TUESDAY 9.10pmTaoiseach Brian Cowen wins a vote of confidence at Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
9.20Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, who opposed the motion, announces that Cowen has accepted his resignation.
WEDNESDAY
8.45pmMary Harney announces that she will not be contesting the general election and that she has tendered her resignation as Minister for Health.
10.58The Department of An Taoiseach confirms that three further Ministers – Dermot Ahern, Noel Dempsey and Tony Killeen – have tendered their resignations from the Cabinet. All three had already announced that they would not be standing for the next Dáil.
YESTERDAY
7amGreen Party leader John Gormley hears about the resignations of Ahern, Dempsey and O'Keeffe on RTÉ radio and promptly phones Cowen. The two continue to hold discussions through the morning.
8.40Noel Dempsey tells RTÉ's Morning Irelandthat Cowen indicated to him several weeks ago that he planned a Cabinet reshuffle.
9.35Green Party TD Paul Gogarty announces on micro-blogging site Twitter that its parliamentary party is to meet to discuss "proposed job for boys appointments".
He tweets: “Expect collective decision soon. Then it’s up to Taoiseach to see sense or go.”
10It's reported that Batt O'Keeffe has also decided not to contest the election and has resigned as Minister for Enterprise and Employment. This is initially denied by a spokesman, but later confirmed by Government Chief Whip John Curran.
11.10The Dáíl is suspended amid persistent heckling as the Opposition demands that Brian Cowen come into the House to give a statement about the developments.
11.40Tánaiste Mary Coughlan says Ministers who intend to resign will continue to discharge their duties until the President has accepted their resignations. The Dáil is adjourned until 1.30pm.
1.12pmGovernment Chief Whip John Curran says the resignations of the departing ministers have been accepted.
1.30On the resumption of Dáil proceedings, Brian Cowen pays tribute to the departing ministers and confirms that President Mary McAleese has accepted their resignations.
1.40Cowen announces that existing Ministers will be doubling up their portfolios: Mary Coughlan becomes Minister for Health; Pat Carey takes on the responsibilities of Minister for Transport; Brendan Smith is assigned the justice portfolio; Mary Hanafin the enterprise portfolio; and Éamon Ó Cuív will take over defence. He also announces that the general election will be held on March 11th.
3.45Fianna Fáil Minister of State Conor Lenihan says the Taoiseach should resign.
4.50At a Green Party press conference, following a meeting of its parliamentary party, Gormley says the Greens opposed the plan to make new ministerial appointments and were not consulted overnight about the Cabinet changes.