Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar has been elected Taoiseach by the Dáil after incumbent Micheál Martin resigned the role.

Martin has been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence. He replaces Simon Coveney, who is moving into Varadkar’s previous position as minister in charge of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath are swapping ministries, with McGrath becoming Minister for Finance.

Donohoe has been put in charge of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which has been renamed the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

“Too many important public capital projects are taking far too long,” Varadkar told the Dáil.

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“Schools, hospitals, garda stations, public transport projects, among others. I want this department to bring about a step change when it comes to the execution and delivery of the National Development Plan – Project Ireland 2040.”

Varadkar received 87 votes in favour of his nomination for Taoiseach, with 62 votes again. Verona Murphy was the sole abstention on the issue.

Apart from Simon Harris taking on the Justice portfolio while Helen McEntee takes maternity leave for the second time since being appointed to the role, there are no other ministerial changes following on the election of the new prime minister.

The rotating Taoiseach arrangement was agreed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil when they formed a coalition government in June 2020.

Varadkar (43) will remain in the prime minister role until the next general election, which is scheduled for 2025. The Fine Gael leader was previously Taoiseach from June 2017 to June 2020.

Varadkar told the Dáil that Minister of State appointments will be announced next week.

“Our ambition is to make Ireland the best country in Europe in which to be a child,” said Varadkar.

“As Taoiseach my mission will be to build on the achievement of 100 years ago, and work on what needs to be done for this generation and the next. Providing hope and housing, economic opportunity and a fair start for all."

Varadkar said he intends “to go all out to turn the corner on homelessness and home ownership”.

“We need to accelerate our plan, Housing for All. It’s about making home ownership a reality for the many again,” he added.

“We need to tame inflation and bring the cost of living under control, especially when it comes to the cost of energy, childcare, education, rent and healthcare.

“We need to set ourselves the ambition of becoming energy independent and develop new ideas to make it happen.

“I believe that we can harness our massive untapped, renewable natural resources – providing greater energy security, stable prices, more jobs, and regional development.”

Photo: Leo Varadkar receiving his seal of office from President Higgins. (Pic: RollingNews.ie)