Government leaders decide on junior minister appointments this week, but the names are unlikely to assuage doubts after accusations of misogyny when the Cabinet was announced last week.

The election of taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has been delayed after the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament) was suspended amid chaotic scenes in the chamber. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the delay has been "premeditated, coordinated and a choreographed" position by the opposition and in particular Sinn Féin.

Tánaiste Simon Harris will meet with political leaders ... I visited Northern Ireland on a number of occasions as Taoiseach last year and intend to be a regular visitor in the time ahead.

The Taoiseach was speaking as members of his Fine Gael party met in Dublin to begin the process of ratifying the draft programme for government

Taoiseach Simon Harris has congratulated Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. Mr Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at a ceremony inside the Capitol in Washington DC this afternoon. In a statement, Mr Harris said he wished Mr Trump "every success in his term-in-office".

Harris's pre-election appearance on the podcast saw the two Johnnies ask him several personal questions, such as does he and his wife split the household chores his family's shopping habits, to which Harris answers "the supermarket is a grand canvas when pushing around the trolley".

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin has been elected taoiseach (Irish prime minister) for the second time after chaos in the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) subsided. The Dáil was suspended several times on Wednesday after a bitter row between government and opposition parties.

Ireland's political leaders have responded to Wednesday night's tragic plane crash in Washington, DC, the deadliest in the US since November 2001.

Micheal Martin has formally become Taoiseach during a ceremony with the Irish president, Michael D Higgins. Earlier, Mr Martin said he was “thankful” to his supporters after he received the backing of the Irish parliament to be nominated as the country’s next premier.

Fine Gael members held a regional meeting on Friday night in Dublin days after the draft programme for government was agreed.

Martin said this is the first time in over 100 years that the Dáil has failed to elect a taoiseach. Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said the disruption was utterly farcical describing it ...

The first woman to be elected Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, Verona Murphy, will host a celebration at Leinster House today to mark the approaching St Brigid's bank holiday weekend - named after Ireland's first female patron saint.