Dáil To Meet Today To Formally Elect Micheál Martin As Taoiseach

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The Dáil is to meet today to formally elect a new Taoiseach. The Programme for Government deal assures Micheal Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil of at least 95 votes and he will be elected as Taoiseach today – this is expected take place around lunchtime.

Later this evening,  Micheál Martin will return to the Dáil to announce the new Cabinet – Fianna Fáil  will hold 8 senior posts including the areas of   Public Expenditure and Reform; Justice; Social Protection; Housing; Transport; Higher Education; and Disabilities and Children. while Fine Gael will take 7 senior posts Finance; Agriculture; Education; Health; Enterprise and Employment and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media –  party Leader Simon Harris will serve as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade until November 16th 2027 when he and Mr Martin will rotate positions. The issue of Migration is to be included in the Department of Justice – there remains the possibility of a new Department being created for the area.  The Government parties have indicated that they will put forward a motion today that the Dáil be adjourned until February 5th to allow the new Ministers time to take charge of their Departments.

The Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy is to rule this evening if she will allow the Regional Independent Group of TDs that are not in Ministerial positions to take time in the Dáil from the Opposition allocation.  Sinn Fein, Labour, and the Social Democrats are opposed to the idea as the Regional Independent Group, led by Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry have negotiated the Programme For Government and secured the posts of Ceann Comhairle  and 5 Minister of  State positions for it’s members.In a surprise move yesterday Independent Tipperary TD Deputy Mattie McGrath joined the Regional Independent Group which also includes Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless of Aontú Carol Nolan and Michael Lowry amongst it’s  8 members. The members who will be appointed as Ministers of State are to resign from the Dáil Technical group. To date only members of the opposition were eligible to form a Technical Group to secure Dáil time and inclusion in Leaders Questions.