BRIAN COWEN will today be elected as the 12th head of Government since the foundation of the State, in succession to Bertie Ahern who last night placed his resignation in the hands of President Mary McAleese, in accordance with Article 28.9.1 of the Constitution.
It emerged last night that Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Séamus Brennan has asked not to be considered for reappointment to the Cabinet due to health considerations.
In a letter to the incoming taoiseach, he said that he had, with great reluctance, accepted the advice of family and advisers to reduce his workload for the next few months.
"I have the utmost confidence in your ability to lead the country through the more challenging times that we now face and you will have my unqualified support in whatever capacity I can serve the Government in the future," said Mr Brennan's letter. "I would like to assure you that I will be available for a future role at your discretion in either domestic or European politics."
The Dáil will meet at 2.30pm today to elect a new taoiseach and a vote is expected to take place an hour later. Mr Cowen, who is assured of victory due to the Government's comfortable majority, will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to receive his seal of office at about 4pm.
The new taoiseach will arrive back in Government Buildings before 5pm and will immediately set about forming his Cabinet. Once all his ministers have been informed of their appointments he will lead his new team into the Dáil chamber.
After a short debate, the Dáil will be asked to approve the new Government. Mr Cowen will then travel back with them to Áras an Uachtaráin where the new ministers will receive their seals of office. By tradition, the first meeting of the new Government will then take place in the Áras. While senior Ministers in the outgoing Government had not been informed about Mr Cowen's intentions late last night, there was intense speculation about the composition of the new Cabinet.
Much of the speculation concerned who will be promoted to Finance to replace Mr Cowen and most of it centred on Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin or Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern is expected to remain in that position in light of his role on the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan is the favourite to become Tánaiste although there was also speculation it might go to Mary Coughlan, who is expected to be promoted from agriculture to a more senior position.
Speculation about who will be promoted to the Cabinet to fill the two certain vacancies centred on several Ministers of State, including Minister for Children Brendan Smith, Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche, and Minister for Housing Batt O'Keeffe. The promotion prospects of Mr Roche and Mr Smith may be complicated by the fact that each of them is playing a crucial role in making the Government's case in two referendums.
Mr Roche is the key figure in the campaign for a Yes vote to the Lisbon Treaty while Mr Smith is involved in the planning for the children's referendum next year.
The outgoing Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, had a busy final day in office yesterday.
In the morning he performed the official opening of the Battle of the Boyne site with the North's outgoing First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley.
He spent the afternoon clearing his desk and making his final farewells to the staff in the Taoiseachs office. Most of the advisers who have been with Mr Ahern through his 11 years in office will be stepping down with him.
Later Mr Ahern travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin, arriving shortly after 6pm accompanied by the Secretary to the Government, Dermot McCarthy, and a number of senior advisers.
As acting Taoiseach this morning Mr Ahern will undertake his last official engagement when he leads the Government at the official commemoration of the 1916 Rising at Arbour Hill.
