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| Ireland general election: second vote likely after inconclusive result – live | Ireland general election: second vote likely after inconclusive result – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.12pm GMT | |
| 16:12 | |
| Another one of the casualties of the election looks set to be one of Ireland’s newest parties, Renua Ireland, which was formed from defectors from Fine Gael and other parties and sought to blend a focus on free market economics with social conservatism. | |
| Its leader, Lucinda Creighton, who was expelled from Fine Gael’s parliamentary party after voting against government abortion legislation , appears to be facing a real struggle to hold on to her Dublin seat. | |
| She was not entirely optimistic after arriving at the counting centre in the last half hour, adding: | |
| It’s going to be a very long weekend, but we’ll just have to see how it all pans out. | |
| I’m just glad that we didn’t take the soft option. Renua Ireland is a party of the future and we are going to work towards that. It’s just a first step. It’s a benchmark. | |
| 3.50pm GMT | |
| 15:50 | |
| Back to the Labour Party meltdown, and a senior government minister for the party has admitted that it is taking a “pasting”. | |
| Asked if the junior partner in Ireland’s coalition government was looking at single figure digits in terms of its percentage support (down from 19.4% in 2011), Brendan Howlin told Irish radio station Newstalk: | |
| It’s too early in the day to be doing that sort of analysis. Quite clearly we have a very fractured electorate. | |
| It’s quite clear that the Labour party is after taking a pasting. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.03pm GMT | |
| 3.43pm GMT | |
| 15:43 | |
| First TD elected to Ireland's 32nd Dail | |
| The first member of Ireland’s 32nd Dail (Parliament) to be elected is Shane Ross, a sitting independent TD in the constituency of Dublin-Rathdown and outspoken newspaper columnist who had been tipped as to take on the role of kingmaker in post-election coalition talks. | |
| With a new election or Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition now widely regarded as more likely, Ross is unlikely to take on such a role on this occasion. His strong showing once again underlines however the trend towards Irish voter support for independents. | |
| This morning’s RTE exit poll suggested that as much as one third of the Irish electorate has voted for independent candidates or smaller parties. | |
| Shane Ross tofa. Elected! #GE16 #vota2016 pic.twitter.com/0kdI9MyNCt | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.44pm GMT | |
| 3.33pm GMT | 3.33pm GMT |
| 15:33 | 15:33 |
| Arriving at the count centre for Dublin constituencies, Sinn Fein’s vice president, Mary Lou McDonald, has described the possibility of a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael “grand coalition” as the “stuff of nightmares”. | Arriving at the count centre for Dublin constituencies, Sinn Fein’s vice president, Mary Lou McDonald, has described the possibility of a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael “grand coalition” as the “stuff of nightmares”. |
| It’s been something that she and others in Sinn Fein have been saying for some time now. | It’s been something that she and others in Sinn Fein have been saying for some time now. |
| What was unsaid however was that it could also be the scenario that could allow Sinn Fein to go from being one of a number of opposition groups to being the opposition in a left-right drive, a major coup for a party that has focused on a political project of building a mass popular support base since the 1994 IRA ceasefire. | What was unsaid however was that it could also be the scenario that could allow Sinn Fein to go from being one of a number of opposition groups to being the opposition in a left-right drive, a major coup for a party that has focused on a political project of building a mass popular support base since the 1994 IRA ceasefire. |
| Experts at creating a 'moment'. Sinn Fein's Vice Pres in Dublin. Mobbed by media #ge16 https://t.co/owo8ADF4jh | Experts at creating a 'moment'. Sinn Fein's Vice Pres in Dublin. Mobbed by media #ge16 https://t.co/owo8ADF4jh |
| 3.05pm GMT | 3.05pm GMT |
| 15:05 | 15:05 |
| Former Irish Labour leader: "no regrets" | |
| The former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said that the heavy losses now being suffered by the party are a consequence of necessary but unpopular decisions which it had to make after going into coalition five years ago. | The former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said that the heavy losses now being suffered by the party are a consequence of necessary but unpopular decisions which it had to make after going into coalition five years ago. |
| He told RTE: | He told RTE: |
