Ireland delays selection of prime minister as parliament erupts in row

Ireland has delayed choosing its new prime minister after a row over speaking rights sparked angry scenes in parliament.

The Irish Parliament, called the Dail, had this morning convened to nominate a new prime minister, with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin poised to take on the position.

However, the process was pushed back hours - and eventually adjourned until Thursday - after a dispute over the new government led to widespread disorder and clashes.

Mr Martin had been due to take on the role of prime minister - or taoiseach - after his party made an agreement with another, Fine Gael, and a selection of independents.

However, a disagreement over whether some of the independents would be given opposition speaking time led to Wednesday's proceedings ending without the new Irish leader being officially chosen.

Five of the nine independents are due to be given junior minister posts, while the remaining four are seeking to join a technical group - a mechanism designed to give opposition TDs (the Irish equivalent of MPs) speaking time.

This move has been widely rejected by opposition parties including Sinn Fein, Labour and the Social Democrats - who argue the independents supporting the incoming government should not be allowed to join technical groups.

When the Dail met to nominate a taoiseach at 11am, opposition members repeatedly interrupted proceedings.

Speaker Verona Murphy suspended the Dail multiple times before it was agreed party whips would meet with the parliament's clerk to seek a resolution - but the talks failed.

Addressing the chamber at 4.25pm, the government's chief whip Hildegarde Naughton said the process should proceed and a Fianna Fail TD stood to begin the process of nominating Mr Martin as prime minister.

However, members of Sein Fein - including its leader Mary Lou McDonald - continued interrupting.

Ms Murphy then adjourned the Dail until 9am on Thursday.

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Speaking to media outside parliament, Mr Martin said: "The most fundamental obligation of the Dail is to elect a taoiseach and, indeed, to elect a government.

"That opportunity was denied today by a premeditated, coordinated and choreographed position by the opposition and particularly by Sinn Fein party."

"The actions of the opposition, the actions of Sinn Fein today, were wholly disproportionate to the issue at hand, which could have been resolved," he added.

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