Ahern re-elected as Ireland's PM

Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern has been re-elected as prime minister in the Irish Republic for a third term.

Mr Ahern was re-elected taoiseach with the support of a three-party coalition and a number of independents at the first meeting of the 30th parliament.

He has received his seal of office from Irish President Mary McAleese at Aras an Uachtarain.

The re-election comes after the Green Party voted to enter a coalition which includes the Progressive Democrats.

Mr Ahern is the first taoiseach since Eamon De Valera to win three elections in a row.

"Now our opportunity and our duty is to secure our prosperity and to use it to build a better Ireland"
Bertie Ahern

Greens get taste of power

Finance Minister Brian Cowen who nominated Mr Ahern said Ireland had been transformed in the past 10 years adding: "In this, Bertie Ahern has played an essential role."

Outgoing leader of the Green Party Trevor Sargent seconded the nomination.

Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton, however, proposed its party leader Enda Kenny and this was seconded by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.

Green Party members voted by an 86.81% majority to join the government for the first time on Wednesday evening. The party's six Dail TDs have taken their seats in the Dail.

Trevor Sargent quit as party leader after the move. During campaigning, he promised to resign rather than lead the Greens into a coalition with Mr Ahern.

The endorsement of a programme for government, by 431 to 67 votes, came after several hours of discussion at a special convention in Dublin.

The deal includes a proposed carbon tax; measures dealing with climate change; directly-elected mayors; more money for education and a review of taxation.

"Now our opportunity and our duty is to secure our prosperity and to use it to build a better Ireland," Mr Ahern told MPs on Thursday.