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Ireland's newly-elected Prime Minister Enda Kenny (C) walks out of the Leinster House, the seat of parliament in Dublin, capital of Ireland, March 9, 2011. Irish President Mary McAleese Wednesday appointed opposition leader Enda Kenny as the country's new prime minister. (Xinhua/Xiong Sihao) |
DUBLIN, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Irish President Mary McAleese Wednesday appointed opposition leader Enda Kenny as the country's new prime minister.
During a formal ceremony at the presidential office, McAleese signed the warrant of appointment and presented Kenny with his seal of office and a seal of government.
Kenny was elected as prime minister by 117 votes to 27 during the first session of the 31st Dail, lower house of parliament.
In his first address to parliament as prime minister, Kenny said the country was on the threshold of fundamental change.
The Irish prime minister said he was entering into a covenant with the public and that honesty was his only policy.
"Our lives and our futures are predicated on one thing -- truth. I am entering into a covenant with the Irish people today. Our new government will tell the people the truth, no matter how difficult that may be," he said.
"I believe the old ways, the old politics damaged us not just financially but emotionally and psychologically. Our program for government is fair and is truly radical. We will achieve our objectives working side by side with the Irish people," Kenny said.
"Let us believe in our future. Let us lift up our heads and turn our faces to the sun and hang out our brightest colors. We will make our nation proud, prosperous and respected again."
Later, Keny named his cabinet team in the Dail, after which the new ministers traveled to the presidential office to receive their seals of office.
Labor Party leader Eamon Gilmore was named as deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and trade, one of five Labor cabinet posts, with Fine Gael having 10.
Fine Gael and Labour started talks on the formation of a coalition government on Feb. 28. The talks were complex, with the parties at odds over the length of time it will take to turn around the budget deficit, tax, public sector cuts, water charges and how to tackle bondholder responsibility for banking debts.
Ireland held an early general election on Feb. 25, the country' s first national poll since its financial bailout in late November. Final counting results shows that the Fine Gael has won the crucial poll, taking 76 seats of the 166-seat Dail Eireann, but without an overall majority. The Labor Party won 37 seats, the incumbent Fianna Fail (Republican Party) won 20 seats, the Sinn Fein (We Ourselves) took 14 seats, others took 19 seats.
