New government to be sworn in

The country's new coalition government is to be sworn in today with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny officially elected Taoiseach.

The make-up of the expected 15-strong cabinet will be unveiled when Mr Kenny takes to his feet in the Dáil chamber alongside coalition partners Labour led by Eamon Gilmore, who is expected to be named Tánaiste with the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

The parties signed off on a programme for government on Sunday after almost a week of negotiations and hard-bargaining on policies.

The leaders spent the last two days in meetings putting the finishing touches to the new front bench, with Fine Gael expected to get 10 ministerial portfolios and Labour five.

The 31st Dáil will kick off at noon when the new Ceann Comhairle will be elected - Fine Gael TDs Sean Barrett and Fergus O'Dowd are the leading contenders for the job - followed by the appointment of the new Taoiseach and members of the cabinet.

The government will then travel to Aras an Uachtaráin where President Mary McAleese will present them with their seals of office.

Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan is widely expected to get the coveted finance portfolio, while Labour is tipped for the attorney general post, giving the smaller party potentially six seats at the cabinet table.

Other Fine Gael TDs tipped for a ministry include programme for government negotiators Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter, as well as Richard Bruton, Leo Varadkar, Sean Barrett, James Reilly, Simon Coveney and Jimmy Deenihan.

Labour hopefuls include former leaders Pat Rabbitte and Ruairi Quinn, Roisín Shortall and Brendan Howlin, with the party’s finance spokesman Joan Burton widely expected to get the new finance brief with responsibility for expenditure and public sector reform.

Mr Kenny will face his first official engagement on Friday when he travels to Brussels for an extraordinary European Council meeting, where he will meet other heads of state.

In government the two parties have pledged to seek better repayment terms for last December’s €85bn EU/IMF rescue package.

Under the partnership deal a new super-ministry will be set up within the cabinet to take sole charge of the country’s economic direction.

The Department of Finance will be split in two. The finance minister will look after budgets and taxes while an estimates and public service reform minister will take control of spending and the overhaul of the public sector.

Preparations were under way inside and outside Leinster House for the first Dáil sitting, with large crowds of supporters from Mr Kenny’s native Co Mayo expected to descend on Dublin to welcome his appointment.