber.
Sinn Féin and other opposition TDs (MPs) had voiced their anger at plans to allow independents who are supporting the government to sit on the opposition benches.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael emerged as the largest and third-largest parties respectively following November’s election and committed to returning to government together.
However after the Green Party – their coalition partner from 2020-2024 – was reduced to a single seat, they gathered the support of a small group of independent TDs.
This was necessary to give them a majority in the Dáil.
Sinn Féin remains the largest opposition party after winning 39 seats.
Controversy began after four of the independent TDs who had agreed to support the government wanted to form a “technical group” along with two other independent TDs which would allow them speaking time and other rights from the opposition benches.
This group would be known as the Regional Independent Group.
Here are the ministers that will make up the new Irish government:
- Simon Harris
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence.
- Paschal Donohoe
Minister for Finance.
- Jim O’Callaghan
Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and Migration.
- Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Minister for Health.
- James Lawless
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Peter Burke
Minister for Enterprise.
- Jack Chambers
Minister for Public Expenditure.
- Darragh O’Brien
Minister for Transport, Environment and Energy.
- Norma Foley
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
- Patrick O’Donovan
Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport.
- James Browne
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
- Helen McEntee
Minister for Education and Youth.
- James Lawless
Minister for Higher Education.
- Martin Heydon
Minister for Agriculture.
- Dara Calleary
Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Mary Butler
Government Chief Whip, with the added responsibility of mental health.
- Rossa Fanning
Attorney General.
