Micheál Martin is facing criticism for failing to appoint a more regionally balanced Cabinet of ministers.

The 15 newly appointed Cabinet members received their seals of office at their first meeting last night.

Seven of the new ministers are from just three constituencies and there is no representation from Connaught, the south east or the north west.

The Taoiseach is also facing criticism from withing his own party for his decision not to give senior portfolios to the likes of Dara Calleary, Jim O'Callaghan, Thomas Byrne and Anne Rabbitte.

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Attention will now turn to the appointment of junior ministers as the coalition enters its first full day in power.

The Taoiseach is set to appoint 20 of them in the coming days.

The Labour leader Alan Kelly has warned that the number is too high when money is tight.

He said the Irish people will not appreciate “such lavish and indulgent behaviour” as the country faces a difficult recession.

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The Taoiseach has appointed Former TD's Regina Doherty and Timmy Dooley to the Seanad.

Micheál Martin has also named Lorraine Clifford lee among his 11 appointees to the upper house.

Eileen Flynn has been announced as the country's first female traveller in the Oireachtas.

Vincent P Martin has also received a nod - the brother of the Green Party Deputy leader was an unsuccessful general election candidate.

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Dublin Pride Parade is going online for the virtual culmination of this year’s annual celebration of LGBTQ + celebrations.

The "parade" will offer a combination of pre-recorded and live elements from 2pm.

Organisers are asking people to post images of their own homegrown or DIY parades with the hashtag #VirtualPrideParade.

Organiser Eddie McGuinness said the event is now on a par with the St Patrick's Day parade.

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Detectives in Belfast say a man shot dead in the city yesterday was chased through the streets in broad daylight by two masked gunmen before he was murdered.

The man in his twenties was shot a number of times at close range just before 1pm yesterday afternoon.

He was chased through busy residential streets before being shot dead on St Katharine's Road.

 

The PSNI is appealing for witnesses and is warning that the killers did not care about any locals who might have been "collateral damage” during the attack.