After weeks of negotiations, a new government has finally been formed. Fine Gael will form a minority government having secured the vote of nine independent TDs. Michael Creed has been announced as the new Minister for Agriculture and rural affairs has been added to the portfolio of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Read through our live blog to see how today's events unfolded.

19:04

Former Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has been appointed to Housing. Click here to catch up on all the other cabinet announcements.

18:54

The new Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed devised the dairy forum along with John Deasy and milked 50 cows up until his election in 2002.

18:42

The Taoiseach has not appointed a minister solely for rural affairs. Regional Development and Rural Affairs have been added to the portfolio of Heather Humphreys, who will remain as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

18:36

Enda Kenny has announced Michael Creed as the new Minister for Agriculture.

18:32

It is believed that Michael Creed is the new Minister for Agriculture.

18:28

Enda Kenny and the Ceann Comhairle have arrived and proceedings have begun.

18:23

Still no sign of Enda Kenny. Take a read of who The Dealer predicted would take the agriculture minister position.

18:17

Denis Naughten has been appointed as Minister for Communications and Shane Ross has announced he has been given the position of Minister of Transport.

18:13

The Dáil will adjourn shortly having been postponed from 17:30. TDs are now entering the chamber but so sign of any Fine Gael members yet.

14:40

Yesterday, one day before the vote for Taoiseach took place, the new government unveiled its draft programme. A number of new measures for agriculture formed part of the programme, including a new €25m payment for sheep farmers and a €25m increase in the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) budget.

Irish Farmers Association president Joe Healy welcomed these particular aspects on agriculture contained in the draft programme, and added that "both measures needed to be in this year’s budget and paid out to farmers in 2017".

"The IFA had undertaken intensive campaigns over the last year for a new targeted sheep payment and the restoration of Disadvantaged Area payments (ANC)," he said.

14:35

Enda Kenny is now travelling to Áras an Uachtaráin with a garda escort to meet with the President. Upon his election, Enda Kenny must receive the seal of office from the President Michael D Higgins in order to govern.

The newly re-elected Taoiseach outside the Dáil.

14:35

The Dáil has adjourned for three hours, following which Enda Kenny will make the senior cabinet appointments.

14:33

"I will discharge my duties as Taoiseach to the very best of my abilities," says Enda Kenny. "I will take all the constructive criticism on board and I am honoured to be elected as Taoiseach."

14:23

Kenny has been re-elected as Taoiseach. He received 59 votes in favour of his election and 49 votes were made against him. He will now lead the 32nd Dáil.

Who is Michael Fitzmaurice, the Roscommon-Galway indepdedent TD and farmer who has been at the centre of today’s last-ditch negotiations on government formation? We met him on the campaign trail before the election and covered his first appearance in the new Dáil.

14:15

14:12

Katherine Zappone, Shane Ross and Denis Naughten are all expected to fill senior cabinet positions.

14:11

Breakdown of Kenny's expected votes results:

  • 50 votes from Fine Gael
  • Two independents: Katherine Zappone and Michael Lowry
  • Five from Independent Alliance with Fitzmaurice abstaining
  • Three from rural alliance with Michael Collins and Mattie McGrath not supporting

    • 14:03

    We understand that Kenny will have the necessary 60 votes. Michael Fitzmaurice and Michael Healy Rae will abstain from the vote.

    To anyone surprised that turf cutting turns out to be such a sticking point between independent TDs and the Government, this is nothing new. Read back over their exchanges on this issue in our coverage from last May, June and October.

    14:00

    Deputy Stephen Donnelly of Social Democrats says he will be voting against Enda Kenny's election as Taoiseach.

    13:57

    The independents have just arrived into the Dáil chamber.

    13:54

    The Rural Alliance are still not present in the Dáil chamber.

    13:53

    The latest thoughts are that despite not having Michael Fitzmaurice's vote, Fine Gael are still expected to get 60 votes which should get them over the line to form a government.

