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Irish election: Exit polls suggest Fine Gael have narrow lead over Fianna Fáil Irish election: Exit polls suggest Fine Gael have narrow lead over Fianna Fáil
(35 minutes later)
Exit polls in the Republic of Ireland's general election suggest Fine Gael will remain the largest party, but with only a narrow lead over the main opposition, Fianna Fáil.Exit polls in the Republic of Ireland's general election suggest Fine Gael will remain the largest party, but with only a narrow lead over the main opposition, Fianna Fáil.
All indications are that the outgoing Fine Gael-Labour coalition cannot be returned.All indications are that the outgoing Fine Gael-Labour coalition cannot be returned.
Polls show Sinn Féin, smaller parties and Independents are also doing well.Polls show Sinn Féin, smaller parties and Independents are also doing well.
Independent candidate Shane Ross has become the first person to be elected to the Dáil (Irish parliament). Independent candidate Shane Ross was the first person to be elected to the Dáil (Irish parliament).
He was elected in Dublin Rathdown on the second count.He was elected in Dublin Rathdown on the second count.
Eoin Ó Broin has become the first Sinn Féin candidate to be elected, after being returned on the first count in Dublin Mid-West. Eoin Ó Broin was the first Sinn Féin candidate to be elected, after being returned on the first count in Dublin Mid-West.
Mr O'Broin is a former party councillor in Belfast.Mr O'Broin is a former party councillor in Belfast.
Fine Gael's Frances Fitzgerald, the outgoing justice minister, has also been elected in Dublin Mid-West.Fine Gael's Frances Fitzgerald, the outgoing justice minister, has also been elected in Dublin Mid-West.
Fianna Fáil have also had their first TD elected, Sean Fleming in Laois.Fianna Fáil have also had their first TD elected, Sean Fleming in Laois.
Many believe the expected result could make negotiations on forming a new government extremely difficult.Many believe the expected result could make negotiations on forming a new government extremely difficult.
The final outcome of many seats will depend on transfers in later counts.The final outcome of many seats will depend on transfers in later counts.
PressurePressure
Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have already indicated that they would not go into coalition with each other. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin described the election as an "extraordinary vote" and said he was "very pleased".
However, pressure is expected to mount on them to come to some form of arrangement that may take several weeks to arrive at. "A lot will depend on the destination of the last seats in many constituencies, it's a bit too early to be definitive, but it's clear we're going to have a good day," he said.
In the meantime, there will be many twists and turns, including possible leadership changes in some of the parties. Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald said that she expects the party will be putting leader Gerry Adams forward to be the next Taoiseach (Irish prime minister).
An exit poll commissioned by the Irish Times suggested Fine Gael will remain the largest party with 26%. Her party colleague Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, said it had been a hugely successful election for Sinn Féin.
Fianna Fáil appears to be close behind on 23%. "My sense is that a government will be formed, I don't think there will be a second election within weeks. How stable a government, that remains to be seen," he said.
The Irish broadcaster, RTE, unveiled its own exit poll on Saturday morning indicating broadly similar results.
It indicates first preference support for Fine Gael is at 24.8%, support for Labour is at 7.1%, Fianna Fáil at 21.1% and Sinn Féin at 16%.
It also suggests that one third of the electorate voted for Independents or smaller parties.
The Irish Times poll puts Sinn Féin at 15%, well ahead of Labour on 8%.
If borne out by the count, the vote shares would result in a hung Dáil (parliament), but with Fine Gael still taking the largest number of seats.
The first results are expected shortly, but the count may last all weekend.
'Strategy'
Fine Gael's director of elections Brian Hayes said he did not believe that the party's campaign strategy had cost it votes, but rather that the public was simply unhappy with the measures taken by the government during its term.Fine Gael's director of elections Brian Hayes said he did not believe that the party's campaign strategy had cost it votes, but rather that the public was simply unhappy with the measures taken by the government during its term.
"There was no problem with the strategy. The difficulty was the government was unpopular," he said."There was no problem with the strategy. The difficulty was the government was unpopular," he said.
Fianna Fáíl's director of elections Billy Kelleher told RTE it was too early to judge his party's performance as a lot of seats will go down to the wire.
However, he said early indications were that the party had made a huge improvement across the country.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said it had been a hugely successful election for his party.
"My sense is that a government will be formed, I don't think there will be a second election within weeks. How stable a government, that remains to be seen," he said.
The general secretary of the Labour Party, Brian McDowell, said the poll results had made it a "very disappointing" day for the party.The general secretary of the Labour Party, Brian McDowell, said the poll results had made it a "very disappointing" day for the party.
"The people have spoken, we'll have to reflect early next week, but it does look like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the only likely combination at this stage," he added."The people have spoken, we'll have to reflect early next week, but it does look like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the only likely combination at this stage," he added.
Turnout Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had indicated that they would not go into coalition with each other.
Over three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll in 40 constituencies, with early indications that turnout stood at about 66%. However, pressure is expected to mount on them to come to some form of arrangement that may take several weeks to arrive at.
Voters were electing 157 members of parliament, known as TDs. The ceann comhairle (speaker) is automatically returned. An exit poll commissioned by the Irish Times suggested Fine Gael will remain the largest party with 26%, with Fianna Fáil close behind on 23%.
Observers are predicting that it will be hard for any party to put together a coalition, which needs to have the support of 79 TDs. A poll from Irish broadcaster RTÉ on Saturday morning indicated broadly similar results.
As for Sinn Féin, it will almost certainly improve on the 14 seats it currently has. Whether or not it comes close to doubling that number will become clearer as counting progresses. Hung parliament
If borne out by the count, the vote shares would result in a hung Dáil (parliament), but with Fine Gael still taking the largest number of seats.
Over three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll in 40 constituencies, which will return 157 members of parliament, known as TDs. The ceann comhairle (speaker) is automatically returned.
The campaign was fought mainly over economic issues, with the government parties asking voters for their support to keep the recovery going at a time when international storm clouds are gathering.The campaign was fought mainly over economic issues, with the government parties asking voters for their support to keep the recovery going at a time when international storm clouds are gathering.
But the opposition parties countered that not everyone, especially outside of middle-class Dublin, is yet benefiting from the up-turn.But the opposition parties countered that not everyone, especially outside of middle-class Dublin, is yet benefiting from the up-turn.
That perceived lack of fairness is expected to hurt the coalition parties.
The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the eurozone for the last two years.The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the eurozone for the last two years.
In the last election five years ago, voters punished the once dominant Fianna Fáil for its role in the economic crash that required an EU-IMF bailout.
Led by Enda Kenny, the current coalition had been in power since March 2011.
It is being challenged by 13 other parties, as well as a number of independents among the 552 candidates standing for election.
TDs will be elected according to the single transferable vote (STV) system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others.TDs will be elected according to the single transferable vote (STV) system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others.