Taoiseach Micheál Martin has arrived in Government Buildings to start appointing Cabinet ministers.
After receiving his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins, he travelled to the Department of the Taoiseach to begin meeting with the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green TDs who are now set to take senior government roles.
The big promotion of the afternoon appears to be Helen McEntee who is set to become Justice Minister.
McEntee is well regarded in Fine Gael and was praised for her role as Junior Minister for European Affairs.
So looks like:
Helen McEntee - Justice
Stephen Donnelly - Health
Simon Harris - Social Protection
Darragh O'Brien - Housing
Possibly Norma Foley for Education as the bolter to cabinet— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) June 27, 2020
Simon Coveney and Paschal Donohoe will keep their current jobs
Heather Humphreys is likely to become Social Protection and Rural Affairs Minister.
Simon Harris could be appointed to a new Higher Education department, while his constituency colleague Stephen Donnelly has been seen entering Government Buildings and could possibly replace Harris in health.
Barry Cowen looks set to become Agriculture Minister - however deputy leader Dara Calleary may have to settle for being Chief Whip.
Darragh O'Brien is expected to become Housing Minister, and first-time TD Normal Foley tipped for Education.
The Green Party looks to be as expected with Eamon Ryan taking Climate and Transport, Catherine Martin as Culture, Arts, Tourism and Sport Minister and Roderic O'Gorman minister for children.
Josepha Madigan looks set to get a junior ministry - but her party colleagues Richard Bruton, Michael Creed, Charlie Flanagan and Michael Ring are thought to be heading for the back benches.
New Taoiseach
Micheál Martin was earlier elected as Taoiseach, with 93 members of the Dáil voting in support of his nomination.
It's a comfortable margin for the Corkman, who needed at least 80 votes.
The full Dáil met for the first time in months this morning to elect the new Taoiseach.
TDs gathered at the Convention Centre in Dublin's north Docklands - the venue chosen to allow all 160 TDs meet, while maintaining social distancing.
Mr Martin had the backing of Fine Gael and the Green Party under the Programme for Government deal.
Addressing TDs after the vote, Mr Martin said being elected to serve as Taoiseach "is one of the greatest honours anyone can receive".
Image: Áras an UachtaráinIn an emotional speech, he thanked his family - most of whom couldn't be in the Convention Centre because of COVID-19 restrictions, with only his niece able to attend in person.
He said: "Our country has shown time and time again that we can overcome the toughest of challenges, and we will do so again.
"It is in this spirit of a deep belief in the role of democratic government - with a commitment to deliver the recovery and renewal embodied in our programme, and the determination to work tirelessly to serve the people - that I proudly accept your nomination."
He said the three new coalition partners "come from very different traditions - we cannot and do not expect to agree on everything".
However, he stressed that they would work hard to build trust with each other and the people they serve.
Mr Martin travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin, where he was formally appointed as Taoiseach and received his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.
The Dáil is due to resume at 6pm, where the new Cabinet will be announced.
Backing of independents
Independent TDs Peter Fitzpartick, Cathal Berry, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Matt Shanahan, Richard O'Donoghue, Michael McNamara, Marian Harkin and Verona Murphy also voted for the deal.
63 voted against his appointment and three TDs abstained.
They were independents Denis Naughten, Mattie McGrath and Carol Nolan.
Kerry TD Norma Foley nominated Deputy Martin as Taoiseach, pointing to successes in his time in office holding the education and business briefs -- and adding that as Minister for Health, his policies had "saved tens of thousands of lives".
"Micheál Martin has a proud record of delivering for this proud and free Republic," she said.
His nomination was seconded by James O'Connor of Cork East.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald was proposed as a rival candidate by Donegal TD Pearse Doherty.
He said: "Teachta here deserve a choice -- the choice that people had in February's election -- between change, and more of the same. We can do things differently, provided the right choices are made.
"Change cannot be stopped by FF or FG, because the people will not allow that."
