What is going to happen when the Dáil resumes?

The Dáil has two principal tasks to complete on Thursday.

Firstly, it must elect a Ceann Comhairle.

Then it will vote on nominations for Taoiseach.

However, because nobody will command a majority in the House – it is certain that no Taoiseach will be elected on Thursday – decisions on what to do next will have to be agreed on a cross-party basis. On Wednesday night, politicians on all sides in Leinster House were struggling to understand what that will mean for Dáil processes – and also how they can turn it to their advantage.

The 158 members of the new Dáil assembled in the chamber at Leinster House, and at 10.30am Clerk of the Dáil Peter Finnegan read out the proclamation from President Higgins convening the Dáil. He then read the report on the issuing of writs and the names of the Members elected for each constituency.

The Dáil proceeded to conduct its first business: the election of a Ceann Comhairle. In a change from previous practice, the chairman or chairwoman of the Dáil will be chosen by a secret ballot.

The Clerk has read the names of the candidates in alphabetical order, and they have been given five minutes each to address the Dáil. After that, the doors to the chamber are locked (except the doors beside the Ceann Comhairle’s desk) and voting takes place in specially constructed booths in the division lobbies. The clerk of the Dáil calls out the names of each member, who ascends the central staircase to receive their ballot papers.

Voting will be by PR-STV and TDs mark the candidates on the ballot paper in their order of preference, in the same fashion as a general election.

When all the TDs have voted, or after 90 minutes (whichever is earlier), the Clerk will declare the ballot concluded. The sitting will then be suspended to allow the votes to be counted, which will take place in the Seanad ante-chamber.

It is expected that the sitting will resume sometime after 2 pm. At this point, the results of the election will be announced and the Dáil will be asked to formally vote for the election of the Ceann Comhairle. Upon his or her election, he or she will don the Ceann Comhairle’s robes, occupy the chair and call for the first business: nominations for Taoiseach.

There are four nominations: Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin, Gerry Adams a Richard Boyd Barrett. It is certain that none will receive the 79 votes necessary for a Dáil majority.

The TDs will be proposed and seconded by members of their parties.

With such a diverse Dáil, this process could take a long period -- perhaps two hours, insiders say, or even longer.

When that debate concludes, the Dáil will vote on the candidates nominated for Taoiseach. With no nomination commanding majority support in the House, Enda Kenny – having lost the support of the Dail – will announce his intention to offer his resignation as Taoiseach to the President. (He will remain as Taoiseach in a caretaker capacity until a successor is elected)

Before he does that, however, the Taoiseach must propose that the Dáil adjourn and reconvene on a given date.

This is where things could get slightly complicated.

Last night, there had been no contact between the party whips on an agreed date for the Dáil to reconvene. The Taoiseach no longer has the numbers to vote through an adjournment on his terms, so the assent of some opposition parties or TDs will be necessary.

However, on Wednesday evening the parties were told by the Clerk of the Dáil that he would accept motions for a supplementary order paper.

The Green Party Eamon Ryan was attempting on Wednesday night to put together a cross-party agreement on a motion which would commit the Dáil to a process of reforming its practice and procedures.

Once this is debated and agreed, the Taoiseach will propose that the Dáil adjourn for a period.

While there was no official word on for how long the Taoiseach will seek to adjourn, some sources suggested that a date in early April – perhaps April 4th or 6th – is likely.

Some TDs are likely to oppose a long adjournment.

Any such motion or amendment could – should TDs wish – lead to a debate and a further vote.

And the Dail will sit until it can agree to adjourn.