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| Irish election: Enda Kenny fails to get majority for taoiseach role | Irish election: Enda Kenny fails to get majority for taoiseach role |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny has failed to get enough votes in the Dáil to retain the role. | Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny has failed to get enough votes in the Dáil to retain the role. |
| Four politicians were nominated for the role of taoiseach. | |
| They are Fine Gael's Mr Kenny, Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and People Aganist Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett. | |
| None of them have received enough votes. | |
| Mr Kenny got 57 votes - 50 from his own party and seven from the Labour Party. Mr Martin received 43, Mr Adams 24 and Mr Boyd Bartrett nine. | |
| Earlier, Fianna Fáil's Seán Ó Fearghaíl was elected ceann comhairle - speaker - of the Dáil (Irish parliament). | Earlier, Fianna Fáil's Seán Ó Fearghaíl was elected ceann comhairle - speaker - of the Dáil (Irish parliament). |
| The 32nd Dáil has been meeting for the first time on Thursday after last month's general election. | The 32nd Dáil has been meeting for the first time on Thursday after last month's general election. |
| However, with no party close to an overall majority there is no expectation that a taoiseach (Irish prime minister) will also be elected. It could take weeks for a new government to be formed. | However, with no party close to an overall majority there is no expectation that a taoiseach (Irish prime minister) will also be elected. It could take weeks for a new government to be formed. |
| Mr Kenny is continuing in the job in a caretaker role until a taoiseach is formally elected. | Mr Kenny is continuing in the job in a caretaker role until a taoiseach is formally elected. |
| His nomination for taoiseach has been supported by former coalition partner, the Labour Party, as well as his own Fine Gael party. | His nomination for taoiseach has been supported by former coalition partner, the Labour Party, as well as his own Fine Gael party. |
| Labour leader Joan Burton said there was an onus on Fianna Fáil to "step up to the plate and seek to remedy their wrongs", calling for the party to form a government with Fine Gael. | Labour leader Joan Burton said there was an onus on Fianna Fáil to "step up to the plate and seek to remedy their wrongs", calling for the party to form a government with Fine Gael. |
| She said the two parties could provide numbers to give stability. | She said the two parties could provide numbers to give stability. |
| The Labour leader said with a conservative government, "there is a real risk economic policy will veer to the right", but added that her party can be a "principled, reasonable opposition". | The Labour leader said with a conservative government, "there is a real risk economic policy will veer to the right", but added that her party can be a "principled, reasonable opposition". |
| The Independent Alliance's Shane Ross said they would not support any nominations for taoiseach. | The Independent Alliance's Shane Ross said they would not support any nominations for taoiseach. |
| "We will participate eagerly and enthusiastically in a committee for political reform," he added. | "We will participate eagerly and enthusiastically in a committee for political reform," he added. |
| The first item on the agenda on Thursday was the election of the speaker. | The first item on the agenda on Thursday was the election of the speaker. |
| Mr Ó Fearghaíl was the only candidate left after Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle and Bernard Durkan, Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and independent left-wing TD Maureen O'Sullivan were eliminated over four counts. | Mr Ó Fearghaíl was the only candidate left after Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle and Bernard Durkan, Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and independent left-wing TD Maureen O'Sullivan were eliminated over four counts. |
| Mr Ó Fearghaíl said he looked forward to working with everyone in the house to ensure a better future for the people of the country. | Mr Ó Fearghaíl said he looked forward to working with everyone in the house to ensure a better future for the people of the country. |
| Fine Gael is the largest party of the outgoing coalition government. Fianna Fáil were the main opposition party. | Fine Gael is the largest party of the outgoing coalition government. Fianna Fáil were the main opposition party. |
| Each of those nominated gave speeches to the Dáil on why they think they should become speaker and TDs then voted in a secret ballot. | Each of those nominated gave speeches to the Dáil on why they think they should become speaker and TDs then voted in a secret ballot. |
| 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. |
| When Mr Kenny visits US President Barack Obama in Washington as part of the St Patrick's Day festivities, it is likely he will do so as taoiseach. | When Mr Kenny visits US President Barack Obama in Washington as part of the St Patrick's Day festivities, it is likely he will do so as taoiseach. |
| 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. | The move could see both parties sharing the job of taoiseach for the sake of stability. |
| 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. |