Ivana Bacik

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said there were the same number of Ministers with the name James as there were women

Late-night wrangling produced a compromise over the Regional Independents - but whether it holds remains to be seen

Cabinet criticised as ‘very male’ with only three women as full ministers, down one from last time

Simon Harris becomes Minister for Foreign Affairs as Jim O'Callaghan takes justice portfolio

A year of change heralds a future of more of the same

Ivana Bacik communicates decision to leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

Ireland’s position on Israel has always been consistent. If our Government is guilty of anything, it is delay

Michael Lowry expects to meet Chambers and McEntee to discuss ‘parameters’ of engagement in government formation talks

Labour and Regional Independent group to decide on pursuing negotiations with two outgoing ruling parties

Fianna Fáil particularly keen on enticing Labour into a coalition rather than Independents, while main two negotiating parties have differing views on issues including VAT reform, new departments and overhaul of the Department of Public Expenditure

Jim O’Callaghan talks up Independents option while Bacik expected to speak separately with Martin and Harris this week

Labour and Social Democrats to hold first post-election meeting about how to proceed after increasing their Dáil numbers, as divisions between the parties emerge

Democracy is on a downward arc globally, and we can see the warning signs here in the treatment by some media of Gerry Hutch’s candidacy as a joke. We learned nothing from the ascent of Donald Trump

General election explainer: The earliest we can expect negotiations about the formation of the next government to conclude is mid-January

Final count finished in Cavan-Monaghan with the make up of the 34th Dáil now complete

Electorate did not back Independents at level suggested by polling during the campaign but they could still play major role in 34th Dáil

Labour leader defends Dublin Bay South seat after party’s strong election campaign

Fianna Fáil leader says he sees clear path to government while Fine Gael leader expresses confidence that his party will play significant role in Coalition formation talks

Simon Harris’s encounter with care worker Charlotte Fallon stood out as a pivotal moment in a campaign for which the political parties seemed oddly unprepared

Rival parties pressed on possible coalition arrangements in final campaign events before polling day