Micheál Martin to become taoiseach after parties back deal
Micheál Martin made taoiseach after parties back deal
(about 1 hour later)
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is set to be elected taoiseach (Irish prime minister) at a special meeting of the Irish parliament.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has been elected taoiseach (Irish prime minister) at a special meeting of the Irish parliament.
On Friday, members of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party backed a programme for government, paving the way for an historic coalition.
On Friday, members of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party backed a programme for government, paving the way for an historic coalition.
Voters went to the polls in a general election in February but no party received a majority.
Voters went to the polls in a general election in February but no party received a majority.
Coalition talks were then halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Coalition talks were then halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The two larger parties needed the support of the Greens to have a working majority in the Irish parliament (the Dáil).
The two larger parties needed the support of the Greens to have a working majority in the Irish parliament (the Dáil).
The party leaders and their negotiating teams reached agreement on a coalition deal earlier in June.
The party leaders and their negotiating teams reached agreement on a coalition deal earlier in June.
The Dáil is sitting on Saturday at the Convention Centre Dublin, rather than at Leinster House, due to Covid-19 physical distancing rules.
He was elected by the Dáil in a speical sitting on Saturday at the Convention Centre Dublin, rather than at Leinster House, due to Covid-19 physical distancing rules.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have their origins in the Irish Civil War almost 100 years ago and have never been in coalition together.
After the deal was endorsed on Friday evening, Mr Martin described it as a "moment of opportunity and hope".
Mr Martin is expected to be taoiseach for two and a half years and then hand the job over to Leo Varadkar, the Fine Gael leader and current caretaker taoiseach.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "Congratulations to Ireland on forming a new Government and to Micheal Martin TD on becoming Taoiseach. Ireland is our closest neighbour, good friend and ally on issues such as climate change, the global fight against Covid-19 and our shared values on human rights and democracy."
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "Congratulations to Ireland on forming a new Government and to Micheal Martin TD on becoming Taoiseach. Ireland is our closest neighbour, good friend and ally on issues such as climate change, the global fight against Covid-19 and our shared values on human rights and democracy."
Analysis: BBC News NI Dublin Correspondent, Shane Harrison
Micheál Martin is the only Fianna Fáil leader not to have been taoiseach, but that changes today.
He will hold the role for 30 months before handing over to Leo Varadkar, the Fine Gael leader.
The two parties, both centrist, Fianna Fáil slightly to the left and Fine Gael to the right, have dominated the politics of the state since its foundation.
Although there has been little to separate them policy-wise for decades, their decision to share power in government for the first time is historic.
But it's also a political necessity for their leaders to keep Sinn Féin, the party that got the most votes in February's general election, away from government.
Sinn Féin has accused the two of using the Greens as a "fig leaf" to disguise their denial of the electorate's demand for change.
The three parties have five years to disprove those who claim the new coalition is simply a slightly greener version of business as usual in such areas as housing and dealing with climate change in a radical manner.
A meeting between Mr Martin and Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers, Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, is likely in the coming days.
While there will be new faces, there will be some old problems to talk about such as Brexit and Covid-19.
The process of nominating a new taoiseach is now under way in the Convention Centre.
Fianna Fáil's Norma Foley nominated her party leader, saying Micheál Martin had a proud record for delivering for the people of Ireland.
She praised his previous record in government and said he "has the talent and tenacity we need to lead the country with distinction".
'Marriage of convenience'
Then, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty nominated his party leader Mary Lou McDonald saying: "Today the Dáil can elect a leader that is a champion of change or have more of the same."
At February's election, Sinn Féin took 24.5% of first-preference votes, compared to 22% for Fianna Fáil and 21% for Fine Gael.
Thanking her party for the nomination, Ms McDonald accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of conspiring to exclude them from government.
"Faced with the prospect of losing their grip on power, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have circled the wagons," she said, claiming the new coalition was a "marriage of convenience".
Fine Gael leader and outgoing taoiseach Leo Varadkar said his party would not make a nomination but instead would support the nomination of Micheál Martin.
Referring to their two parties entering a coalition for the first time, Mr Varadkar said Saturday's vote was an "historic occasion".
"I believe Civil War politics ended a long time ago in our country but, today, Civil War politics ends in our parliament," he said.
"Two great parties coming together with another great party, the Green Party, to offer what this country needs, a stable government for the betterment of our country and for the betterment of our world."
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also supported the nomination of Mr Martin for taoiseach, saying the Fianna Fáil leader was "perfectly qualified to run the country".
He said the new coalition's programme for government "provides a good plan; an immediate stimulus" and added the three parties "will get down to work on Monday morning, first thing".
Labour leader Alan Kelly said his party would not support the nomination of either Mr Martin or Ms McDonald.
He said Sinn Fein was "simply going through the motions of appearing to be interested in government" and had not attempted to put forward a programme for government that could attract majority support.
People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett did not support Mr Martin's nomination and said the coalition's programme for government was a "re-hash and reheating of the same failed policies".
