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Irish election: Dáil fails to elect new taoiseach | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The 32nd Irish parliament (Dáil) has failed to appoint a new taoiseach (prime minister) after meeting for the first time on Thursday. | |
Outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny was one of four politicians nominated for the role. | |
The others were Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and People Against Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett. None received enough votes. | |
Mr Kenny said he would inform the president he was resigning from office. | |
However, he said both he and the government would continue to carry out their duties until a new government was formed. | |
"Let me assure the Irish people that the government remains in place and I and my cabinet colleagues will continue to work hard in the best interests of the country and all of the people," Mr Kenny said. | |
He said his immediate duties as caretaker taoiseach would be to travel to the US for St Patrick's Day - where he will meet President Obama - and a European Council meeting in Brussels next week. | |
Mr Kenny got 57 votes for taoiseach - 50 from his own party and seven from the Labour Party. Mr Martin received 43, Mr Adams 24 and Mr Boyd Barrett nine. | |
Earlier, Fianna Fáil's Seán Ó Fearghaíl was elected ceann comhairle - speaker - of the Dáil. | |
His nomination for taoiseach was 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 was no expectation of there being a taoiseach or a government formed by the end of Thursday. | |
It is even likely Mr Kenny will still be caretaker taoiseach at the time of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising on 27 March. | |
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. |