The last of the seats are set to be filled in the Irish General Election – and then the real games of forming a government begin.
Follow the latest news on our live blog, as managed by the Irish Independent:
‘Real need for a new generation of politicians’ – Labour’s Eoghan Kenny youngest TD elected to new Dáil
Has Mary Lou McDonald’s olive branch to Labour been rebuffed already?
Social Democrats to appoint negotiating team but have five government formation ‘deal-breakers’
Kildare North: Count completed as Bernard Durkan loses his seat
From Catherine Martin to Chris Andrews – the high-profile TDs to lose their seats
Ellen Coyne: Ignore the bluster – Mary Lou McDonald and repetitive Sinn Féin are at real risk of going stale
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald contacts Social Democrats and Labour
The combined three parties have around 60 seats in total, which does not meet the needed Dáil majority. However, the party is scoping out to see if a minority government is possible.
Sinn Féin will also be contacting other “progressive TDs and groupings” next week.
“Today we have made contact with the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour Party and we will be contacting the other progressive TDs and groupings this week,” said Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin.
“Our new increased parliamentary team will meet on Wednesday in Leinster House with Mary Lou McDonald and we will assess where we take things at that stage.”
He said the “outcome of the election is now clear” and the two Civil war parties have the numbers to form a Government, which he said would be the “worst possible outcome”.
“The outcome of the election is now clear. The numbers are there for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to form a government together. It looks like Micheál Martin is intent on bringing Fine Gael in as a junior party for the next five years. This would be the worst possible outcome for the people of the country.
“It would be disastrous for people who need housing, for people who are on hospital trolleys, for people who are suffering with the cost of living crisis, for young people who are considering leaving Ireland because they see no future here.”
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are also to hold their first parliamentary party meetings next Wednesday.
Gabija Gataveckaite
Sinn Féin’s Cathy Bennett elected in Cavan-Monaghan
It was elation once again for Sinn Féin as first time candidate Cathy Bennett won a seat to Dail Eireann amid wild celebrations in the Cavan Leisure when she was elected.
Gerry McLaughlin
‘Real need for a new generation of politicians’ – Labour’s Eoghan Kenny youngest TD elected to new Dáil
Mr Kenny, who is just 24-years-old, described the Labour Party as being “alive and kicking” following a successful weekend which has seen the election of 11 party TD’s nationwide.
He stressed that he was pleased to be able to bring a younger perspective to the Dail.
“It has been very evident that there is a real need for a new generation of politicians to tackle the issues that we are facing in housing, healthcare, childcare and many issues across the board. Being the youngest TD in Dáil Éireann is a real privilege.
Hopefully we will set the world alight in Dáil Éireann with our 11 (Labour TD’s) elected. It is a fantastic weekend for the Labour Party as well that we have 11 TD’s elected. That is with Sean Sherlock and Brendan Howlin both hanging up their political boots.”
“I am absolutely privileged and extremely honoured to get this mandate from the people of Cork North Central and in particular the people of my home town of Mallow who backed me here.”
Mr Kenny, who is a county councillor, works as a business and religion teacher at Mayfield Community School on the northside of Cork.
A full recount was ordered in the constituency last night after just 35 votes separated the final candidates Councillor Kenny of Labour and outgoing TD Mick Barry. Mr Barry of People Before Profit/Solidarity withdrew his request for a recount shortly after 5pm today.
Olivia Kelleher
Matt Carthy elected in Cavan-Monaghan…three seats left to fill
More to follow…
Cavan-Monaghan the last constituency counting with 4 seats left to fill
Only one TD has been elected so far out of the five. It’s been a long slog for all involved there.
Fine Gael’s David Maxwell is the only one elected.
Two Sinn Féin, one Fine Gael, one Fianna Fáil and one Labour complete Louth count
With Sinn Féin pair, Ruairí O Murchú and Joanna Byrne, crossing the finish line on Sunday night, it took most of Monday to complete the line-up, wiith Ged Nash (Lab), Paula Butterly (FG) and Erin McGreehan (FF) securing seats as darkness engulfs the count centre here at Colaiste Chu Chulainn.
Having only elected its first female TD in history in 2016, Louth returned three first-time female TDs in one fell swoop.
So here are the five TDs that will be representing Louth in the 34th Dáil Eireann.
John Savage
Has Mary Lou McDonald’s olive branch to Labour been rebuffed already?
Gabija Gataveckaite
Social Democrats to appoint negotiating team but have five government formation ‘deal-breakers’
They said the party wants to go into Government.
“The Social Democrats want to go into government and have repeatedly said we will talk to everyone in order to achieve that,” they said.
“Unlike other parties, we have also been clear on what our priorities will be in any government formation talks.
“At an early stage in the election campaign, we outlined five deal-breakers – on housing, healthcare, climate, disability and childcare – which must be included as a minimum, in any programme for government, in order to secure our support.
“As it stands, our enlarged parliamentary party has yet to meet. That will be happening in the coming days and, when it does, a negotiating team will be appointed to begin this process.”
