A Cheann Comhairle, B’áil liom cead a chur in iúl, mar eolas don Dáil, gur chuir mé m’ainmniú mar Thaoiseach in iúl don Uachtarán agus gur cheap sé mé dá réir.

I beg leave to announce, for the information of the Dáil, that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be the Taoiseach and that he has appointed me accordingly. This Government will need to be both energetic and laser-focused on delivery: On housing. On health. On helping families, farmers and small businesses. Equality of opportunity for all and empowering people with disabilities. Security. Exerting our influence in the world. With that in mind…. I move: That Dáil Éireann approve the nomination by the Taoiseach of the following Deputies for appointment by the President to be members of the Government:- As Tánaiste and to the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin. To the Department of Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan. To the Department of Finance, Michael McGrath. To the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe. To the Department of Education, Norma Foley. To the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin. To the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien. To the Department of Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys. To the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue. To the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman. To the Department of Health, Stephen Donnelly. To the Department of Justice, Helen McEntee. To the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke. To the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan. I propose to nominate Rossa Fanning SC for appointment by the President to be the Attorney General. I propose to nominate Deputy Hildegarde Naughton as Minister of State in the Department of the Taoiseach and as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education & Inclusion at the Department of Education. We have the provided the biggest budget ever for this area and it is a priority for me, which I want Deputy Naughton to lead. I also propose to nominate the following to continue as Ministers of State in attendance at Government meetings: Deputy Jack Chambers as Minister for international and road transport and logistics at the Department of Transport, as well as Minister of State for postal policy at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications; and Senator Pippa Hackett as Minister of State for land use and biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I also propose to nominate Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for EU Affairs and as Minister of State at the Department of Defence. Our relationship with the European Union and role within the EU is more important than ever at this time of geopolitical uncertainty. Tomorrow, I will propose further Deputies to serve as Ministers of State. With these appointments, I believe we have a team with the right mixture of experience and new talent, to build the new social contract I talked about earlier – one which renews our promise as a Republic to: Create equality of opportunity Support those who need the State the most Protect our hard-earned economic success, and Use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society. First and foremost, this Government is going to elevate our level of ambition and urgency on housing. We want to make sure young people see their future in Ireland. We are going to build more homes and drive home ownership. We know the waiver of development levies is working and I am working with my colleagues to extend this so that it remains cheaper to build and cheaper to buy a home. A Cheann Comhairle, over the past eight years there has been unprecedented investment in our health service.  The budget has doubled. Outcomes have improved for many conditions, leading to people living longer and healthier lives. I had the privilege as Minister to bring the Slaintecare implementation plan to Government. People are beginning to feel the benefits of Slaintecare – free GP care for more people, the abolition of in-patient hospital charges, the extension of the free contraception scheme and the introduction of the new consultant contract. This Government will increase capacity and improve access in our health service. That means opening more beds, more theatres and recruiting more GPs, more consultants, more