The Irish Parliament will resume on Wednesday, with Fianna Fáil leader Michelle Martin returning as taoiseach for a second term.
In the 35th Dail (Irish Parliament), Mr Martin will be elected Taoiseach (Prime Minister), replacing Fine Gael leader Simon Harris who will return as Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister).
Fianna Fail – the largest party – formed a government with Fine Gael and a number of independent regional MPs (TDs) after November elections.
Sinn Féin remains the largest opposition party after winning 39 seats. Fianna Fail won 48 seats, while Fine Gael was third with 38 seats.
Mr Martin and Mr Harris confirmed the government’s new draft programme earlier this month.
The agreement paved the way for the next government and was successfully supported by both parties in recent days.
Speaking after his party backed the government’s programme, Martin said there was a “strong commitment” on behalf of his party to deliver on the task for the Irish people.
“I can assure you, we will spare no effort in working selflessly on behalf of the people of Ireland to deliver this program for government, to make things better for people and to improve the quality of life as we navigate very turbulent global waters,” he said.
Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out Sinn Féin as a coalition partner, which party leader Mary Lou McDonald called “bad practice”.
This is the first time a new government will sit after the November election, with government negotiations taking around five weeks to complete.
The New Dáil has already been a source of controversy after a number of independent TDs, including government backers Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, wanted to sit down and speak from the opposition benches.
New Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) – also a regional independent – Verona Murphy, who is the first woman to hold the post, told TDs she would consider submissions opposing the plan but allowed the group to “temporarily” take their original seats for now .
All other opposition groups are opposed to the idea, labeling it as having a foot in both camps and taking up the time of those who want to control the government.
As part of his Dáil return on Wednesday, Mr Martin will travel to Arras an Uachtarain at around 1pm local time to meet Irish President Michael D. Higgins in the state reception room.
The President will then sign the appointment order and deliver the seal of the taoiseach and the seal of government to Mr Harris.
Later, around 8:00 p.m., the appointment of members of the government will begin.
The president will sign the cabinet appointment order and the attorney general appointment order, each of which will be signed by the taoiseach.
The president will then hand each minister their seal in turn.
