Ireland

New taoiseach Micheál Martin in emotional return home to Cork

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin leaves the Dáil sitting in the Convention Centre in Dublin after being elected taoiseach. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin leaves the Dáil sitting in the Convention Centre in Dublin after being elected taoiseach. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin leaves the Dáil sitting in the Convention Centre in Dublin after being elected taoiseach. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin enjoyed an emotional return home to Cork city yesterday as he hailed his new role as "one of the greatest honours which anyone can receive".

Neighbours joined his wife Mary and children Micheál Aodh, Aoibhhe and Cillian as he was greeted in Ballinlough by a guard of honour singing The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee.

The Fianna Fáil leader was elected taoiseach of the 33rd Dáil on Saturday, with 93 TDs voting in favour and 63 against. Three TDs abstained.

READ MORE: History made in damp squib makeshift Dáil as Micheál Martin elected taoiseachOpens in new window ]

He used his inaugural speech to pay tribute to the health workers and those who have died in the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told the special Dáil sitting in Dublin's Convention Centre, where all 160 deputies could sit while observing social distancing: "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.

"The struggle against the virus is not over. We must continue to contain its spread. We must be ready to tackle any new wave, and we must move forward rapidly to secure a recovery to benefit all of our people."

Micheál Martin was greeted by family and friends at his home in Cork city yesterday. Picture from RTÉ
Micheál Martin was greeted by family and friends at his home in Cork city yesterday. Picture from RTÉ Micheál Martin was greeted by family and friends at his home in Cork city yesterday. Picture from RTÉ

Mr Martin paid tribute to his wife and children, and said he is proud of his working class roots.

He said: "Most of all I want to thank my family and my community. Without them I could have achieved nothing."

Earlier, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar said civil war politics had ended in Ireland's parliament, after his party agreed to form a historic governing coalition.

"I believe Civil War politics ended a long time ago in our country, but today Civil War politics ends in our parliament.

"Two great parties coming together with another great party, the Green Party, to offer what this country needs, a stable government for the betterment of our country and for the betterment of our world."

However, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald claimed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had conspired to exclude her party from government, and the voices of more than half a million people who narrowly gave it the biggest share of votes in February's election.

She described the coalition as a "marriage of convenience", adding: "Faced with the prospect of losing their grip on power, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have circled the wagons."

Mr Martin travelled to Aras an Uachtarain, where he received his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

After selecting his new cabinet during a series of meetings at Government Buildings, he unveiled his top table to the Dáil on Saturday evening.

These include Leo Varadkar as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, while Simon Coveney remains as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Paschal Donohoe stays in post as Minister for Finance.

Helen McEntee is the new Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys is the new Minister for Social Protection, while Simon Harris is Minister for Higher Education and Stephen Donnelly replaces him in the Department of Health.

Darragh O'Brien is new the Minister for Housing, while Norma Foley is Education Minister and the Greens' Eamon Ryan is Minister for Climate Action.

None of the ministers come from the west of Ireland, while there was also criticism that no northern voices were among nominations to the Seanad by the new government.

Leo Varadkar is due to return as taoiseach's role at the end of 2022 under the terms of the coalition agreement.