Negotiations are due to start between Fine Gael and Labour
as the Republic of Ireland prepares for a new government,
headed by Taoiseach-elect Enda Kenny.
Fine Gael has secured 68 seats of the 150 seats filled so
far.  Labour is on 35  Fianna Fáil 17, Sinn Féin 13, ULA
four and  Independents 13. There are just 16 seats left to
be filled in four constituencies where counts are ongoing.
Fine Gael is likely to fall short of an overall majority in
the 166-seat Dáil.
Sinn Fein has won 13 seats, a gain of eight on its
representation in the last Dail.
Party president Gerry Adams topped the poll in Louth,
winning a seat on the first count.
While many analysts predicted his victory, the party has
surpassed expectations in other constituencies.
The election of Sandra McLellan in Cork East was the most
surprising of the whole election so far.
Sinn Fein is likely to pick up another seat in Laois-Offaly
and had a fifty-fifty chance of winning in Wicklow.
The party has rebounded from a relatively poor performance
in the 2007 election when its representation went from five
to four.
However, the victory of Pearse Doherty in Donegal SE in a
by-election at the end of last year has heralded a much
stronger performance this time.
Mr Adams said that Sinn Fein had been rewarded for its hard
work on the ground during the campaign.
"I think the votes across the state show a significant
amount of people support the position we have taken up."
The Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness
said the performance was a sign of a shift in Irish politics.
"This election is a step-change for Sinn Fein because we
have a number of rising stars in our party, who are very
republican, who are very conscious of the need to put people
first," he said.
"It will be very powerful for Sinn Fein to see the leader of
our party being elected, and effectively being full-time in
the south.  (It) is of huge importance because all of that
undoubtedly complements the strides forward we have taken in
the north."
For Fianna Fáil, the result is its worst since the
foundation of the party, while  the Labour Party has enjoyed
its best result in a general election to date.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who was elected on the first
count in Mayo, said the people of Ireland had given his
party a “massive endorsement” to form the next government.
"We now stand at a transformative moment in Ireland's
history. We stand on the brink of fundamental change in how
we regard ourselves, how we regard our economy and how we
regard our society," Mr Kenny told supporters in a Dublin hotel.
The Fine Gael leader, who himself led a ticket of four
successful Fine Gael candidates in Mayo, said he would also
lead a government "worthy of the trust of the people".
Mr Kenny said it was too early to tell if Fine Gael would be
in power alone or in coalition with Labour. He said his
priority would be to rebuild Ireland's economy. “This little
country will be seen to be the best in the world by 2016, to
do business, raise a family and to grow old with dignity and
respect," he said.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who was elected on the first
count in Dún Laoighaire, said Sunday his party is willing to
enter into talks with Fine Gael about forming a coalition.
However, he said there has been no contact regarding such a
deal so far.
Fianna Fáil suffered a number of high profile casualties,
including Mary Coughlan, Mary O’Rourke, Mary Hanafin, Sean
Haughey, Barry Andrews and Conor Lenihan. The party has been
particularly badly hit in the Dublin area, where Brian
Lenihan was the only Fianna Fáil candidate to take a seat.
It now has no women TDs.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen conceded Saturday night it had been a
"difficult day for Fianna Fáil" but insisted his party took
tough but necessary decisions while in office to stabilise
the country's finances. He congratulated Fine Gael and Mr
Kenny on "an outstanding performance".
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, elected on the first
count in Cork South Central, said the overall result was
“disappointing” for the party. “We were aware that we had a
huge challenge in this election for a variety of reasons,"
he said.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said Sunday he would not
countenance going into government with Fine Gael. He said a
good government requires a good opposition and vowed his
party would oppose the "swingeing, anti-citizen,
economically-illiterate measures" being proposed by the
establishment parties.
Former tánaiste Mary Coughlan was eliminated on the seventh
count in Donegal South West, where Sinn Féin's Pearse
Doherty was comfortably returned on the first count.
Fine Gael’s Micheal Noonan, elected on the first count in
Limerick City, said Labour would be his favored option as
coalition partners. He said he was not inclined to do
business with Independents, “because they are high maintenance”.
Labour's Joan Burton became the first TD to be elected
yesterday, topping the poll in Dublin West. Fine Gael's Leo
Varadkar, became his party's first winner when he was
elected behind Ms Bruton on the second count. The United
Left Alliance’s Joe Higgins was elected on the third count
in the constituency and Brian Lenihan got through on the
fourth count without reaching the quota.
“Labour has had a very good day," Ms Burton said, adding
that she expected a large number of seats to go down to the
wire late Monday.
The Green Party has been wiped out. Party leader John
Gormley, who was eliminated in Dublin South East after the
fifth count, said Sunday it was a sad day for the party,
which had six TDs in the last Dáil.
“We have suffered a major defeat, but the party will
regroup, we will continue. We’re a party with a set of
beliefs and values and a vision for the future,” he said.
Former Fianna Fáil Ceann Comhairle and minister for justice
John O’Donoghue was eliminated on the third count in Kerry
South.
Independent Senator Shane Ross topped the poll in the
five-seater Dublin South. He was elected on the first count,
having exceeded the quota by nearly 5,000 votes.
In Wexford, Independent candidate Mick Wallace was elected
on the first count, while Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan
took a seat in Roscommon South Leitrim. Former Fine Gael
minister Michael Lowry, who is now running as an
Independent, topped the poll in Tipperary North.