| I think it started in 2011 when Fine Gael and Labour formed a government together and had to do very many unpopular things. | I think it started in 2011 when Fine Gael and Labour formed a government together and had to do very many unpopular things. |
| Today is not a good day for the [Labour] party but I think it is something that we can recover from. | Today is not a good day for the [Labour] party but I think it is something that we can recover from. |
| Asked if he had any regrets, Gilmore said “no”, adding that Labour had gone into government at a moment of crisis for the country. | Asked if he had any regrets, Gilmore said “no”, adding that Labour had gone into government at a moment of crisis for the country. |
| I think most people try to make decisions and get elected at the same time. But there are occasions when you have to make the choice between doing the right thing and the popular thing. Our country was broke ... We knew we had to take a risk. | I think most people try to make decisions and get elected at the same time. But there are occasions when you have to make the choice between doing the right thing and the popular thing. Our country was broke ... We knew we had to take a risk. |
| The country was facing an existential crisis at that time. It had to be fixed and it was. We could have ended up with a second bailout. We could have faced a situation like Greece. | The country was facing an existential crisis at that time. It had to be fixed and it was. We could have ended up with a second bailout. We could have faced a situation like Greece. |
| Gilmore, at one stage touted as future Taoiseach amid rocketing approval ratings for him and his party, resigned as leader in May 2014 after huge losses at the local and European elections. | Gilmore, at one stage touted as future Taoiseach amid rocketing approval ratings for him and his party, resigned as leader in May 2014 after huge losses at the local and European elections. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.44pm GMT | |
| 2.56pm GMT | 2.56pm GMT |
| 14:56 | 14:56 |
| To give you an idea of how complicated it is to determine the victors in the Irish election, let’s take the first completed count in Galway East as an example. There were 45,238 valid votes for the constituency and because there are three seats in play, the quota is set at 11,310 votes. | To give you an idea of how complicated it is to determine the victors in the Irish election, let’s take the first completed count in Galway East as an example. There were 45,238 valid votes for the constituency and because there are three seats in play, the quota is set at 11,310 votes. |
| RTE reports that the Independent Alliance candidate Seán Canney came closest to reaching that level with 8,447 votes, followed by Fine Gael’s Ciaran Cannon at 7,123. Another Fine Gael candidate, Paul Connaughton, was next with 6,474, followed by Fianna Fáil’s Colm Keaveney at 5,436. Labour’s Lorraine Higgins got 4,531 first preferences and the Independent candidate Michael Fahy recorded 2,358 votes. | RTE reports that the Independent Alliance candidate Seán Canney came closest to reaching that level with 8,447 votes, followed by Fine Gael’s Ciaran Cannon at 7,123. Another Fine Gael candidate, Paul Connaughton, was next with 6,474, followed by Fianna Fáil’s Colm Keaveney at 5,436. Labour’s Lorraine Higgins got 4,531 first preferences and the Independent candidate Michael Fahy recorded 2,358 votes. |
| As no candidate reached the required quota on the first count, the two lowest-polling candidates – the Green Party’s Máiréad Ní Chróinín (769 votes) and Direct Democracy Ireland’s Aengus Melia (489) – have been excluded and their votes will now be redistributed. | As no candidate reached the required quota on the first count, the two lowest-polling candidates – the Green Party’s Máiréad Ní Chróinín (769 votes) and Direct Democracy Ireland’s Aengus Melia (489) – have been excluded and their votes will now be redistributed. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.15pm GMT | at 3.15pm GMT |
| 2.32pm GMT | 2.32pm GMT |
| 14:32 | 14:32 |
| It appears that the Labour party is facing a wipeout in the election, with leader and deputy prime minister Joan Burton facing a fierce battle to retain her seat. | It appears that the Labour party is facing a wipeout in the election, with leader and deputy prime minister Joan Burton facing a fierce battle to retain her seat. |
| Other Labour ministers including Alex White, Kathleen Lynch, Ged Nash and Kevin Humphreys are also in for a tense weekend, with counting expected to take days under Ireland’s complex voting system. | Other Labour ministers including Alex White, Kathleen Lynch, Ged Nash and Kevin Humphreys are also in for a tense weekend, with counting expected to take days under Ireland’s complex voting system. |
