Irish parliament fails to form a government

The 32nd Irish parliament (Dáil) has failed to appoint a new taoiseach (prime minister) after meeting for the first time today.

Outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny was one of four politicians nominated for the role after the elections.The others were Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and People Against Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett. None received enough votes.

The Parliament tries to elect a taoiseach and agree on the formation of a fresh coalition – but incumbent Enda Kenny fell far short of the votes needed to become prime minister and form an administration.

"Let me assure the Irish people that the government remains in place and I and my cabinet colleagues will continue to work hard in the best interests of the country and all of the people," Mr Kenny said.

He said his immediate duties as caretaker taoiseach would be to travel to the US for St Patrick's Day - where he will meet President Obama - and a European Council meeting in Brussels next week.

LOOKING FOR A “GRAND COALITION”

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the two main parties in Irish politics, are still ruling out creating a historic “grand coalition”. The Sinn Féin MP Pearse Doherty challenged them both on Thursday to “end the charade” and form a government together, but Fianna Fáil sources are adamant the party will not walk into a coalition that would leave Sinn Féin as the main opposition force in Ireland.

The FF leader, Micheál Martin, said: “We didn’t get a mandate to go into government with Fine Gael and we certainly didn’t get a mandate to put Fine Gael back into government.”

FIANNA FAIL, NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Mr Kenny got 57 votes for taoiseach - 50 from his own party and seven from the Labour Party. Mr Martin received 43, Mr Adams 24 and Mr Boyd Barrett nine.

Earlier, Fianna Fáil's Seán Ó Fearghaíl was elected ceann comhairle - speaker - of the Dáil. His nomination for taoiseach was supported by former coalition partner, the Labour Party, as well as his own Fine Gael party.

Fine Gael has 50 seats, Fianna Fáil 44, Sinn Féin 23 and the Labour Party got seven. Smaller parties and independents make up the other 34 seats.