Simon Harris has been officially named the new leader of Fine Gael.
He was confirmed as the twelfth leader of the party in its history at their selection convention today in Athlone, where he was the only nominee for the role vacated by Leo Varadkar earlier this week.
Harris will officially become Taoiseach when the Dail re-opens on the 9th of April.
Any reshuffling of cabinet and ministerial positions is not expected until then, but it is widely understood that the current Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will become Fine Gael deputy leader.