LAWMAKERS in Ireland voted today to make veteran politician Micheal Martin prime minister for a second time at the helm of a coalition government.

Members of the lower house of parliament, the Dail, voted by 95 to 76 to confirm Mr Martin as Taoiseach, the Irish title for prime minister.

Mr Martin said: “It is a profound honour to be nominated to serve as head of the government in a free, democratic and diverse republic.”

Mr Martin was set to be formally appointed to the role by President Michael D Higgins before naming his cabinet.

The vote had been due to come on Wednesday, but was delayed amid chaotic scenes in parliament by wrangling over parliamentary procedure relating to the status of independent lawmakers.

Today, Speaker Verona Murphy ruled that independent parliamentarians supporting the government would not be given the status of an opposition technical group.

The government also said that it would address some of the issues raised during the row.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that she welcomed the coalition’s move to differentiate “between government and opposition and no TD can be in government and opposition.”

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael agreed to form a coalition with independent lawmakers after an election in November failed to deliver any party a majority.

Under the coalition deal, Mr Martin will be taoiseach for three years, with Fine Gael’s Simon Harris — the outgoing taoiseach — as his deputy. 

The two politicians will then swap jobs for the rest of the five-year term.

They’ve secured backing to govern from the right-wing Regional Independent Group, which will be given junior ministerial positions.