The Dáil is set to resume with Micheál Martin returning as taoiseach

The Irish parliament will resume on Wednesday, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin returning as taoiseach for a second term.

The 35th Dáil (Irish Parliament) will see Mr Martin elected taoiseach (prime minister), replacing Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, who will return as tánaiste (deputy prime minister).

Fianna Fáil – the largest party – formed a government with Fine Gael and a number of independent regional deputies (TDs) following Elections in November.

Sinn Fein remains the largest opposition party after winning 39 seats. Fianna Fáil won 48 seats, while Fine Gael was third with 38 seats.

Mr Martin and Mr Harris confirmed the new draft program for government earlier this month.

The deal paved the way for the next government and was successfully approved by both parties in recent days.

Speaking after his party endorsed the program for government, Mr Martin said there was a “strong commitment” on behalf of his party to deliver results for the Irish people.

“I can assure you that we will spare no effort to work selflessly on behalf of the people of Ireland to deliver this agenda for government, make things better for people and improve the quality of life as we sail through many turbulent global waters,” he said.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out Sinn Féin as a coalition partner, in what party leader Mary Lou McDonald called “bad practice”.

It is the first time the new government will meet since November’s election, with government talks taking around five weeks to conclude.

The new Dáil has already been a source of controversy after a number of independent presidents, including Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, who support the government, wished to sit and speak from the opposition benches.

New Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) – also a regional independent – Verona Murphy, who is the first woman to hold the role, told TDs she would consider proposals opposing the plan but allowed the group to “temporarily” take their original seats for now.

All other opposition groups are opposed to the idea, calling it an interference in both camps and a time-suck for those who want to check the government.

As part of his return to the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Martin will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin at around 1pm local time to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins at the State Reception.

The president will then sign the order of appointment and pass the seal of the taoiseach and the seal of the government on Mr Harris.

Later, around 20:00, the appointment of the members of the government will begin.

The president will sign the order appointing the members of the government and the order appointing the attorney-general, each of which will be countersigned by the taoiseach.

The President will then present each minister in turn with their seal.