Summary
- Micheál Martin is the new Taoiseach after he received his seal of office from the President
- The Fianna Fáil leader named his senior Ministers ahead of the first Cabinet meeting this evening
- Mr Martin was nominated as taoiseach by the Dáil after parties reached a temporary agreement over speaking rights for the opposition
- Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy did not recognise the Regional Independents technical group so that today’s vote could go ahead
- The planned election of Mr Martin as taoiseach on Wednesday was derailed after chaotic scenes in the Dáil
6.05pm
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticised the gender balance of the new Cabinet.
Only three of the 15 Cabinet Ministers are women: Helen McEntee, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Norma Foley.
That is one less than the total number in the 2020 government, when there were four women leading ministries.
Ms McDonald told the Dáil she had a "sense of déjà vu" and said the Cabinet looked very male and pale.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik noted there were almost as many people called James in the Cabinet as there were women.
5.35pm
Micheál Martin is back in the Dáil, this time as Taoiseach, along with his new ministerial team.
Here is the full list of Ministers attending Cabinet.
- Taoiseach – Micheál Martin
- Tánaiste, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence – Simon Harris
- Finance – Paschal Donohoe
- Public Expenditure, Reform and Infrastructure – Jack Chambers
- Justice, Home Affairs and Migration – Jim O’Callaghan
- Education – Helen McEntee
- Health - Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
- Housing and Local Government – James Browne
- Transport and Environment – Darragh O’Brien
- Social Protection – Dara Calleary
- Enterprise and Employment – Peter Burke
- Arts, Culture, Tourism, Communications and Sport – Patrick O’Donovan
- Further and Higher Education – James Lawless
- Children and Disability – Norma Foley
- Agriculture – Martin Heydon
- Government Chief Whip, and Minister of State for Mental Health – Mary Butler
- Minister of State for Disability – Hildegarde Naughton
- Minister of State for Agriculture – Noel Grealish
- Minister of State for Transport – Seán Canney
- Attorney General – Rossa Fanning SC
5.15pm
The new Minister for Health is Fine Gael's Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
Patrick O’Donovan is the Minister for Arts, Culture and Media.
Fianna Fáil's James Lawless is promoted to Cabinet as the Minister for Higher Education.
Peter Burke is the Minister for Enterprise.
Martin Heydon is the Minister for Agriculture, meaning Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue is likely out of the Cabinet.
5.00pm
Some other Cabinet positions have been filled.
Dara Calleary is back at the table as the new Minister for Social Protection.
Norma Foley is leaving the education brief to become the Minister for Children.
Mary Butler will be the Government's new Chief Whip.
4.45pm
Micheál Martin's Cabinet is beginning to take shape.
Jim O’Callaghan has been promoted from the Fianna Fáil backbenches to be appointed Minister for Justice.
Helen McEntee has been confirmed as Minister for Education and Youth.
Paschal Donohoe will be Minister for Finance, while Jack Chambers will take the role of Minister for Public Expenditure.
James Browne is the new Minister for Housing, as Darragh O’Brien moves to Transport and Climate Change.
4.15pm
Micheál Martin has returned to Leinster House and we are expecting to find out who is in the new Cabinet imminently.
As Mr Martin takes up the role of Taoiseach again and Simon Harris prepares for a stint handling foreign affairs, trade and defence, we have profiled some of the TDs who could be in line for a ministerial role.
Read more: Minister profiles – the fresh and familiar figures tipped for Cabinet roles
3.45pm
Some official photogrpahs have been released of Micheál Martin receiving his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins, before sitting for a private meeting in the President's office.



2.45pm
President Michael D Higgins greeted Micheál Martin on arrival at Áras an Uachtaráin and both moved into the State Reception Room, where the papers were signed and Mr Martin received his seal of office.
The President and the Taoiseach then moved to a separate room for a private conversation.
Next step is the process is the return to Leinster House to choose the new Cabinet.
2.15pm
Micheál Martin has now left Leinster House and is on his way to Áras an Uachtaráin to receive his seal of office from the President.


