Enda Kenny has failed in his bid to be re-elected Taoiseach.
The Dáil has voted down his nomination with 57 votes in favour and 94 against and six abstentions.
It will mean he will have to submit his resignation to the President, but continue in a caretaker capacity.
Speaking in the chamber, Mr Kenny declared that despite his resignation, as per the constitution, he will remain in charge.
“The Government and I will continue to carry out our duties until a new government has been appointed.
“Let me assure the Irish people that the government remains in place and that I, and my cabinet colleagues, will continue to work hard in the best interests of the country and of all the people.”
Micheál Martin, Gerry Adams and Richard Boyd Barrett also failed in bids to be elected Taoiseach. Mr Martin got 43 votes in favour, 108 against. Gerry Adams was backed by 24 TDs, with 116 voting against him, while Richard Boyd Barrett received nine yes votes and 111 no votes.
Here's how TDs voted. No Taoiseach elected. Enda Kenny will officially resign this evening pic.twitter.com/j685PjCQzq
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 10, 2016
The 158 newly-elected members of the 32nd Dáil have met today for the first time. Many deputies faced tough battles in their constituencies to be returned to Leinster House. Finian McGrath from the Independent Alliance was one of those breathing a big sigh of relief today.
"I'm absolutely over the moon, delighted to be here. It was a very tough election as you know, but it's great to get re-elected by the people of my own constituency," the Dublin Bay North TD said.
The youngest member of the new Dáil, Jack Chambers, received hateful messages online following a TV appearance last week. However the 25-year-old said he hasn't let it get to him.
"Once I saw the wave of abuse beginning I turned off all notifications and stopped looking at it. All I heard about it was through third parties asking how I was.
“You have to have a thick skin in Irish politics. Whatever walk of life you're in you have to focus on the job, so I don’t let issues about what's said about ya online impact me and I just move on with it."
Meanwhile, Gerry Adams says that Sinn Féin still won't think about supporting a Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil government.
“We don’t think the national interest would be served by supporting a government which has done to the people of the state what the Fine Gael-Labour coalition, or before them Fianna Fáil, did. That does not advance or protect the national interest at all,” the Sinn Féin President said.
Business in the House could now be adjourned for up to a month since no Taoiseach will be elected.
However, the chamber has a new Ceann Comhairle in Fianna Fáil's Seán O'Fearghail.
He was elected earlier for the first time by secret ballot.
Here are the events as they happen:
