POLITICS: Enda Kenny has officially been elected as Taoiseach of the 32nd Dáil, which comes an incredible seventy days after the General Election.
Kenny with the support of a number of prominent Independent TD’s secured the backing of fifty-nine deputies in this afternoon’s vote, with 49 TD’s voting against him.
Fine Gael required 58 votes which enabled its leadership of a minority Government.
Enda Kenny will now lead a minority Fine Gael-Independent Government with support from Fianna Fáil on certain matters.
The Wall Street Journal has tweeted that Enda Kenny is the first ‘austerity leader’ from the Eurozone to be returned to office.
In his address to the Dáil, Kenny said everyone has an opportunity to play a partnership role to build a better Ireland.
Kenny said, “Ireland is a better and safer place , five years on, and the economic landscape was very, very different.
“I will play an energetic and active role in implementing a comprehensive reform of the Oireachtas.”