| The fate of Fine Gael ministers Pascal Donohoe and James Reilly is also uncertain. | The fate of Fine Gael ministers Pascal Donohoe and James Reilly is also uncertain. |
| 2.19pm GMT | 2.19pm GMT |
| 14:19 | 14:19 |
| Forget the counting - the real drama in Arklow was a lost engagement ring, which somehow slipped off a voter’s finger into a ballot box on Friday. Fortunately it has now been found, as Irish Independent and the Herald reporter Alan O’Keeffe tweets: | Forget the counting - the real drama in Arklow was a lost engagement ring, which somehow slipped off a voter’s finger into a ballot box on Friday. Fortunately it has now been found, as Irish Independent and the Herald reporter Alan O’Keeffe tweets: |
| Presiding officer Jacqueline Donnery with diamond ring lost at Arklow polling station and found in ballot box today. pic.twitter.com/27GHC8TR4u | Presiding officer Jacqueline Donnery with diamond ring lost at Arklow polling station and found in ballot box today. pic.twitter.com/27GHC8TR4u |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.16pm GMT | at 3.16pm GMT |
| 2.08pm GMT | 2.08pm GMT |
| 14:08 | 14:08 |
| One bookmaker confidently predicts: | One bookmaker confidently predicts: |
| We make a FG/FF government the 1/4 fav to be in place on 1st Jan 2017! #GE16 https://t.co/pLotIPMBgq pic.twitter.com/T5AFw2ytsA | We make a FG/FF government the 1/4 fav to be in place on 1st Jan 2017! #GE16 https://t.co/pLotIPMBgq pic.twitter.com/T5AFw2ytsA |
| Will there be a 2nd General Election? We say 8/11 No, but EVENS Yes! #GE16 https://t.co/pLotIPMBgq | Will there be a 2nd General Election? We say 8/11 No, but EVENS Yes! #GE16 https://t.co/pLotIPMBgq |
| 1.49pm GMT | 1.49pm GMT |
| 13:49 | 13:49 |
| Mark Mortell, a Fine Gael strategist and Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s closest adviser, tells RTE that his party will end up with a similar number of seats to Fianna Fáil, but believes the prospects of another election are “very, very high”. | Mark Mortell, a Fine Gael strategist and Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s closest adviser, tells RTE that his party will end up with a similar number of seats to Fianna Fáil, but believes the prospects of another election are “very, very high”. |
| “It won’t be easy for the two big parties to take the big step and come together.” | “It won’t be easy for the two big parties to take the big step and come together.” |
| He says Ireland will have to review its political system once the outcome of its most uncertain election in recent times is decided: “The only word I can use right now is deep disappointment.” | He says Ireland will have to review its political system once the outcome of its most uncertain election in recent times is decided: “The only word I can use right now is deep disappointment.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.01pm GMT | at 2.01pm GMT |
| 1.32pm GMT | 1.32pm GMT |
| 13:32 | 13:32 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| Whatever government is eventually formed in Dublin it may eventually be dealing with neighbours who are no longer fellow EU members. A British exit from the union would fuel fears in the republic that the border with Northern Ireland could be bolstered, freedom of movement restricted and most crucially of all, north-south and east-west trade (between Ireland and Britain) damaged. | Whatever government is eventually formed in Dublin it may eventually be dealing with neighbours who are no longer fellow EU members. A British exit from the union would fuel fears in the republic that the border with Northern Ireland could be bolstered, freedom of movement restricted and most crucially of all, north-south and east-west trade (between Ireland and Britain) damaged. |
| Parties across the Irish political spectrum have called on UK voters to choose the remain option in June’s referendum. And to bolster that vote, David Cameron is in Northern Ireland today, visiting the Bushmills whiskey distillery and meeting farmers. Indeed the prime minister reached out to Ulster’s farming community, which has relied heavily on EU subsidies since the UK entered Europe. | Parties across the Irish political spectrum have called on UK voters to choose the remain option in June’s referendum. And to bolster that vote, David Cameron is in Northern Ireland today, visiting the Bushmills whiskey distillery and meeting farmers. Indeed the prime minister reached out to Ulster’s farming community, which has relied heavily on EU subsidies since the UK entered Europe. |
| In a speech in Ahoghill – a North Antrim heartland of the unionist farming community – Cameron told farmers: “I would say it comes down to a very simple argument, which is do we want a greater United Kingdom inside the European Union with the safety, the strength and the prosperity, or do we want a great leap in the dark?” | In a speech in Ahoghill – a North Antrim heartland of the unionist farming community – Cameron told farmers: “I would say it comes down to a very simple argument, which is do we want a greater United Kingdom inside the European Union with the safety, the strength and the prosperity, or do we want a great leap in the dark?” |
