Enda Kenny re-elected as Prime Minister of Ireland

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was re-elected as Prime Minister of Ireland on 6 May 2016. Kenny, leader of Fine Gael party, was elected for the post 70 days after a general election which had produced no outright winner.

He was re-appointed with 59 votes in favour and 49 votes against.

His Gael party won the most seats in the election but fell short of the quota needed to rule without support. This means that Kenny will lead a minority Fine Gael government.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny

• He held the role of acting Irish Prime Minister over the past 10 weeks as talks took place between parties and independents on how to form a new government.

• The 65-year-old has made history in the Irish Parliament by becoming the first Fine Gael Irish Prime Minister to be re-elected to the office.

• His re-election followed a deal with a number of independent elected members and the Republic of Ireland's second largest party, Fianna Fail.

• Fianna Fail has agreed to support Fine Gael's programme for government over "three budget cycles" while some independents are expected to become government ministers.

However, it was the fourth attempt to appoint a new Prime Minister since the general election of 26 February 2016 returned a hung Irish Parliament, in which no party won enough seats to govern without support from rivals.

2016 Irish Election Results

• Fine Gale – 50 Seats

• Fianna Fail – 44 Seats

• Sinn Fein – 23 Seats

• Labour – 7 Seats

• Others – 34

Now get latest Current Affairs on mobile, Download # 1 Current Affairs App