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| Ireland general election: second vote possible after inconclusive result – live | Ireland general election: second vote possible after inconclusive result – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.04pm GMT | |
| 19:04 | |
| Gerry Adams appeared to signal that Sinn Fein may be more flexible about entering a coalition than the party’s current position. | |
| Party policy is not to enter an administration with Fianna Fail. However, The Guardian’s Henry McDonald reports that Adams said his party would have to examine the “lay of the land” once all the votes have been counted. | |
| On his way into the Louth count where he is expected to top the poll Adams said his party policy was one he “happened to agree with.” | |
| However the Sinn Fein President added: | |
| If we do have a proposition to go into government we will go to our Ard Fheis (annual conference) and they will make that decision. | |
| Given that the numbers of far left, Social Democrats and Independents combined with Sinn Fein wouldn’t be enough to elect an alternative government the party’s only possible partners would be Fianna Fail. | |
| Fiach Kelly, political correspondent at the Irish Independent, tweets meanwhile: | |
| Sinn Fein just dying for the Grand Coalition to happen. #GE16 https://t.co/Hk4WK9iQnh | |
| 7.01pm GMT | |
| 19:01 | |
| Senior strategists in Fianna Fail, which appears to have staged an extraordinary recovery after being electorally decimated n 2011 over its stewardship of Ireland’s crisis-hit economy, believe they are close to edging out Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael as the largest party. | |
| That’s according to Harry McGee, political correspondent at the Irish Times, who writes in the Irish Times that the party has increased its own estimates of seat gains since Saturday morning to above 40. | |
| Under Ireland’s system of voting, which sees candidates being ranked in order of preference, the party is expected to get a seat bounce later today from being likely to pick up transferred votes from independent candidates who are eliminated in counting. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.06pm GMT | |
| 6.52pm GMT | |
| 18:52 | |
| In a European context, the Irish election results suggest that austerity “isn’t working”, according to journalist Peter Geoghegan, who has written an interesting piece for Politico Europe. | |
| Barely a week has passed in the international press without Ireland seemingly being described as the “poster child for austerity in Europe,” with growth last year of 7 percent and falling unemployment appearing to put it in a different category from other stricken Eurozone states such as Greece and Portugal. | |
| Geoghegan adds however: | |
| But many Irish people have not felt any of the recovery’s effects. The exit polls Friday suggested more than a quarter felt their personal finances had deteriorated over the past year, with almost half saying their finances had stayed the same. | |
| Parties opposed to austerity, explicitly or implicitly, have done very well. Despite effectively bankrupting the country during a decade and a half in power, Fianna Fail’s message of a more balanced recovery struck a chord with voters. | |
| On the left, Sinn Fein recorded its best ever performance in the modern era; the newly-minted Social Democrats are on course to win at least half a dozen seats and the Greens and the cumbersomely titled socialist composite Anti-Austerity Alliance—People Before Profit look set to make gains. | |
| 6.35pm GMT | |
| 18:35 | |
| Henry McDonald | |
| Fianna Fail are increasingly confident tonight they might exceed five seats in Dublin with a possibility of even seven party TDs being elected in the Irish capital. | |
| A party spokesperson said they are confident of five seats in Dublin Bay North, Dublin Mid West, Fingal, Dublin South West and Dublin West. | |
| They are also pinning their hopes on extra gains in Dublin Bay South and Dublin Central, she added. | |
| Reaching seven seats in Dublin is a sure sign of their turn in fortunes given that they gained only one seat in the 2011 meltdown Fianna Fail suffered post the Celtic Tiger. | |
| 6.33pm GMT | 6.33pm GMT |
| 18:33 | 18:33 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Ben Quinn | Ben Quinn |
| • Ireland’s general election was on course on Saturday to produce a hung parliament after voters punished the coalition government which has implemented an austerity-heavy set of policies over the past five years.Fine Gael, the main party in the outgoing coalition, looked set to lose up to 20 seats as voters wreaked revenge on its coalition government with Labour that brought in austerity measures. | • Ireland’s general election was on course on Saturday to produce a hung parliament after voters punished the coalition government which has implemented an austerity-heavy set of policies over the past five years.Fine Gael, the main party in the outgoing coalition, looked set to lose up to 20 seats as voters wreaked revenge on its coalition government with Labour that brought in austerity measures. |
| • The prospect of a “grand coalition” between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael – the two ostensibly christian democratic parties which have taken turns to lead successive Irish governments since independence – appears to be on the cards.The leader of Fianna Fail, which surprised pundits by staging a recovery after voters punished it in 2011 after Ireland’s crash, said that his party would be “practical” and that it was essential to form a government that was “coherent”. | • The prospect of a “grand coalition” between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael – the two ostensibly christian democratic parties which have taken turns to lead successive Irish governments since independence – appears to be on the cards.The leader of Fianna Fail, which surprised pundits by staging a recovery after voters punished it in 2011 after Ireland’s crash, said that his party would be “practical” and that it was essential to form a government that was “coherent”. |
