Micheal Martin elected new Irish premier

Ireland's parliament elected Foreign Minister Micheal Martin the country's new taoiseach or prime minister on Thursday.

Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, has been elected taoiseach for the second time, replacing Fine Gael leader Simon Harris who will return as tanaiste, or deputy prime minister.

The election vote came following heated row between government and opposition parties as parliament was suspended several times on Wednesday.

The Dail, Irish parliament, approved the proposal to nominate Martin as taoiseach for appointment by President Michael Higgins later in the day.

There were 95 votes in favour of the the 64-year-old Fianna Fail leader, and 76 against.

In his speech, the veteran politician thanked his party, Fine Gael and Regional Independents who "negotiated a Program for Government in an upfront and honest manner."

He said that many parliaments in the world have become "more angry and divisive."

"They have become forums dominated by the inflated rhetoric of demonstrations, rather than a place where different groups can argue in good faith and respectfully disagree," said Martin.

"We should never take for granted the freedoms and opportunities secured for us by the generations who sat here before us."

Following the parliamentary vote, European Council President Antoio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Martin's appointment.

Martin's Fianna Fail emerged as the largest party following the Irish general election in November 2024.

It won 48 seats while Sinn Fein - the main opposition party in the last Dail - won 39 and Fine Gael, which has been in coalition with Fianna Fail since 2020, became third with 38 seats.