Last night.

Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Leo Varadkar leaves Aras an Uachtarain after handing in his resignation as Taoiseach to President Michael D Higgins (left).

Mr. Varadkar will continue as acting taoiseach until the Dáil elects a new government.

Varadkar, Martin agree to meet next week for exploratory talks (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Leader of Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald TD leaving Leinster House having got the most votes over other leaders to become Taoiseach but falling short of the required amount.

Mary Lou McDonald Receives Most Dáil Votes For Taoiseach (Newstalk)

Rollingnews

A drug dealer has lost the codes to €53.6 million of the cryptocurrency bitcoin, say the Criminal Assets Bureau

It’s been ruled that the country is owed
A large fortune, but sadly the code
To access the cash
Which was earned growing hash
Disappeared sometime back down the road

John Moynes

Rollingnews

The votes are in.

Last week, with a desirable €25 Golden Disc Valentine’s Day voucher on offer, I asked you to name your favourite love song.

You answered in your dozens.

But there could be only one winner

Third Place:

I Will by The Beatles

Rosette of Sirius writes:

A sweet lovely little melody from Paul McCartney and was meant just as that. A lovely little love song. Lyrics are perfect and not complicated as love can indeed be. Or get. So for the day that’s in it, have a listen and enjoy!

Runner-up:

Easy Living by Billie Holiday

Barry The Hatchet writes:

When we first started going out, the car only had an aul tape-deck and we only had one tape. The Best of Billie Holiday came with us everywhere. Times have moved on, the tape-deck is long gone, the tape is lost. But this is still our song <3

Winner:

Dance Me To The End Of Love by Leonard Cohen

Millie Vanilly Strikes Again writes:

Dedicated to the husband, who can’t dance, but will still twirl me round the living room to this later. For all the he comes home with no flowers, chocolates or card for me, but always with a something special for our little lady.

Thanks all.

Win Nick’s Valentine Voucher

Golden Discs

This afternoon

Sinn Féin Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould with supporters at Leinster House.

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Dublin 2

From left:  People before Profit’s Gino Kenny , Richard Boyd Barrett and Brid Smith celebrate  the first day of the 33rd Dáil.

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

This afternoon

From left: Social Democrat TDs, from left:  Cian O Callaghan, Jennifer Whitmore, Catherine Murphy, Roisin Shortall, Gary Gannon and Holly Cairns at Leinster House .

Meanwhile…

This afternoon

Labour Party TD Ged Nash (second right) and friends  at Leinster House

Meanwhile….

This afternoon

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin (centre) and his party’s newly-elected TDs.

Rollingnews

Roy Keane

On The Late Late Show.

Jennifer O’Brien writes:

Roy Keane makes his eagerly anticipated return for an exclusive sit down chat with Ryan Tubridy. Roy’s companion will be an adorable Labrador puppy in training for Irish Guide Dogs….

In honour of Care Day, the world’s biggest celebration of children and young people with care experience, we will visit the remarkable stories of Ireland’s young people in foster care …

Following the tragic death of Love Island presenter Caroline Flack last weekend, RTÉ 2FM and Love Island Australia star Eoghan McDermott, will reflect on the woman he knew…

The Great House Revival presenter and architect Hugh Wallace will be here to give his radical solutions for Ireland’s housing crisis…

We’ll be taking a look at some rare and exclusive rock memorabilia with music historian Jeff Nolan.

Choice Music Prize nominee Mick Flannery will be in studio for a very special performance of single, Baby Talk, with Susan O’Neill.

Singer Lisa McHugh will perform her new single, The Scandal.

The Late Late Show on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.


Fnarr.

Dessie O’Malley in 1985

This Day In Irish History tweetz:

This day 35 years ago – 20 February 1985 – Des O’Malley refused to vote against a bill to allow the selling of condoms, despite Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey’s instructing deputies to do so.

He said, “I stand by the Republic and accordingly I will not oppose this bill.”

Family Planning Bill Permits Sale Of Condoms (RTÉ Archive)

Sinn Féin President May Lou McDonald addressing the Dáil this afternoon

This afternoon

Via Irish Examiner:

Left-wing TDs have said they plan to vote for Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for Taoiseach on the basis that she will not go into government with either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.

The Dail vote for Taoiseach is set to take place this afternoon but is not expected to produce a conclusive result.

Solidarity-People Before Profit TDs told reporters today that they would back Ms McDonald for Taoiseach, a move which is expected to put her ahead of her rivals for the role.

But without the support of the 80 TDs needed for a government, no Taoiseach or government will be decided and the Dail is expected to be adjourned as parties continue to negotiate on forming a new coalition.

Watch live here

Left-wing TDs to vote for Mary Lou McDonald for Taoiseach (Irish Examiner)

This afternoon.

It’s sticking!

Broadsheet.ie