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| Micheál Martin made taoiseach after parties back deal | Micheál Martin made taoiseach after parties back deal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Micheál Martin has been elected as the new taoiseach (Irish prime minister) at a special meeting of the Irish parliament in Dublin. | |
| The 59-year-old Cork native has been the leader of the Fianna Fáil party since 2011. | The 59-year-old Cork native has been the leader of the Fianna Fáil party since 2011. |
| He will lead a three-party coalition consisting of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. | He will lead a three-party coalition consisting of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. |
| It is the first time in history that former Civil War rivals Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have governed together. | It is the first time in history that former Civil War rivals Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have governed together. |
| Mr Martin is expected to lead the country until December 2021 before handing back over to Leo Varadkar, the Fine Gael leader. | |
| In his acceptance speech, Mr Martin said that to be elected to serve as taoiseach was "one of the greatest honours which anyone can receive". | |
| He was elected by the Dáil (Irish parliament) in a special sitting on Saturday, which took place at the Convention Centre in Dublin, rather than its traditional home at Leinster House, due to Covid-19 social distancing rules. | |
| A majority of 93 members of the Dáil voted in favour of him taking the role, while 63 members voted against him. | |
| Mr Martin was later presented with his seal of office by Irish President Michael D Higgins at the president's official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, on Saturday afternoon. | |
| Later, he is due to unveil his cabinet before the Dáil votes on their nominations. | |
| Mr Varadkar has been caretaker taoiseach since the general election in February. | |
| No party came close to winning a majority in the poll which would enable them to govern alone, but coalition talks were then halted by the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| Fianna Fáil won the most seats, but 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. |
| On Friday, 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." | |
| Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also tweeted her congratulations, saying she looked forward to engaging with Mr Martin soon to "further strengthen the relationship between Scotland and Ireland". | |
| Analysis: BBC News NI Dublin Correspondent, Shane Harrison | Analysis: BBC News NI Dublin Correspondent, Shane Harrison |
| Micheál Martin was the only Fianna Fáil leader in the party's history not to have served as taoiseach, but that changed today. | Micheál Martin was the only Fianna Fáil leader in the party's history not to have served as taoiseach, but that changed today. |
| He will hold the role for 30 months before handing over to Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | While there will be new faces, there will be some old problems to talk about such as Brexit and Covid-19. |
| Not everyone supported the new taoiseach during Saturday's vote in the Convention Centre. | |
| 'Marriage of convenience' | |
| Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of conspiring to exclude them from government. | |
| At February's election, Sinn Féin took 24.5% of first-preference votes, compared to 22% for Fianna Fáil and 21% for Fine Gael. | |
| "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". | |
| But 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". | |
| 'Civil War politics' | |
| 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". |