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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ahern's party close to majority | Ahern's party close to majority |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Counting is continuing in the Irish general election for the remaining seats in the next Dail. | |
| Fianna Fail are expected to end up with 78 seats - five short of an overall majority, but the focus now is on who they will form a government with. | Fianna Fail are expected to end up with 78 seats - five short of an overall majority, but the focus now is on who they will form a government with. |
| They can count on two former Fianna Fail independents and two Progressive Democrat TDs set to retain their seats. | They can count on two former Fianna Fail independents and two Progressive Democrat TDs set to retain their seats. |
| Fine Gael polled well, but its potential coalition partners Labour and the Greens fared less well. | Fine Gael polled well, but its potential coalition partners Labour and the Greens fared less well. |
| As a result, not even these three combined could overtake Fianna Fail and the PDs. | As a result, not even these three combined could overtake Fianna Fail and the PDs. |
| Meanwhile, the PDs' leader Michael McDowell has retired from politics after losing his seat. | Meanwhile, the PDs' leader Michael McDowell has retired from politics after losing his seat. |
| Sinn Fein also polled badly and is set to end up with three or four seats, losing one in Dublin and failing to win target seats in Dublin and Donegal. | Sinn Fein also polled badly and is set to end up with three or four seats, losing one in Dublin and failing to win target seats in Dublin and Donegal. |
| Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, leader of Fianna Fail, said last night he wanted a stable government, raising speculation he might seek an arrangement with Labour. | Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, leader of Fianna Fail, said last night he wanted a stable government, raising speculation he might seek an arrangement with Labour. |
| However, this might prove less popular with his own parliamentary party because it would mean fewer ministerial jobs on offer than a combination with a smaller grouping. | However, this might prove less popular with his own parliamentary party because it would mean fewer ministerial jobs on offer than a combination with a smaller grouping. |
| So far the breakdown of seats is: Fianna Fail 72; Fine Gael 45; Labour 18; PDs 1; Green Party 5; Sinn Fein 3 and Others 5. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY After 10 years, Bertie's team could do with a change. Our public services need more attention Micheál, Cork, Ireland Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY After 10 years, Bertie's team could do with a change. Our public services need more attention Micheál, Cork, Ireland Send us your comments |
| The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the 165-seat Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. | The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the 165-seat Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. |
| On Friday, Mr Ahern hailed his party's performance: "There are very few parties anywhere in Europe who could have achieved what Fianna Fail did today. | On Friday, Mr Ahern hailed his party's performance: "There are very few parties anywhere in Europe who could have achieved what Fianna Fail did today. |
| "For that I am just hugely proud as the president of the Fianna Fail organisation." | "For that I am just hugely proud as the president of the Fianna Fail organisation." |
| The taoiseach has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the Republic. | The taoiseach has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the Republic. |
| Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition Fine Gael party, refused to concede defeat on Friday night. | Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition Fine Gael party, refused to concede defeat on Friday night. |
| His party also put in strong performance, gaining about 20 seats. |