| • Sinn Fein was on course to continue its march in the Republic of Ireland, with an expected increase in its representation in the Dublin parliament, the Dail, by around 50%. However, the party looked set to miss out on key targets it had set for itself in some constituencies due to the apparent reluctance of many voters to give their second preference votes to the party that was once umbilically linked to the IRA. | • Sinn Fein was on course to continue its march in the Republic of Ireland, with an expected increase in its representation in the Dublin parliament, the Dail, by around 50%. However, the party looked set to miss out on key targets it had set for itself in some constituencies due to the apparent reluctance of many voters to give their second preference votes to the party that was once umbilically linked to the IRA. |
| • 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.However, the results also suggested firm evidence of leftward turn on the part of record numbers of the electorate who were opting for a range of left of centre candidates. | • 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.However, the results also suggested firm evidence of leftward turn on the part of record numbers of the electorate who were opting for a range of left of centre candidates. |
| 6.11pm GMT | 6.11pm GMT |
| 18:11 | 18:11 |
| Of course, away from the potential settling of age-old enmities arising from the legacy Ireland’s Civil War politics, the latest chapter in another age-old battle is being fought. | Of course, away from the potential settling of age-old enmities arising from the legacy Ireland’s Civil War politics, the latest chapter in another age-old battle is being fought. |
| You can follow the latest from Ireland’s clash with England in the Six Nations here. It’s also bringing Ireland’s disparate political tribes together at count centres meanwhile. | You can follow the latest from Ireland’s clash with England in the Six Nations here. It’s also bringing Ireland’s disparate political tribes together at count centres meanwhile. |
| In Dublin, a tannoy announcer has been updating us on the game’s score in between election results: “10-9 at Twickenham” | In Dublin, a tannoy announcer has been updating us on the game’s score in between election results: “10-9 at Twickenham” |
| The #IREvENG match seems to have taken some of the attention away from the count here at the RDS #GE16 pic.twitter.com/yjNCrqU1rv | The #IREvENG match seems to have taken some of the attention away from the count here at the RDS #GE16 pic.twitter.com/yjNCrqU1rv |
| 6.04pm GMT | 6.04pm GMT |
| 18:04 | 18:04 |
| A few more snapshots of action from constituencies around the country | A few more snapshots of action from constituencies around the country |
| • Roisin Shortall, a former Labour minister who became one of the co-founders of the Social Democrats, a new left wing party, has been elected in the constituency of Dublin North West. | • Roisin Shortall, a former Labour minister who became one of the co-founders of the Social Democrats, a new left wing party, has been elected in the constituency of Dublin North West. |
| • The Labour Party’s woes were underlined when Alex White, communications minister in the coalition government, lost the race to hold his own Dublin seat. | • The Labour Party’s woes were underlined when Alex White, communications minister in the coalition government, lost the race to hold his own Dublin seat. |
| • Leo Varadkar, tipped as a potential future leader of Fine Gael, has topped the poll in the constituency of Dublin West and was on course for re-election. | • Leo Varadkar, tipped as a potential future leader of Fine Gael, has topped the poll in the constituency of Dublin West and was on course for re-election. |
| 5.49pm GMT | 5.49pm GMT |
| 17:49 | 17:49 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| The dynasty of the former Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey, is back. | The dynasty of the former Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey, is back. |
| His son Sean lost his seat in the 2011 wipeout of Fianna Fail and was not even selected by his local party to run this year in the Dublin Bay North constituency. | His son Sean lost his seat in the 2011 wipeout of Fianna Fail and was not even selected by his local party to run this year in the Dublin Bay North constituency. |
| But it seems Fianna Fail head office were onto something when they parachuted him into the area. Haughey junior is back and on course for a seat after winning 7,916 first preferences. | But it seems Fianna Fail head office were onto something when they parachuted him into the area. Haughey junior is back and on course for a seat after winning 7,916 first preferences. |
| Even his opponents concede Sean Haughey is back in the Dail. | Even his opponents concede Sean Haughey is back in the Dail. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.56pm GMT | at 5.56pm GMT |
| 5.30pm GMT | 5.30pm GMT |
| 17:30 | 17:30 |
| Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald looks set to be elected in the Dublin Central after topping the poll there with 5,770 votes. | Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald looks set to be elected in the Dublin Central after topping the poll there with 5,770 votes. |
| The constituency had been the political stronghold of former Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, but the party’s fall from grace saw it lose its two Dublin Central seats in the 2011 election. | The constituency had been the political stronghold of former Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, but the party’s fall from grace saw it lose its two Dublin Central seats in the 2011 election. |
