Cabinet appointments to follow the election of a new Taoiseach at the Convention Centre Dublin today.
Yesterday evening, following members of Fine Gael’s 80% yes to 20% no approval of the programme for government, three quarters of Fianna Fáil members voted in favour, with a 74% yes to 26% no.
And with a higher than expected 76% yes to 24% no, the Greens approved the 126-page document, forming a coalition deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
The historic deal follows several months with no formal government in the midst of a pandemic.
Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin has been nominated as Taoiseach by Dáil Éireann and looks set to be voted into office shortly.
"Today civil war politics ends in our parliament" says Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael will support Micheál Martin's bid for Taoiseach
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) June 27, 2020
He will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to be given his seal of office.
Last night Micheál Martin said there are big challenges to be faced by this government, but described it as a moment of opportunity, and a moment of home for people:
"That we face up to the challenges, overcome them and lead to a better type of society where people can have access to homes, access to a good quality health service, and where we can meet the existential challenge of our time, namely climate change, in a far more energetic and effective way than we have in the past."
The new Toaiseach will remain in the role until December 2022, with Varadkar to then take over for the remainder of the new government's term.
Once elected by the Dáil, Martin will appoint his Cabinet ministers as soon as this evening, and the three party coalition will move forward with the programme of government.
Sources have said it looks as though Fine Gael will keep the Foreign Affairs, Finance, Business and Justice portfolios, while Fianna Fáil will take charge of Housing and Public Expenditure, and possibly Education.
Green leader Eamon Ryan is expected to take charge of a new Climate and Transport Department.
Micheál Martin has confirmed that the role of Attorney General will also rotate between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
More to follow.
