Simon Harris was elected Ireland's 16th, and youngest-ever (37), Taoiseach on Tuesday.
His new Cabinet has been sworn in by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Here is how the historic day played out:
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9.30pm: The Simon Harris-led government has officially been appointed by President Michael D Higgins.
Ministers have received their seals of office from the new Taoiseach and the President.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and the new Cabinet arrived at Áras an Uachtaráin at around 8.45pm this evening.
Among the ministers were two new faces - the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and Patrick O’Donovan, who has been promoted to Simon Harris’ old brief - Further and Higher Education.
They each individually received their seals of office, having been elected by the Dáil earlier this evening.
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8.15pm: Coalition members will now travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to receive their seals of office from President Michael D Higgins.
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8pm: Here is Mr Harris' full Cabinet:
Simon Harris - Taoiseach;
Micheál Martin - Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence;
Eamon Ryan - Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minster for Transport;
Michael McGrath - Minister for Finance;
Paschal Donohoe - Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform;
Helen McEntee - Minister for Justice;
Stephen Donnelly - Minister for Health;
Norma Foley - Minister for Education;
Darragh O'Brien - Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
Peter Burke - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;
Catherine Martin - Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media;
Heather Humphreys - Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development;
Charlie McConalogue - Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine;
Roderic O'Gorman - Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth;
Patrick O'Donovan - Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science;
Hildegarde Naughton - Government Chief Whip; Minister of State for Special Education;
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill - Minister of State for EU Affairs and Defence.
Jack Chambers - Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics and Minister of State for Postal Policy;
Senator Pippa Hackett - Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity
7pm: Taoiseach Simon Harris has reshuffled senior roles at Cabinet, with new ministers for enterprise and further education selected.
Peter Burke was appointed as Minister for Enterprise, a position which was recently vacated by Simon Coveney.
Mr Harris gave his former role of Minister for Further Education to Patrick O’Donovan, in a promotion for the Limerick TD who held the position of Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).
While there had been speculation that Hildegarde Naughton may have been promoted from her current junior minister role directly to a Cabinet post, no such change was announced.
Instead, Ms Naughton will take on the role as Minister of State for Special Education and leave her current position as junior minister at the Department of Health.
She also retained her position as Government chief whip, which already sees her sitting at Cabinet as a so-called super junior.
The role as Minister of State for Special Education was left vacant after Josepha Madigan announced last month that she was resigning from the position and would not contest the next election.
Mr Burke’s promotion left his junior non-Cabinet role of Minister of State for European Affairs vacant, but Mr Harris announced it would be filled by Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill – who had been a Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services.
The announcement of the new minister of state alongside the other senior roles came as the Taoiseach signalled an increased emphasis on the position.
However, it means Ms Carroll Mac Neill misses out on a seat at Cabinet.
Helen McEntee retained her justice portfolio amid much speculation on her role, as Mr Harris set out an ambition to refocus his party on “law and order”.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also held on to their positions.
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6.05pm: The new Taoiseach tells the Dáil the Government will be "energetic and laser-focused on delivery".
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6pm: Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris congratulated the new Taoiseach, adding: “I wish him all the best as he settles into the role and look forward to working together as we further strengthen UK-Ireland cooperation.”
The president of the European Commission has expressed “warmest congratulations” to Mr Harris.
In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen said they would meet on Thursday and added: “We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.
My warmest congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on being elected Taoiseach of Ireland today.
We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.
Looking forward to meeting you in Brussels on Thursday.— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 9, 2024
European Council president Charles Michel wished Mr Harris success in his new role. He said: “Looking forward to collaborating closely with you.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy also paid tribute to the new Taoiseach and said: “We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.”
Ireland has welcomed more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began.
Congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Ireland's new Taoiseach.
We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.
I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation…— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 9, 2024
Mr Zelenskiy added: “I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation strengthens security for both nations and throughout all of our Europe.”
UK Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer posted on social media: “Congratulations to Simon Harris on becoming Ireland’s Taoiseach.
“On behalf of the UK Labour Party, I wish him well and look forward to working together as we seek to strengthen the ties of friendship between our two countries.”
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5.35pm: Hildegarde Naughton will remain as Chief Whip along with a new special needs brief. Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphries and Helen McEntee are all keeping their current posts.
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5.32pm: Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will keep her post, despite speculation that she was set to be moved to another portfolio or demoted.
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5.30pm: Peter Burke has been appointed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Patrick O'Donovan has been named as the new Minister for Higher Education, the position vacated by Taoiseach Simon Harris.
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5.10pm: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has congratulated Simon Harris on his appointment as Taoiseach.
Congratulations @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Taoiseach.
As the closest of neighbours, I look forward to forging even stronger ties between our two countries so we can deliver for people across these isles. https://t.co/G7fP8p7Je5— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 9, 2024
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5.05pm: Peter Burke is reportedly set to be confirmed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Mr Harris' Cabinet.
