Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members have voted to ratify the draft Programme for Government that will see both parties form a coalition government

Festus Keyamo, minister of Aviation, has unveiled plans to modernise the country's aviation infrastructure and attract int'l investment.

Fine Gael has held the first of five regional meetings with party members over the Programme for Government document.

Only three of the 15 Ministers are women: Helen McEntee, Jennier Carroll MacNeill and Norma Foley, which makes for a ratio of 80:20 of men to women. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has said it is “deeply disappointing” that the number of women in cabinet has reduced by 25 per cent to just three.

Historian and political commentator Brian Feeney has been a columnist with The Irish News for three decades. He is a former SDLP councillor in Belfast and co-author of the award-winning book Lost Lives At Fianna Fáil’s weekend mini-ard fheis, the atmosphere was euphoric, the mood nostalgic. Just like old times.

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has criticised what her party has said is a lack of women in the new Cabinet.

Renewing her criticism of the deal with Independents behind the formation of the new Government, Ms McDonald said Mr Martin had changed from once describing Michael Lowry TD, key negotiator for the Independents, as a “rogue politician” to now making him a “kingmaker”.

Gerry Hutch, also known as The Monk, has lodged his papers to stand in the General Election in Dublin Central.

Only one Minister in the outgoing government has kept their old position as Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a major reshuffle of his Cabinet. In sweeping changes that saw former Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue dropped, several surprises saw six new senior ministers appointed.

The Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has this morning ruled that the Regional Technical Group of Independent TDs will not be permitted to sit in the Opposition benches today.

The 34th Dáil sat for just a matter of minutes this morning before outbursts forced new ceann comhairle Verona Murphy to suspend the house.

Fianna Fáil leader Martin will become Taoiseach this afternoon for the second time as the new Government is formed