Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik passes on her best wishes to Leo Varadkar at the beginning of her speech, but says there is a need for a general election.

"As Minister Harris has acknowledged, he has not much time to change the course of this government," she continues.

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"I hope he has the courage to try to make that change; but unfortunately, from what we have heard so far, his elevation today will not deliver the change that we need.

"And that’s why we in the Labour Party cannot support the Fine Gael nomination for taoiseach."

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Mary Lou McDonald says in the current government “you can fail right to the top”.

“Today is proof positive that we need change like never before. We need a new direction, we need a new government,” she adds.

“That’s why we need a general election."

Mary Lou McDonald says if the government believes it has the support of the people “then you should go before the people and get that mandate”.

An Irish general election must be held by March next year, however, Simon Harris says he wants the government he leads to run for a full term.

McDonald tells TDs “the people must decide who leads and you should call a general election”.

She adds that Harris offers and represents more of the same.

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Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says Ireland faces great challenges and incredible opportunity.

She says she believes passionately that "our prospects can be so very bright".

McDonald adds that for the third time in four years the coalition government is presenting their choice for taoiseach and rearranging the cabinet deckchairs.

She says the government narrative is "a fairytale so outrageous that Hans Christian Andersen would be proud of it".

Eamon Ryan says he disagrees with calls for an early general election because there is work to be done.

“Show me a party that is prepared for an election?” he asks.

Ryan says the strength Simon Harris showed as health minister during the Covid pandemic would stand him in good stead for the challenges ahead as taoiseach.

Eamon Ryan, leader of coalition partner the Green Party, starts his speech by paying tribute to Leo Varadkar, saying he leaves his role as taoiseach with the Irish economy in a strong position.

He also pays tribute to Varadkar's leadership during the Covid pandemic and Brexit negotiations.

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Micheál Martin says he and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan have held a lengthy, constructive and positive meeting with Simon Harris about their future workings in government.

"We are three separate parties that seek to work together, respecting both our differences and an agreed approach to the most urgent issues facing our country," he explains.

Martin adds his party, Fianna Fáil, will be backing Harris to become the next taoiseach.

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Tánaiste Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, starts his speech by paying tribute to Leo Varadkar and thanking him for her service as taoiseach.

He draws a laugh from Varadkar by saying he awaits with "trepidation" any future book he writes about their time in government.

Reflecting on their time working together during the Covid-19 pandemic, he says these were "tense and often isolated times".

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Fine Gael’s Peter Burke seconds the proposal of Simon Harris as taoiseach.

He says the party knows "what Simon Harris is capable of" and that he will lead the party with "renewed energy".

He adds Harris, whose sibling has autism, "first entered politics through advocacy, to support his brother Adam and their family to get vital services that they needed to improve their life".

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Heather Humphreys tells the Dáil Simon Harris, the son of a taxi driver, was "not born with a silver spoon in his mouth".

She says taxi drivers usually have their fingers on the pulse so one piece of advice she has for him is “to make sure you listen to your father”.

Fine Gael deputy leader Heather Humphreys says it is a great honour to propose Simon Harris, adding she has got to know him very well over the last 13 years.

Contrary to popular belief, she tells TDs Harris didn’t always want to be a politician and had thought about becoming a vet when he was younger.

"But as we all know life takes us in different directions," she says.

Humphreys says she expects Harris's leadership will have a focus on helping people with disabilities and that he was first inspired to enter politics to help people with autism.

Heather Humphreys nominates Simon Harris to be Ireland's next taoiseach, seconded by Peter Burke.

The Dáil Speaker Seán Ó Fearghaíl thanks Leo Varadkar for his contributions as taoiseach.

He says he showed "total professionalism as a parliamentarian over the years".

"Can I wish you, on behalf of everyone here, all the very, very best in the future that lies ahead for you. I'm sure it's going to be long, successful and happy," he adds.

The Ceann Comhairle (speaker) criticises Richard Boyd Barrett TD, of People Before Profit-Solidarity, who describes Tuesday's proceedings as a "jamboree".

He tells TDs business facing the country has been driven off the agenda this week due to the political change.

"That is not the way to start a new government," he adds.

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Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl calls for "respect" of the Irish constitution.

"I can assure you it is not a jamboree," he says.

After Varadkar's speech, Independent TD Mattie McGrath says the public want an election and he describes the election of Simon Harris as taoiseach as "a coronation".

He says Harris will lead a government of "spin, not substance".

Leo Varadkar finishes by wishing Simon Harris every success in his role as taoiseach.

Adding he always knew Harris would get the top job some day, he comments it is perhaps earlier than expected.

Varadkar adds Harris will rise to the occasion and has "empathy, energy and experience".

He ends his speech to applause, including from tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin.

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Mr Varadkar says Ireland is "no longer a laggard on climate change", adding “we are turning the tide on climate and bio-diversity loss”.

There are many areas we have been much less successful, he says, adding "there will always be problems to solve, but this work will be led by others".

Vardakar says most of Ireland's problems faced in the last 10 or 15 years have been external or international in origin.

He cites the banking and financial crash, Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, an energy crisis, climate change and migration.

He says it’s a fallacy to say problems are due to any particular political party and only by co-operating with other countries and international bodies can they be resolved.

Simon Harris (bottom right) is sitting beside his coalition government partners Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan as Leo Varadkar addresses TDs.

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