President Michael D Higgins was right to make reference to the war in Gaza during a speech marking Holocaust Memorial Day, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin has been elected taoiseach (Irish prime minister) for the second time after chaos in the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) subsided. The Dáil was suspended several times on Wednesday after a bitter row between government and opposition parties.

President Michael D. Higgins allegedly “politicised” yesterday’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in Dublin, according to Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich, reports RTE. Ms. Erlich said in a social media message that President Higgins’ remarks had “predictably” chastised the state of Israel.

It’s not uncommon for Israelis to ask me to justify this or that statement by Irish politicians. This week I have been inundated with reactions, some more printable than others

A number of protesters stood and turned their backs to President Michael D Higgins as he delivered his speech during the National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration in the Mansion House this afternoon.

Micheál Martin was speaking before travelling to attend today's 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

The election of a new taoiseach has been delayed after a bitter row in the Dáil (Irish parliament) forcing the suspension of proceedings. The Irish parliament returned to nominate Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin as the new taoiseach (prime minister) before he is formally appointed to the office by President Michael D Higgins.

Micheál Martin returns to the post of Taoiseach after being nominated and winning the vote in Ireland's Dáil Éireann.

Micheal Martin has formally become Taoiseach during a ceremony with the Irish president, Michael D Higgins. | UTV News

Ireland's new Government is in place following a busy day in Dáil Éireann on Thursday - here are Ireland's newest Ministers.

The President has formally appointed Micheal Martin to the position of Taoiseach. Deputy Martin has also received the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of the Government from Michael D Higgins. The Fianna Fáil leader arrived at Áras an Uachtaráin shortly after 2.30pm, after 95 TDs voted to support his nomination.

Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich has claimed President Michael D Higgins "politicised" yesterday's Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration in Dublin.