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| Irish election: Two seats undecided in Longford-Westmeath | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Just two seats remain to be decided in the Irish election, both in Longford-Westmeath. | |
| Fine Gael remains the largest party with 49 seats - five ahead of its main rival, Fianna Fáil. | Fine Gael remains the largest party with 49 seats - five ahead of its main rival, Fianna Fáil. |
| Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said a new government should not be formed before reforms of the Dail (parliament) take place. | Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said a new government should not be formed before reforms of the Dail (parliament) take place. |
| "We believe that the new Dáil should not represent more business as usual - that it should involve a decisive move towards a reformed politics," he said. | "We believe that the new Dáil should not represent more business as usual - that it should involve a decisive move towards a reformed politics," he said. |
| The current taoiseach, Enda Kenny, admitted over the weekend that the Fine Gael/Labour coalition government he led for the past five years had failed to secure a return to office. | The current taoiseach, Enda Kenny, admitted over the weekend that the Fine Gael/Labour coalition government he led for the past five years had failed to secure a return to office. |
| 'State of flux' | 'State of flux' |
| He will continue to lead the Republic of Ireland in a caretaker capacity until a new coalition is agreed. | He will continue to lead the Republic of Ireland in a caretaker capacity until a new coalition is agreed. |
| It is now likely that Mr Kenny will be one of three party leaders who could be proposed as a potential Taoiseach when the parliament (Dàil) reconvenes on 10 March. | It is now likely that Mr Kenny will be one of three party leaders who could be proposed as a potential Taoiseach when the parliament (Dàil) reconvenes on 10 March. |
| The other candidates are Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. | The other candidates are Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. |
| Sinn Féin is currently in third place with 23 seats while independents and smaller parties have also done well with 34 seats between them so far. | Sinn Féin is currently in third place with 23 seats while independents and smaller parties have also done well with 34 seats between them so far. |
| However, the junior coalition partner, Labour, has suffered badly with only six seats so far, after winning 37 in 2011. | However, the junior coalition partner, Labour, has suffered badly with only six seats so far, after winning 37 in 2011. |
| Mr Kenny - who has been re-elected in Mayo - said it was clear the existing government would not regain power. | Mr Kenny - who has been re-elected in Mayo - said it was clear the existing government would not regain power. |
| He refused to discuss possible options for the next government. | He refused to discuss possible options for the next government. |
| However, he added: "As taoiseach I have a duty and responsibility to see how best we might be able to put together a government." | However, he added: "As taoiseach I have a duty and responsibility to see how best we might be able to put together a government." |
| On Saturday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he was "very pleased" but that it would take time before the shape of the new government becomes clear. | On Saturday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he was "very pleased" but that it would take time before the shape of the new government becomes clear. |
| Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the election represented a "fundamental realignment of Irish politics". | Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the election represented a "fundamental realignment of Irish politics". |
| Labour Party deputy leader Alan Kelly, who narrowly retained his seat in Tipperary, said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should "cop themselves on now" and form a government. | Labour Party deputy leader Alan Kelly, who narrowly retained his seat in Tipperary, said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should "cop themselves on now" and form a government. |
| "All of this pretending that there are massive issues between them is rubbish. They need to come together, work together and put a government in place for the good of the people." | "All of this pretending that there are massive issues between them is rubbish. They need to come together, work together and put a government in place for the good of the people." |
| More than three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll, which will return 157 members of parliament, known as TDs. The speaker is automatically returned. | More than three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll, which will return 157 members of parliament, known as TDs. The 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 were 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 were gathering. |
| TDs are being elected according to the single transferable vote system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others. | TDs are being elected according to the single transferable vote system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others. |