    13.46

    Brendan Howlin of Labour says an election seems to the best option. "The government must be based on common set of principles and trust." He questions whether trust exists in the proposed government.

    13:45

    According to reports, independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is abstaining from the vote for Taoiseach. Kenny is expected to get three votes from among the Rural Alliance.

    13.42

    Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, newly elected TD Michael Collins of Cork west said he has engaged over the last few days "to try to bridge a gap for the smaller farmers and people in rural Ireland. I was unable to and I will be voting against Enda Kenny".

    He also said the Enda Kenny had put "too much pressure on the independents" and that might have lost him their votes.

    13.40

    Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin criticises Fianna Fáil for their “utter ineptitude” in reinstating Fine Gael for an “incredibly low price”. She says Sinn Féin is now the main opposition.

    13.35

    Independent TD Catherine Connolly begins. She says she will not vote for Enda Kenny and believes an election is on the horizon. She criticised independents for “wrestling with their conscience”.

    She also says that while there are positives in the draft such as a minister for rural affairs and smaller class sizes, this is overrun “by the failure to deal with the crisis caused by relying on the free market”.

    13:30

    The fiscal treaty must be renegotiated - it has a stranglehold on every family in this country, says independent TD Seamus Healy. He believes the plan for government is modelled on Europe and overlooks Irish sovereignty. He says the draft continues austerity measures and benefits the rich.

    13.25

    The Green Party abstains from voting for Enda Kenny for the chance to see "new politics" in Ireland.

    13:22

    The way the water issue has been handled has been "a great dissatisfaction" says Eamon Ryan of the Green Party. He also says the draft programme for government is not specific enough.

    13:15

    Roisin Shorthall says Fine Gael are “out of touch” and accuses Michael Noonan of “buying votes” with the €4bn tax giveaway.

    13.11

    Roisin Shorthall of Social Democrats is now speaking. She says the new policies proposed are unrealistic: they are “well-meaning in parts, long in aspirations, short on specifics".

    13.10

    Independent Alliance still have not entered the chamber. Negotiations still happening in the background.

    13.08

    Independent Clare Daly begins her speech. She says there is an “air of unreality” in the Dáil.

    13.06

    “No change, no new politics”. Richard Boyd Barrett believes this government has put the people’s interests second behind the businessmen.

    13.00

    Richard Boyd Barrett from the Anti Austerity Alliance has begun his speech. He has criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for wasting time of the Irish people. He also disagrees with previous social policies such as health and housing. He says the new draft plan is a “no-change policy".

    12.58

    Coppinger tells Fianna Fáil they are not responsible for halting water charges. She tells them when this issued is raised again in the future it will be the “rock on which you perish”.

    12.54

    Burton finishes. Ruth Coppinger has just began to speak. She says that “75% of people do not want” Enda Kenny as new Taoiseach.

    12.45

    Burton calls the new government agreement a "coalition of convenience". She also calls on the new government to pledge to re-fund all households that paid the water charge.

    12:41

    Labour Vote against Enda Kenny. Acting Tánaiste Joan Burton called the whole process a "charade". She said in the Dáil that Fine Gael acted in their own interest over the interest of the "national interest".

    12:00

    At noon it looks like Enda Kenny's coalition of support is falling apart, leaving the country on the brink of another general election.

    Following a morning of frantic negotiations it seems some members of both the rural alliance and the independent alliance grouping have withdrawn their support for Kenny’s nominations for Taoiseach to be voted on imminently.

    The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Independent Alliance member Michael Fitzmaurice was negotiating on planning an exemption for turf cutting from planning regulations which was the final issue to secure his support. He has since withdrawn his support.

    Meanwhile Rural Alliance TD Michael Collins of Cork West has just told C103 radio in Cork that he has withdrawn his support and will not be supporting Enda Kenny’s nomination. He will go into opposition.

    Sean Canney, Galway East TD, is also understood to have unresolved issues.

    The vote for Taoiseach has now commenced with chief whip Paul Kehoe on his feet. There is still doubt as to its outcome.