The Dáil resumes with Micheál Martin returning as taoiseach

The election of a new Prime Minister has been postponed after a bitter row in the Dáil, leading to proceedings being suspended twice.

The Irish Parliament has returned to nominate Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin as the new Prime Minister before he is formally appointed to the post by President Michael D Higgins.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy called a 15-minute suspension after the Teachtaí Dála (TDs) refused to “stop yelling” at her and take their seats.

After her appeal, several Democratic MPs continued to challenge her over the decision to allow independent Democrats who support the government to sit on the opposition benches.

They refused to take their seats and the proceedings were then suspended for 30 minutes.

Sinn Féin president Mary Low said it was a “brazen” move by the government to allow the arrangement to happen.

MacDonald said it was a “cynical and unprecedented hoax”.

The 35th Dáil will see Martin elected as Prime Minister for a second time, 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 group of independent regional directors yet to be established November elections.

Sinn Féin remains the largest opposition party after winning 39 seats. Fianna Fáil gained 48 seats while Fine Gael came third with 38 seats.

Martin and Harris confirmed the government’s draft of the new programme Earlier this month.

The deal paved the way for the next government and was successfully approved by both parties in recent days.

Speaking after his party approved the government’s programme, Martin said there was a “strong commitment” by his party to the interests of the Irish people.

“I can assure you that 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 improve the quality of life as we navigate very turbulent global waters.” He said.

Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out Sinn Féin as a coalition partner, which party leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for. “bad practice”.

This is the first time the new government has met after the November elections, with government negotiations taking about five weeks.

The new Dáil has already been a source of controversy after a number of independent TDs including Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, who support the government, wanted to form a “technical group” that would give them speaking time and other rights from the Opposition benches.

Another member of the group, Michael Healy-Rae, said they were “fully entitled to stand up as part of an artistic group and ask questions and participate in discussions”.

He told the BBC Good morning, Ulster Program: “When you support a government, it does not mean that you are silent and you cannot participate, you cannot ask questions, you cannot ask questions of national and local importance.

He added: “We have not changed our mind, but what we are doing is that we are moving to say that we need a stable, safe, sound and strong government for the next five years, and we will support that because we feel that we will do that.” “We are better able to serve our constituents and the country by being inside government rather than outside it.”

New Ceann Comhairle – also a regional independent – Verona Murphy, the first woman to hold the role, told the TDs she would consider applications opposing the plan, but allowed the group to hold their original seats “temporarily” for the time being.

All other opposition groups oppose the idea, describing it as gaining a foothold in both camps and taking time away from those who want to scrutinize the government.

Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said: “I think this completely undermines the integrity of the Dáil.

“The standing orders are very clear on this and we have legal advice and Labor has legal advice as well to say that.

“The art group is a body of members of the opposition, that is very clear.”

Analysis: Chris Page, BBC News correspondent in Ireland

It was expected that the dispute over speaking rights would lead to some disagreement in the hall.

But the clamor reached a level that was not widely expected.

The 35th lower house of the Irish Parliament has prorogued twice in quick succession – and the election of the Speaker is being delayed by at least an hour.

For opposition parties, the issue is not just how to share speaking time, but also how to divide funding and resources.

They also had the opportunity to grab the spotlight from the incoming government, on a day usually focused on new ministers and ministers – and their plan for running Ireland in the coming years.

We can expect the coalition parties to accuse their opponents of creating a humiliating scene on an important day for the country.

As part of his Dáil return on Wednesday, Martin will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin at around 1:00 p.m. local time to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins in the Government Reception Room.

The President will then sign the order of appointment and hand over the Taoiseach and Government seal to Martin.

Later, around 20:00, the process of appointing government members will begin.

The President signs the order appointing members of the government and the order appointing the Attorney General, and both are signed with approval by the Prime Minister.

The President will then present each individual minister with his or her seal of office.