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3.50pm: Peter Burke has been seen entering Government Buildings. He has been tipped as the most likely contender to be named as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the role vacated by Simon Coveney.
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3.10pm: Simon Harris has left Áras an Uachtaráin. He will return to Government Buildings to finalise his Cabinet formation.
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3pm: Newly-elected Taoiseach Simon Harris has received his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.
Mr Harris arrived at Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon, accompanied by his wife, children, parents and members of his extended family, following the majority vote in the Dáil which saw him elected as the 16th Taoiseach.
He was welcomed into the State Reception Room by President Michael D Higgins, and the president signed the Warrant of Approval, officially recognising the Taoiseach in his new position.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was then handed the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government, finalising his acceptance of the role.
The newly elected Taoiseach and head of Fine Gael has now departed from Áras an Uachtaráin to turn his attention to the appointment of his Cabinet ministers.
He'll return to Phoenix Park later this evening where the President will sign the Warrant of Appointment for the Members of the Government and the Warrant of Appointment of the Attorney General, each of which will be countersigned by the Taoiseach.
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Simon Harris has been elected as the country's new Taoiseach, making him the youngest leader of the Government in the history of the State.
TDs voted 88 to 69 in support of Mr Harris, who will now travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President Michael D Higgins, where his appointment will be confirmed.
The Wicklow TD’s wife Caoimhe and young children Saoirse and Cillian were in the public gallery of the Dáil for the start of Tuesday’s proceedings, as were his parents and brother and sister.
Mr Harris said he will work to "improve the lives of all" as he's elected the country's 16th Taoiseach.
Mr Harris is now en route to Áras an Uachtaráin where he'll receive the official seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.
Accepting the nomination, Mr Harris committed to doing "everything I can to honour the trust so many have shown in me".
Mr Harris paid tribute to his predecessor Leo Varadkar, saying "the history books will record the incredible service he did for our country".
"History will also record that he was a trailblazer as we broke free from some of the worst prejudices of the past, showing Ireland at its best to the world," he added.
He also acknowledged Simon Coveney, who resigned from his Cabinet position, "after serving our country with distinction in so many different roles over so many years".
"It is 13 years since I made my maiden speech in this chamber to nominate Enda Kenny as taoiseach, someone who went on to fulfil the considerable faith that so many of us had in him, as he led a government that rescued our economy, and restored our sovereignty," Mr Harris said.
"Back then, I reflected on what values I thought were needed for the job in hand: integrity, honesty and a work rate which cannot be surpassed."
"As Taoiseach, I will demand of myself what I saw as so important then and – to return to the words I spoke that day – I promise ‘to preside over a government committed to public service, at a time when such commitment is so urgently required’.
"I believed then that a Taoiseach should work every day to realise ‘the hopes, dreams and aspirations of our people’. I still do.
"Today, I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved," he added.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald repeated her party’s call for a general election as she launched a broadside against Mr Harris ahead of the Fine Gael leader’s appointment as taoiseach.
Ms McDonald said: “Another Fine Gael taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government.”
Discussing Mr Harris’s record in office before the vote to nominate him as the next taoiseach, she said: “Not so long ago Simon Harris was the minister for health and on his watch hospital overcrowding spun out of control, the trolley crisis escalated and the treatment waiting list hit one million patients for the very first time.”
She said that the “scandalous cost” of the National Children’s Hospital also grew, and that a promise Mr Harris made on child scoliosis waiting lists had been “disgracefully broken again and again”.
Ms McDonald said Mr Harris’s appointment was part of the Government’s narrative that “dresses up failure as progress”.
The Sinn Féin leader said the Government had presented its third taoiseach in four years.
“For the third time you rearrange the Cabinet deck chairs. For the third time in four years, you pat each other on the back and tell the people what a great job you’re doing,” she said.
“The narrative we hear today from Government is a fairy tale so egregious that Hans Christian Andersen himself would be proud of it.”
She added: “It’s your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs.
Insisting on a general election, she said: “I believe that the people of Ireland deserve so much better.”
She added: “If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.”
Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, she also criticised Fine Gael’s current coalition partners.
“Fianna Fáil refused to vote confidence in Simon Harris as minister for health in 2020 – it caused an election, if you all recall. Today, they dutifully line up to vote him in as taoiseach, joined at the hip by a group of Independent TDs,” she said.
“Now out there in the real world, the experience is that if you fail and fail again, you get your P45. However, in the world of this Government – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens – it seems you can fail your way right to the very, very top.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her party would not support a “cosmetic” change-over at the head of the government as she also restated her call for a general election.
Ms Bacik joked that Mr Harris’s “new energy” slogan sounded like a “Star Wars tagline”.
She said Ireland was a country of “profound inequalities”, adding she doubted Mr Harris could deliver necessary change.
