THE IRISH POLITICAL SYSTEM

Fine Gael: Centre-right party, allied to European People’s Party

Fianna Fáil: Centrist party supporting the Fine Gael/Independents government

Sinn Féin: Party was closely associated with the Irish Republican Army

The current government is a minority coalition and needs the support or abstention of Fianna Fáil to pass legislation, particularly the budget and confidence votes

Leo Varadkar will have to be ratified as PM in the lower house of parliament, probably on June 13. Fianna Fáil not expected to oppose him