Naming of New Cabinet Underway

Thursday, 23 January 2025 09:10

It follows the election of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach by the Daíl.

Micheal Martin has been elected as Taoiseach by the Dail.

He was elected by 95 votes to 76 following a roll-call vote this afternoon.

He received his seal of office from President Higgins before returning to Government Buildings.

Proceedings in Leinster House will resume at around 5 o clock, when the new Cabinet will be revealed.

Longford-Westmeath TD Peter Burke is predicted to keep his Enterprise portfolio, with Kevin 'Boxer' Moran also potentially in the mix for a position in Cabinet.

Yesterday's 'chaos' in the Dáil was organised and led by Sinn Féin, according to an Offaly TD.

Fine Gael TD John Clendennen says yesterday saw a subversion of how our democracy works:

The Ceann Comhairle has issued a statement in the past few minutes saying she won’t recognise a Dail grouping containing government support in effort to proceed with electing a Taoiseach.

Verona Murphy has written to the Dail’s business committee to say she is seeking confirmatory legal advice on how to recognise the Regional Technical Group in the future

The Dáil will reconvene this morning to elect a Taoiseach after chaotic scenes forced it to be suspended four times yesterday.

It's related to a row over opposition speaking time to a bunch of government-supporting Independents in the Regional Technical Group, including Offaly TD Carol Nolan and Longford Westmeath representative Kevin "Boxer" Moran.

Micheal Martin was expected to be elected Taoiseach yesterday, and he was set to appoint his Cabinet.

However, the Dail barely got past approving the order of business, after the opposition hit out at the Ceann Comhairle for allowing a portion of their speaking time to a group of Independents including Michael Lowry.

The Regional Group have four junior ministries in the new government, and the remaining three plus Danny Healy Rae were trying to take their place in the opposition benches.

It led to explosive scenes in the Dail chamber with the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy eventually suspending the Dáil for the fourth time until this morning.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says the five largest opposition parties are united in their stance:

If there is some common ground found, Micheal Martin will be elected Taoiseach today, and will appoint his Cabinet this afternoon.

The Dáil reconvenes at 10:30am.

Simon Harris says the Dail must today elect a Taoiseach and get on with the business of Government.

The Fine Gael leader's described as a 'disgrace' the chaotic scenes which yesterday torpedoed what should have been the first day of Micheál Martin's new term in office.

He says the rows, over speaking-time, which led to the Dail being suspended were 'unprecedented and unseemly'.