1.50pm
Micheál Martin is addressing the Dáil after being nominated to serve as the next taoiseach.
He said it was "a profound honour to be nominated to serve as head of the government in a free, democratic and diverse republic."
"Today I am deeply conscious of the democratic tradition which our country has developed over more than a century.
"We should never take for granted the freedoms and opportunities secured for us by the generations who sat here before us, and by the men and women who fought and campaigned for the establishment of Dáil Éireann."
1.45pm
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has been nominated as taoiseach by the Dáil.
TDs voted 95 to 76 in support of the nomination of Mr Martin, one day after a chaotic row disrupted the process and resulted in the suspension of the Dáil.
Mr Martin will formally become taoiseach during a ceremony with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, scheduled for after 2.15pm.
Mr Higgins will sign the warrant of appointment and hand Mr Martin the seal of the Taoiseach.
1.25pm
The Dáil also heard contributions from People Before Profit, Independent Ireland and some Independent TDs, who were all against the nomination of Micheál Martin as taoiseach.
A roll call vote is now underway for the nomination of taoiseach.
1.10pm
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the expected swapping of top government roles between Simon Harris and Micheál Martin reminded her of “groundhog day”.
She said the Programme for Government was “essentially promising more of the same”, adding: “If you parse through that document, there is no sense of any acceptance of a need for change at all.”
Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said his party would not be supporting the nomination of Mr Martin or Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
Mr O’Callaghan said the coalition between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents including Michael Lowry marked “a new low in Irish politics”.
1.00pm
Simon Harris said Fine Gael will support Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s nomination as taoiseach.
Mr Harris expressed “sincere congratulations” to Mr Martin before his expected return to the office of taoiseach.
“It is fair to say I could sense you were nurturing a mild desire to be taoiseach again and I sincerely want to congratulate you on the achievement and wish you well as we work together in partnership again.”
He said Fine Gael was “looking forward” to participating in the coalition government.
12.50pm
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused government figures of “arrogance”, after being put forward as a nominee for taoiseach.
Addressing the Dáil, she said: “Why is it that in a country that is so wealthy, nothing seems to work? The answer is Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – and you have no excuses left.
“The resources are there, yet your Programme for Government is simply a charter for more of the same, a blueprint for further crises.”
Ms McDonald conceded that her nomination would not be successful.
She said: “Today will not be our day, but our day will come. Our work, our ambition, for building a better, fair, equal and united Ireland has never been more important.
“We stick to that task with real belief, renewed hope and refreshed determination – and it is in that spirit that I accept this nomination.”
12.40pm
Sinn Féin nominated party leader Mary Lou McDonald for the position of taoiseach.
Party TD Mairead Farrell said it was an “incredible honour” to nominate Ms McDonald.
“She has a vision for Ireland, a vision not confined to this room, but a vision that encompasses all of Ireland and all of its people.”
Sinn Féin had nominated Ms McDonald for the role in December, but the proposal was rejected by the Dáil.
Pearse Doherty seconded the proposal and used his speaking time to highlight the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal on Independent TD Michael Lowry.
12.20pm
The Order of Business was passed and the nomination of the taoiseach is now progressing.
Fianna Fáil's Albert Dolan begins proceedings by proposing Micheál Martin as taoiseach.
Mr Dolan, who had attempted to nominate his party leader on Wednesday, said: “As I was saying... it is an honour to finally propose to the Dáil that we nominate, Deputy Micheál Martin for the appointment as taoiseach by an Uachtarán na hÉireann”.
He added: “By every reasonable measure, Deputy Martin has shown that he is qualified to lead our government with distinction.”
12.05pm
A "roll call vote" is now taking place in the Dáil over the Order of Business. Once that is complete and the vote passes, the process to nominate a taoiseach will begin.
12.00pm
There has to be an “explicit understanding” that no Independent TD can be in government and opposition at the same time, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said.
Ms McDonald said she welcomed that the government-affiliated Independents would not be given opposition speaking time today, adding that it could not be a “temporary arrangement”.
She was speaking while she objected to the government’s proposal for the Order of Business which included pushing back the next sitting of the Dáil to February 5th.
On that matter, she said it was “quite scandalous given the time wasting” seen on Wednesday.
The comment was met by laughter from the government benches.
Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit were among opposition parties who also said they did not agree with the postponement of the Dáil to February 5th.