| 5.17pm GMT | 5.17pm GMT |
| 17:17 | 17:17 |
| RTE’s Justin McCarthy tweets a comment by Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald, who is also also justice and equality minister. | RTE’s Justin McCarthy tweets a comment by Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald, who is also also justice and equality minister. |
| On a FF/FG coalition on @RTERadio1 Frances Fitzgerald said:"the people hve spoken" "there is an onus on everyone to form stable govt" #GE16 | On a FF/FG coalition on @RTERadio1 Frances Fitzgerald said:"the people hve spoken" "there is an onus on everyone to form stable govt" #GE16 |
| 4.59pm GMT | 4.59pm GMT |
| 16:59 | 16:59 |
| Fianna Fail leader: government has to be coherent | Fianna Fail leader: government has to be coherent |
| Ben Quinn | Ben Quinn |
| Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, has been peaking, although perhaps it was what he has not been saying that is most interesting. | Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, has been peaking, although perhaps it was what he has not been saying that is most interesting. |
| Asked on RTE if his party would stand by a previous pledge of ruling out a coalition with its longterm rival, Fine Gael, if it was the smaller party, he replied: “I am very conscious that the people have voted against Fine Gael and Labour in government, so we have to take that on board. | Asked on RTE if his party would stand by a previous pledge of ruling out a coalition with its longterm rival, Fine Gael, if it was the smaller party, he replied: “I am very conscious that the people have voted against Fine Gael and Labour in government, so we have to take that on board. |
| “I think it’s going to take some time to work this out and it’s not going to be worked out tomorrow. I do think there will be a significant centre ground elected and they could be influential in terms of the type of government being formed.” | “I think it’s going to take some time to work this out and it’s not going to be worked out tomorrow. I do think there will be a significant centre ground elected and they could be influential in terms of the type of government being formed.” |
| Martin, whose party appears to be undergoing an extraordinary recovery in support, added: “We have to be practical. Whatever develops has to be coherent.” | Martin, whose party appears to be undergoing an extraordinary recovery in support, added: “We have to be practical. Whatever develops has to be coherent.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.06pm GMT | at 5.06pm GMT |
| 4.44pm GMT | 4.44pm GMT |
| 16:44 | 16:44 |
| Two results have come in for individuals who may be worth watching closely in terms of how the situation develops over the coming months and years. | Two results have come in for individuals who may be worth watching closely in terms of how the situation develops over the coming months and years. |
| Eoin Ó Broin, one of the party’s rising young stars and a leftwing voice inside its ranks has been elected in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. | Eoin Ó Broin, one of the party’s rising young stars and a leftwing voice inside its ranks has been elected in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. |
| Also elected is Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald. Although from an older generation than Ó Broin, she has been tipped as a possible replacement leader for Enda Kenny. | Also elected is Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald. Although from an older generation than Ó Broin, she has been tipped as a possible replacement leader for Enda Kenny. |
| 4.22pm GMT | 4.22pm GMT |
| 16:22 | 16:22 |
| Staying with Lucinda Creighton, a former Fine Gael minister. She has strongly suggested that her old party should team up in Government with its long-term rival, Fianna Fail. | Staying with Lucinda Creighton, a former Fine Gael minister. She has strongly suggested that her old party should team up in Government with its long-term rival, Fianna Fail. |
| She told RTE: | She told RTE: |
| I think there is a huge responsibility on the constitutional parties in this country to form a stable government. | I think there is a huge responsibility on the constitutional parties in this country to form a stable government. |
| I think there is a high respinsibilty on Fiana Fail and Fine Gael to do that. | I think there is a high respinsibilty on Fiana Fail and Fine Gael to do that. |
| She added: | She added: |
| I truly hope now that both parties will do the right thing for the country. The alternative would be quite worrying. The country has spoken and I think they should be respected and listened to. | I truly hope now that both parties will do the right thing for the country. The alternative would be quite worrying. The country has spoken and I think they should be respected and listened to. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.28pm GMT | at 4.28pm GMT |
| 4.12pm GMT | 4.12pm GMT |
| 16:12 | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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 | 3.50pm GMT |
| 15:50 | 15:50 |
| Back to the Labour Party meltdown, and a senior government minister for the party has admitted that it is taking a “pasting”. | 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: | 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 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. | It’s quite clear that the Labour party is after taking a pasting. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.03pm GMT | at 4.03pm GMT |
| 3.43pm GMT | 3.43pm GMT |
| 15:43 | 15:43 |
| First TD elected to Ireland's 32nd Dail | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Shane Ross tofa. Elected! #GE16 #vota2016 pic.twitter.com/0kdI9MyNCt |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.44pm GMT | 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 |