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| Irish election: Dáil meets but no sign of new Taoiseach | Irish election: Dáil meets but no sign of new Taoiseach |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The 32nd Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament) has begun with the election of a speaker, known as the ceann comhairle, on the agenda. | |
| However, with no party close to an overall majority there is no expectation that a taoiseach (Irish prime minister) will also be elected. | |
| The 158 TDs (Irish parliament members) elected will begin their business by finding someone to oversee proceedings. | The 158 TDs (Irish parliament members) elected will begin their business by finding someone to oversee proceedings. |
| For the first time, the ceann comhairle will be elected by secret ballot. | For the first time, the ceann comhairle will be elected by secret ballot. |
| Five TDs have been nominated: Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle; his party colleague Bernard J Durkan; Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin; independent left-wing TD Maureen O'Sullivan and Seán Ó Fearghaíl, of Fianna Fáil. | |
| The two favourites are believed to be Ms O'Sullivan and Mr Ó Fearghaíl. | |
| Ms O'Sullivan left her Dublin Central count centre in the recent general election conceding that she was likely to be defeated considering the first count result. | |
| But with the single transferable vote system, she proved to be so transfer-friendly that she was elected in the three-seat constituency. | But with the single transferable vote system, she proved to be so transfer-friendly that she was elected in the three-seat constituency. |
| If she is to be elected speaker, she cannot have the lowest first preference vote. | If she is to be elected speaker, she cannot have the lowest first preference vote. |
| Meanwhile, there is a belief that the privacy of the ballot box will mean some Fine Gael TDs will support Mr Ó Fearghaíl, so that Fianna Fáil will have one less voting deputy in parliament. | Meanwhile, there is a belief that the privacy of the ballot box will mean some Fine Gael TDs will support Mr Ó Fearghaíl, so that Fianna Fáil will have one less voting deputy in parliament. |
| Each of those nominated are giving speeches to the Dáil on why they think they should become speaker. | |
| After the election of a ceann comhairle, it is likely there will be a break. | After the election of a ceann comhairle, it is likely there will be a break. |
| Then TDs will get down to the election of a taoiseach. | Then TDs will get down to the election of a taoiseach. |
| Fine Gael has 50 seats, Fianna Fáil 44, Sinn Féin 23 and the Labour Party got seven. | Fine Gael has 50 seats, Fianna Fáil 44, Sinn Féin 23 and the Labour Party got seven. |
| Smaller parties and independents make up the other 34 seats. | Smaller parties and independents make up the other 34 seats. |
| With the house heavily split among parties, there is no expectation of there being a taoiseach or a government formed by the end of Thursday. | With the house heavily split among parties, there is no expectation of there being a taoiseach or a government formed by the end of Thursday. |
| Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will continue as the head of government in a caretaker role until a taoiseach is formally elected. | Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will continue as the head of government in a caretaker role until a taoiseach is formally elected. |
| When he visits US President Barack Obama in Washington as part of the St Patrick's Day festivities, it is likely he will do so in that capacity. | When he visits US President Barack Obama in Washington as part of the St Patrick's Day festivities, it is likely he will do so in that capacity. |
| It is even likely he will still be caretaker taoiseach at the time of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising on 27 March. | It is even likely he will still be caretaker taoiseach at the time of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising on 27 March. |
| Mr Kenny is expected to go to Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of Irish president Michael D Higgins, on Thursday afternoon to keep him informed of developments. | Mr Kenny is expected to go to Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of Irish president Michael D Higgins, on Thursday afternoon to keep him informed of developments. |
| On the two previous occasions no taoiseach was elected, in 1989 and 1992, the first meeting of the Dáil was adjourned, more than once, to allow negotiations on the formation of a government. | On the two previous occasions no taoiseach was elected, in 1989 and 1992, the first meeting of the Dáil was adjourned, more than once, to allow negotiations on the formation of a government. |
| This is also expected to happen this time. | This is also expected to happen this time. |
| Regardless of who will be taoiseach, the 32nd Dáil is expected to give more TDs control over the running of the house. | Regardless of who will be taoiseach, the 32nd Dáil is expected to give more TDs control over the running of the house. |
| One of the criticisms of the Irish legislature is that it has been dominated by the government. | One of the criticisms of the Irish legislature is that it has been dominated by the government. |
| There is a growing recognition that has to change. | There is a growing recognition that has to change. |
| In the meantime, behind the scenes, contact will be made to set up face-to-face negotiations between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. | In the meantime, behind the scenes, contact will be made to set up face-to-face negotiations between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. |
| The only combination of two parties that would have an overall majority involves both. | The only combination of two parties that would have an overall majority involves both. |
| The two great centrist-parties of Irish politics have their origins in the original Sinn Féin. | The two great centrist-parties of Irish politics have their origins in the original Sinn Féin. |
| During the Irish Civil War in the early 1920s, the two fought over the treaty that gave what is now the Republic of Ireland self-government and independence. | During the Irish Civil War in the early 1920s, the two fought over the treaty that gave what is now the Republic of Ireland self-government and independence. |
| Divided by "irreconcilable similarities", they have never been in government together before and both ruled out such a development during the recent campaign. | Divided by "irreconcilable similarities", they have never been in government together before and both ruled out such a development during the recent campaign. |
| Fine Gael appears to be moving towards offering Fianna Fáil a grand coalition. | Fine Gael appears to be moving towards offering Fianna Fáil a grand coalition. |
| The move could see both parties sharing the job of taoiseach for the sake of stability and allowing their opponents pull the plug on a minority government. | The move could see both parties sharing the job of taoiseach for the sake of stability and allowing their opponents pull the plug on a minority government. |
| However, opposition to such a development remains strong in Fianna Fáil. | However, opposition to such a development remains strong in Fianna Fáil. |
| Éamon Ó Cuív, the grandson of the party's founder Éamon de Valera, has made his views known on this. | Éamon Ó Cuív, the grandson of the party's founder Éamon de Valera, has made his views known on this. |
| However, for another election to be avoided in the near future some form of understanding will have to be reached. | However, for another election to be avoided in the near future some form of understanding will have to be reached. |
| While we are still in the opening chapter in the story of the 32nd Dáil, it is certain there are many twists and turns left. | While we are still in the opening chapter in the story of the 32nd Dáil, it is certain there are many twists and turns left. |