New era or same old, same old?... How a day of political ceremony will unfold

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is set to be nominated as Taoiseach by the Dáil before being formally appointed to the office by President Michael D Higgins.

Afterwards, Mr Martin will return to the Dáil to finalise the makeup of the Cabinet which will be announced in the chamber later.

Here is the timeline for the day ahead

11am: Dáil sits

Today, 174 TDs assemble in the Dáil chamber at 11am and the nomination process for the new Taoiseach begins.

The Dail will sit this morning for what is normally a day high on political ceremony as nominations for Taoiseach are revealed but this will be fractious encounter in the Dáil chamber given the controversy over the Regional Technical Groups and oppostion speaking times.

There is likely to be opposition anger too over plans to adjourn the Dáil tonight until 5th February. The Dail has not sat for two consecutive days since last November.

There will be speeches from party representatives and opposition leaders but matters will quickly progress to a vote.

As the new coalition has 95 TDs, giving them a majority of nine, the nomination of the Fianna Fáil leader is assured.

2pm (approx) Appointment of Taoiseach

President Michael D Higgins will welcome Taoiseach Micheal Martin to the State Reception Room in Aras an Uachtarain where he will sign the Warrant of Appointment and hand the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to the Taoiseach.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin will then return to Government Buildings and set about appointing new Government ministers leading to an anxious afternoon for many Fianna Fail/Fine Gael TDs.

5.30pm:

Late in the afternoon the bells will ring to call the chamber to assemble again.

Once TDs are seated the new Taoiseach will enter the chamber, followed by all his new ministerial appointees.

Speeches will follow by the Taoiseach and leaders of the other groups and a motion will be put to the house to approve the new ministers.

8pm (Approx) Appointment of Government Ministers

Members of the Cabinet will arrive at Aras an Uachtarain where President Higgins will sign the Warrant of Appointment for the Members of the Government and the Warrant of Appointment of the Attorney General, each of which will be countersigned by the Taoiseach. The President will then present each Minister in turn with their Seal of Office.

The first Cabinet meeting will then take place in Áras an Uachtaráin in what will be a brief affair wit the Taoiseach addressing his new ministers and the work of the new Government begins.

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Fine Gael Deputy Leader, Helen McEntee who was Justice Minister in the last government is expected to move to either the Enterprise or Education portfolio. Fellow East Meath TD, Thomas Byrne had been tipped as a possible replacement for McEntee in Justice as that portfolio switches to Fianna Fail control, but most likely he will remain at the Department of Sport.

Most probable is that the Minister for Justice role will go to either Jim O'Callaghan or James Browne.

The names of the senior government ministers will be announced later, along with four super junior ministers.

Fianna Fáil will hold eight senior roles to Fine Gael's seven.

|t is expected that Mr Harris, who will serve as Tánaiste, will be appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and he will also have responsibility for Trade and Defence.

Paschal Donohoe is set to be named Minister for Finance and Jack Chambers will move to the revamped Department of Public Expenditure.

Darragh O'Brien is tipped to remain as Minister for Housing but a move to the justice brief has not been entirely discounted.