11.50am
Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton agreed with the Ceann Comhairle that there was “ambiguity” in the standing orders at the centre of the dispute about speaking time.
She said the Government would bring forward a motion to establish a Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform.
11.45am
The Dáil is now sitting ahead of the vote to nominate a taoiseach.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy read a statement confirming that she is not recognising the Regional Independents Group for the purposes of today’s sitting.
“I trust my decision today provides a road map for all parties and all members to find a solution that is acceptable to all,” she said.
11.35am
Regional Independent TDs at the centre of a row over speaking time in the Dáil have agreed not to seek opposition time during proceedings today in a bid to allow the nomination of a new taoiseach to proceed.
In a statement, the Regional Group said they would do so on a “temporary” basis.
The group said: “Following intensive discussions last night and today with the Ceann Comhairle, Taoiseach and Tánaiste, the Regional Group has decided that in the interest of not having a repetition of yesterday’s appalling and outrageous scenes in the Dáil, the Group will cooperate with today’s Order of Business.
“Yesterday’s scenes were a shameful display of obstruction which denied the people a democratic right to have a government.
“The Regional Group have agreed to this temporary measure to facilitate the election of taoiseach and members of the government.
“The future positioning of the group will be referred to the Dáil Reform Committee by way of Dáil motion tonight.
“The committee’s composition will reflect the proportional representation in this Dáil. The aim is to have a decision before the Dáil reconvenes on the 5th of February.”
The Dáil is now due to resume session at approximately 11.40am.
11.15am
TDs have been arriving at Leinster House ahead of today's sitting of the Dáil.



11.00am
A meeting of party leaders’ at Government Buildings has been described as “constructive”, paving the way for Micheál Martin to be nominated as taoiseach.
The intervention by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to exclude recognising the Regional Independent Group was seen by both sides as significant.
It is hoped that Ms Murphy’s decision will break the log jam.
Labour whip Duncan Smith said: “It’s positive to see the Ceann Comhairle recognising only two technical groups, both in opposition, for the purposes of today’s meeting. This is the solution that I and others proposed both in our submission and at numerous meetings yesterday.”
The Dáil is likely to resume at 11.30am, an hour later than planned.
10.50am

Micheál Martin and Simon Harris made a joint statement this morning ahead of the Dáil reconvening.
The leaders of Fianna Fáíl and Fine Gael said the election of a taoiseach “must happen today”.
The statement said: “The formation of groups in Dáil Éireann is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle.
“Issues regarding Dáil reform and groupings can and should be discussed by a Dáil reform committee.
“This can meet as early as today but proportionality must also prevail.
“The most important duty the Dáil has is to elect a taoiseach and government, and both party leaders agree this must happen today.”
10.40am
The Ceann Comhairle of the Dáíl has said she will not recognise speaking time for a group of Independents at the centre of a dispute that prevented the nomination of a new taoiseach yesterday.
Verona Murphy said that, during today’s proceedings, she would recognise two other technical groups but not the collection of TDs that contain Independents who supported the formation of the incoming government.
She is expected to seek further advice for future sittings.
That should allow for the nomination of a new taoiseach today, but it is still possible that proceedings could be derailed again.
10.30am
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the nomination of a new taoiseach.
The Dáil is to reconvene today at 11.30am after a chaotic row yesterday over how speaking time should be allocated to the government-affiliated Independent TDs.
A meeting of opposition party leaders is taking place this morning in order to agree a resolution before the Dáil resumes.
Efforts to appoint a taoiseach after November’s general election failed as the opposition disrupted proceedings to protest against the matter on Wednesday.
Central to the row is a move to allocate opposition speaking time to the Independents.
Opposition parties said this would dilute the practice of holding the government to account and eat into their time to raise issues.
You can get all the latest developments and updates here on breakingnews.ie throughout the day.