Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have rejected suggestions that the Coalition leaders have failed when it comes to ensuring gender equality in their ministerial appointments.

Micheál Martin, who was poised to be elected as Ireland's new Taoiseach today, slammed the chaotic Dáil proceedings as a "subversion of the Irish Constitution."

On the Fianna Fáil side, Niamh Smyth is expected to be appointed as a Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, while Jennifer Murnane O’Connor was likely to be made a junior minister in the Department of Health, alongside Mary Butler, the chief whip whose appointment was announced last week.

Lorraine Clifford-Lee of Fianna Fáil has lost her Seanad seat — and must now pin her hopes on being directly nominated by the Taoiseach.

A spokesman for Tánaiste Simon Harris said that Fine Gael had 10 women out of 38 TDs elected, and 40 per cent – four women – had been appointed Ministers. There is considerable backlash within the Government parties – but particularly within Fianna Fáil – around the number of female appointments to the ranks of Minister of State.

Fianna Fáil leader Martin will become Taoiseach this afternoon for the second time as the new Government is formed

Only one Minister in the outgoing government has kept their old position as Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a major reshuffle of his Cabinet. In sweeping changes that saw former Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue dropped, several surprises saw six new senior ministers appointed.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members have voted to ratify the draft Programme for Government that will see both parties form a coalition government

The Cabinet has formally ratified the Programme for Government, following a meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin last night.

THREE candidates have been elected on the first count on the Senate Agricultural panel — including former junior minister Malcolm Noonan, in a major success for the Green Party. He topped the poll on the Agricultural panel,

First there was Donald Trump, then there was Michael D, then there was Mariann Budde, then there was the ignominious circus in the Dáil and then there was, finally, a somewhat humiliating elevation (if that’s the right word) of Micheál Martin to the position of Taoiseach.

The guaranteed salary of the Ministers of State will be €159,525, rising to €172,670 for Super Junior Ministers who attend cabinet.