Government leaders decide on junior minister appointments this week, but the names are unlikely to assuage doubts after accusations of misogyny when the Cabinet was announced last week.

Tánaiste says his priority is harnessing the "full potential" of the Good Friday Agreement - while others argue that the Irish Unity debate can no longer be avoided.

The election of taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has been delayed after the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament) was suspended amid chaotic scenes in the chamber. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the delay has been "premeditated, coordinated and a choreographed" position by the opposition and in particular Sinn Féin.

The Taoiseach was speaking as members of his Fine Gael party met in Dublin to begin the process of ratifying the draft programme for government

Tánaiste Simon Harris will meet with political leaders ... I visited Northern Ireland on a number of occasions as Taoiseach last year and intend to be a regular visitor in the time ahead.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has congratulated Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. Mr Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at a ceremony inside the Capitol in Washington DC this afternoon. In a statement, Mr Harris said he wished Mr Trump "every success in his term-in-office".

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin has been elected taoiseach (Irish prime minister) for the second time after chaos in the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) subsided. The Dáil was suspended several times on Wednesday after a bitter row between government and opposition parties.

Harris's pre-election appearance on the podcast saw the two Johnnies ask him several personal questions, such as does he and his wife split the household chores his family's shopping habits, to which Harris answers "the supermarket is a grand canvas when pushing around the trolley".

Ireland's political leaders have responded to Wednesday night's tragic plane crash in Washington, DC, the deadliest in the US since November 2001.

Micheal Martin has said he is “thankful” to his supporters after he received the backing of the Irish parliament to be nominated as the country’s next premier. Parliamentarians voted 95 to 76 in support of the nomination of the Fianna Fail leader, the day after a chaotic row disrupted the process and resulted in the suspension of the Dail.

Fine Gael members held a regional meeting on Friday night in Dublin days after the draft programme for government was agreed.

The Government has defended itself against criticism after promised corrective action on gender balance failed to materialise in the appointment of junior ministers.