The process: How Taoiseach's office will change hands this week

The process: How Taoiseach's office will change hands this week

Will By Appointed An Is Go To Dáil Picture: President Taoiseach Leo He Be Uachtaráin He Simon On Of áras He Intends Taoiseach Resign If Will Istock The Higgins Nominated Tuesday, D Varadkar Michael The To That Office Inform Will Harris Where

Simon Harris will become Taoiseach and announce his cabinet on Tuesday, but junior ministerial hopefuls will have to wait until Wednesday to learn their fate.

What happens first?

On Monday evening at 6pm, current Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will inform President Michael D Higgins that he intends to resign. 

At 10.30am on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar will make his announcement to the Dáil that he has informed the President. He will have 15 minutes to make his final speech as taoiseach before Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton brings forward the proposer and seconder for the nomination of Mr Varadkar's replacement. These will each have five minutes.

Will the opposition nominate?

No. At present the opposition parties have no plans to nominate a taoiseach, though they will have 10 minutes each to make a statement which will bring us to around 12.25pm.

That's when the Dáil will vote on the new Taoiseach?

Yes. With Mr Harris set to be the only candidate, it will be a simple yes or no question, with a majority of 81 needed.

Any chance he doesn't get 81?

Not really, no. Barring some completely unforeseen bolters from coalition parties, he is expected to come in with around 86 or 87 votes.

Then he's Taoiseach?

Kind-of. The appointment of the Taoiseach is a function of the President, who is required to appoint whomever the Dáil nominates. 

So at around 1pm, Mr Harris will head to Áras an Uachtaráin as the Dáil suspends for four hours. He will meet with President Higgins, who will give him his seal of office. 

Once he is Taoiseach, Mr Harris will begin assembling his cabinet, with all ministers resigning and subsequently being reappointed. He will return with his newly-minted (or re-minted) ministers around 5pm and will give a 10-minute speech to the Dáil, which will be followed by the opposition before a vote around 6.40pm. 

Cabinet will then meet on Wednesday.

   

More in this section

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

Group Echo Limited Examiner ©