Cork North Central: Mick Barry withdraws recount request, Eoghan Kenny takes final seat
Olivia Kelleher
Alan Kelly (Lab) and Ryan O’Meara (FF) elected in Tipp North as count complete
Alan Kelly’s final vote + 1,241 = 12,330
Ryan O’Meara + 3,333 = 11,118
Eoin Kelleher
Marian Harkin says she will try to be part of the next Government
When asked by the Sligo Champion has she thought about being involved around the formation of the next government and her quick response is, ‘of course I have.’
“I wouldn’t have run without thinking that there was a chance of that but of course timing is everything, to be in the right place at the right time.
“You have to be elected first, that’s your first job.
“The last time I tried to be part of government with some of my colleagues, Michael McNamara, Michael Fitzmaurice but it didn’t work and this time I’ll put in every bit as much of an effort into it and I’ll take the rough with the smooth.
“I see some of my government colleagues…I’m not stupid. I know that being in government can be really tough so I’m not unaware of that. I’m very mindful of it.
“I also know that the purpose of going to Dáil Eireann is to, if you can at all, influence policy and by doing that achieve some positive outcomes and I will try really hard.”
More here:
Cork North Central recount requires ‘accuracy not speed’
Mr Harvey stressed that he had “no hesitation” in calling the recount.
“ It is hard to call (how long it will last). It is a slow process so we are now right in to the runs of doing the full recount. Checking all the first preferences and as I say it is slow. But it has to be slow to be correct. The important thing here is accuracy not speed.
(At the moment) all of the main bundles from the first count are being checked. Some of them have been done already in the earlier operation but these are all being done now. When that is completed we will go to the smaller bundles.”
Mr Harvey said a full recount takes place at no financial count to the candidate.
“It is a democratic right to seek a recount. Any candidate can ask for it. Whether I grant it is another matter. This is genuine. I certainly had no hesitation in recommending it.”
Fine Gael senator apologises to Donegal people over ‘moaning and groaning’ comments
“I want to apologise, to the people of Donegal in general and the people that voted for me,” she told Donegal Daily.
Ms Bradley made the apology in an effort to “clarify how it came across” which she said “was absolutely not how I intended it”.
“I let myself down with how I worded everything.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I didn’t realise how it came across until I saw it back,” she continued.
Cian O’Broin
Louth: Recheck of count 19 completed
A Drogheda candidate, his votes should elect Labour’s Ged Nash who is less than a hundred short of the quota and also benefit Paula Butterly (FG) and Alison Comyn (FF) who come from the southern end of the county.
Kildare North: Count completed as Bernard Durkan loses his seat
All three were elected on the 12th count. James Lawless (Fianna Fail) and Aidan Farrelly (Social Democrats) were elected on Sunday.
It means long-serving TD Bernard Durkan (FG) has lost his seat.
Caroline O’Doherty
Sinn Féin’s Pauline Tully loses seat in Cavan-Monaghan
The Kilnaleck County Cavan secondary school teacher finished with a total 7,868, votes just behind her party colleague Cathy Bennett who is now set to take her first seat from Tully’s transfers.
Bennett, who is a theatre manager in Monaghan has a total of 8,220 votes and will be a first time TD.
She benefited from 110 transfer votes from fellow North Monaghan elected candidate David Maxwell while Tully received just six votes.
Maxwell had a surplus of 811 and the remainder of his votes were 83 to Matt Carthy, 83 to Sarah O’Reilly Aontú, 255 to Fianna Fáil’s Brendan Smith and 274 to Niamh Smyth.
At present, Maxwell is leading the poll on 12,353 votes with Carthy second on 10,981, Niamh Smyth third on 10,313, Brendan Smith, on 10,062 in fourth and Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly on 10,062 in fifth place.
Carthy will exceed the quota after Tully’s votes are distributed and they might just earn a seat for Bennett as well.
No candidate has reached the quota of 11,542 but Carthy will exceed that on the 12th count.
We are now awaiting the results of the distribution of Tully’s 7868 votes which could take quite some time.
Gerry McLaughlin
The ‘Red Wall of Fingal’ and what it means for Ivana Bacik’s Labour leadership
The wins have been dubbed a ‘red wall’ which could spell trouble for party leader Ivana Bacik.
The party faces a leadership contest in six months time if it decides against going into Government.
Gabija Gataveckaite reports here:
Cork North Central: Full recount to go ahead amid 35 vote gap
A full recount was ordered in the constituency last night after just 35 votes separated the final candidates Councillor Eoghan Kenny of Labour and outgoing People Before Profit/ Solidarity TD Mick Barry.
Counting of bundles was carried out this morning to determine whether the recount would in fact go ahead.
Deputy Barry said 29 discrepancies were found in a sample of 25% of the papers this morning.
“The discrepancies broke towards us but only by the most marginal amount. But 29 discrepancies in 25% — that is quite a number of discrepancies. That would be 116 discrepancies overall if that trend were to continue in the context of a difference of 35 (votes).”
Olivia Kelleher