| He continued: “And I think particularly when it comes to farming you know what we have today – you know about the market access – you know about what we can do, and we could be putting all that at risk which I think would be very, very damaging for Britain’s farmers and for farmers here in Northern Ireland.” | He continued: “And I think particularly when it comes to farming you know what we have today – you know about the market access – you know about what we can do, and we could be putting all that at risk which I think would be very, very damaging for Britain’s farmers and for farmers here in Northern Ireland.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.05pm GMT | at 2.05pm GMT |
| 1.14pm GMT | 1.14pm GMT |
| 13:14 | 13:14 |
| Never one to miss a publicity opportunity, Respect party leader George Galloway has offered his two cents’ worth on the Irish elections: | Never one to miss a publicity opportunity, Respect party leader George Galloway has offered his two cents’ worth on the Irish elections: |
| The miscalled Irish Labour Party has been wiped out by the people. An ignominious end. These are the wages of sin #IrishElection | The miscalled Irish Labour Party has been wiped out by the people. An ignominious end. These are the wages of sin #IrishElection |
| In an earlier tweet the London mayoral candidate said: “Wish I’d stood :-)” | In an earlier tweet the London mayoral candidate said: “Wish I’d stood :-)” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.31pm GMT | at 1.31pm GMT |
| 12.57pm GMT | 12.57pm GMT |
| 12:57 | 12:57 |
| Appearing a little earlier here in Dublin, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness dismissed suggestions that the party could have done better if its leader, Gerry Adams, had stepped aside. | Appearing a little earlier here in Dublin, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness dismissed suggestions that the party could have done better if its leader, Gerry Adams, had stepped aside. |
| The Guardian’s Henry McDonald adds: | The Guardian’s Henry McDonald adds: |
| Ireland’s former taoiseach Bertie Ahern had suggested on election day that Sinn Féin would have won an extra ten seats without being led by Adams, a figure which many in the Republic of Ireland feel is a reminder of the days of the IRA’s violent campaign. | Ireland’s former taoiseach Bertie Ahern had suggested on election day that Sinn Féin would have won an extra ten seats without being led by Adams, a figure which many in the Republic of Ireland feel is a reminder of the days of the IRA’s violent campaign. |
| McGuinness, who was his key partner in the Irish peace process, dismissed any talk that Adams might step down as leader following this contest however. | McGuinness, who was his key partner in the Irish peace process, dismissed any talk that Adams might step down as leader following this contest however. |
| He said “I don’t know how you can say that” after fielding questions about the generation of leaders like him and Adams. | He said “I don’t know how you can say that” after fielding questions about the generation of leaders like him and Adams. |
| Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister said there would be a “dramatic increase” in the Sinn Féin share of the vote compared to the 9.9% they gained in the 2011 general election. | Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister said there would be a “dramatic increase” in the Sinn Féin share of the vote compared to the 9.9% they gained in the 2011 general election. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.30pm GMT | at 1.30pm GMT |
| 12.48pm GMT | 12.48pm GMT |
| 12:48 | 12:48 |
| It looks like one of the mini-success stories of this election could be a new party, the Social Democrats, which contains a number of members who broke away from the Labour Party over its support for the government’s austerity platform. | It looks like one of the mini-success stories of this election could be a new party, the Social Democrats, which contains a number of members who broke away from the Labour Party over its support for the government’s austerity platform. |
| One of its MPs, Róisín Shortall was optimistic: | One of its MPs, Róisín Shortall was optimistic: |
| A delighted Roisin Shortall says the SocDems will take three seats, including her own and are hoping for more #GE16 pic.twitter.com/WmMi3BMLBJ | A delighted Roisin Shortall says the SocDems will take three seats, including her own and are hoping for more #GE16 pic.twitter.com/WmMi3BMLBJ |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.29pm GMT | at 1.29pm GMT |