Micheál Martin set to return as Taoiseach as coalition prepares to choose ministers

TDs are due to gather in the Dáil chamber from 10.30am, before the process itself begins at 11am. Here's how the day is expected to unfold

In the hours after his appointment, new Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to work with new Tánaiste Simon Harris to select the incoming Cabinet. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

A new Government will be formed later today, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin making his return as Taoiseach by lunchtime.

TDs are due to gather in the Dáil chamber from 10.30am, before the process itself begins at 11am.

The Fianna Fáil leader will be nominated for the high office by the youngest Fianna Fáil TD Albert Dolan, who turned 26 when he was elected in November.

Mr Martin will then be seconded by Dublin South Central TD Catherine Ardagh, who took back a Fianna Fáil seat in the constituency for the first time since 2011.

While other parties will be able to nominate candidates for the taoiseach’s office, only Mr Martin will have the required votes to get over the line.

It is expected that Sinn Féin will put forward Mary Lou McDonald, but rows are likely to break out as she will not be afforded speaking time on the day.

After his confirmation, Mr Martin is expected to speak on Ireland’s role in the world, infrastructure delivery, funding public services, and a “step change” in disability services when he accepts the nomination.

He will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin, where President Michael D Higgins will award him with his seal of office.

In the hours after his appointment, Mr Martin is set to work with new Tánaiste Simon Harris to select the incoming Cabinet.

The new Taoiseach will get back to Government Buildings at around 3pm, where he will make calls to his prospective Cabinet ministers.

As he steps down from the Taoiseach’s office, Mr Harris will instead step into a newly expanded Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, while also handling the Defence brief during his time in the Tánaiste’s office.

President Michael D Higgins presenting Micheál Martin with his seal of office in 2020. Martin will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin for a similar ceremony today. Picture: Maxwells

The two money ministers — Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe — are all but certain to do a direct swap of their portfolios.

This means that Mr Donohoe will return for this third stint as Finance Minister, while Mr Chambers will take on a newly expanded Department of Public Expenditure and Infrastructure.

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay South Jim O’Callaghan is expected to be appointed as Justice Minister, in what will be seen as a blow to Wexford TD James Browne. The role itself will be expanded, after Fianna Fáil pressed strongly for it to include migration, as well as what is being labelled Home Affairs.

With Mr O’Callaghan taking on Helen McEntee’s current job, the Fine Gael deputy l is on the move to the Department of Education.

Norma Foley, the current Education Minister, is set to become Fianna Fáil’s own Heather Humphreys as she is expected to move into the Department of Social Protection, as well as the Department of Rural Affairs.

Another Fianna Fáil TD up for promotion is Mary Butler, who is being seen as a dead cert within the party to become the next Children’s Minister.

With Stephen Donnelly losing his seat in November, Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is likely to be thrust into what has been described over the years as a “poisoned chalice” ministry.

Having highlighted her own ambition to lead Fine Gael, putting Ms Carroll MacNeill in Health will keep her fighting fires rather than trying to challenge Mr Harris for the top job.

The incumbent Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is set to remain on in his department, although early speculation had pinned him as a possible Justice Minister.

Despite rampant speculation earlier this month that Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue would be dropped from Cabinet, he is likely to be kept on and shuffled out of Agriculture and into Higher Education.

Sitting Minister for Justice Helen McEntee looks set for a move to the Department of Education. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

With Mr Harris needing to keep a minister in Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan is expected to be moved into a reformed Department of Communications, which would also take on arts and media.

Fine Gael will also move to promote long-serving TD Martin Heydon to Cabinet, with the Kildare man due to be put into the Agriculture brief, having spent the last four years working as a junior minister in the portfolio.

While there had been some talk of sitting Enterprise Minister Peter Burke being shuffled out of his Department, his trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum is being seen as a signal that he will be kept in place.

Dara Calleary, currently a super junior minister, is due to be moved into a senior portfolio, with the Mayo TD being linked to the Department of Transport.

A number of super junior ministers are also expected to be appointed, with sources linking the role of Chief Whip to Fianna Fáil Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan. The move would help patch a hole in Cork, where without the TD the only serving Cabinet minister would be Mr Martin.

As for the remaining three super junior ministers, it is believed that all three could hail from Galway, with Noel Grealish and Seán Canney already being nailed on.

For the third, Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton is expected to remain in place.

No junior ministers are expected to be appointed until next week, but names circulating for promotion include Ms Ardagh, as well as Fianna Fáil Cavan-Monaghan TD Niamh Smyth.

With Cabinet appointments made, the Dáil is set to break for two weeks and will not get back to business until February 5.