Humphreys is the new Minister for Rural Affairs

Cavan-Monaghan will retain at least one senior Minister in the new Government.

Fine Gael TD, Heather Humphreys, has been appointed the new Minister for Rural Affairs and Social Protection, although it looks as though Fianna Fáil's Brendan Smith has been left out of the cabinet - despite being one of the most senior and experienced TDs for the party.

A number of junior Ministerial positions have yet to be confirmed, with some sources saying Deputy Niamh Smyth may yet make the cut.

The new Government Cabinet is assembling at Government Buildings, where positions continue to be handed out. They will shortly travel by bus to the Convention Centre for a sitting of the Dáil.

What we know so far

Members of the new Government will then be nominated and when the Dáil adjourns around 8.30pm, they will travel to Dublin Castle to receive their seals of office from President Michael D Higgins.

The three party leaders are carving up the 15 cabinet seats between their parties in a six-six-three Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green Party split.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin was earlier elected Taoiseach; while Leo Varadkar is Tánaiste.

Stephen Donnelly (FF) is the new Minister for Health.

Darragh O'Brien (FF) has been given the Housing portfolio.

Barry Cowen (FF) is the new Minister for Agriculture.

Norma Foley (FF) is the new Minister for Education.

Michael McGrath (FF) takes over Public Expenditure.

Paschal Donohoe (FG) remains as Finance Minister.

Helen McEntee (FG) is the new Justice Minister.

Simon Coveney (FG) is set to remain in Foreign Affairs.

Eamon Ryan (Greens) will be the Minister for Transport, Energy and Climate.

Catherine Martin (Greens) will be Minister for Communications and Culture.

Roderic O'Gorman (Greens) will become Minister for Children and Disability.

Heather Humphreys (FG) is the new Minister for Rural Affairs.

Simon Harris (FG) will be Minister for Higher Education and Research.

New Taoiseach to focus on 'recovery and renewal'

Newly-elected Taoiseach Micheàl Martin has pledged to focus on the recovery of the economy after Ireland was hit by the fastest moving recession in its history caused by Covid-19.

He stated: "There is no question what our most urgent work is.

"We are meeting away from our permanent chamber because of a historic pandemic which has struck Ireland and the rest of the world.

"As of today, 2,278 people on this island have lost their lives. Many thousands more have fought a long struggle to recover. There is no community, no part of our country which has escaped untouched.

"In the last three-and-a-half months enormous progress has been made in controlling the spread of the virus and treating those who have become sick."

He pointed to the fact nearly '900,000 of our people wholly or partly relying on special pandemic payments'.

An Taoiseach pledged that the three parties in the new coalition will work together on trying to fix the country.

“Recovery and renewal. These are the themes which underpin everything in the programme for government which has been agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party and has been ratified by our members with overwhelming majorities.

“Our three parties come from very different traditions.

"We do not and could not be expected to agree on everything. However, we have been able to agree on core democratic principles and on a balanced and comprehensive programme."

Deputy Martin said there are too many people who cannot find a decent and affordable place to live, while waiting times for urgent treatments are far too long.

"Our country has shown time and time again that we can overcome the toughest of challenges – and we will do so again.

"It is in the spirit of a deep belief in the role of democratic government; with a commitment to delivering the recovery and renewal embodied in our programme, and a determination to work tirelessly to serve the people that I proudly accept the nomination of Taoiseach."

Earlier today, the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said her party will deliver the most effective Opposition ever seen in the State.

Pointing out that Sinn Féin won more first preference votes than any other party in the February election, she said the current programme for government did not represent the "change" people had voted for.

Deputy McDonald described the new government as a "marriage of convenience" that will be used to buy time to keep others out.

"Faced with the prospect of losing their grip on power, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have circled the wagons," she said.

She said they would no longer get it their own way and the future belongs to those who believed in change.