Morning Ireland covered the issues and events that marked Election 2011. We were there for the debates, the campaigns and the counts.
Click on the links below to hear how it progressed, right back from when Cian McCormack went out on the road to take the political temperature of the nation, to the moment when Seán Kyne was declared the last and final TD to be elected to the 31st Dáil.
Morning Ireland:
Sean Kyne, Fine Gael, discusses the conclusion of the Galway West recount and says he was hopeful of a good resultMorning Ireland:
Paul Ferris meets some of the 31st Dáil's new Independent TDs on their first day in Leinster HouseMorning Ireland:
David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, discusses the talks between Fine Gael and Labour on the formation of a new governmentMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports that following an exhaustive recount in Galway West, Fine Gael's Sean Kyne has been elected to the 31st DáilMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports that a recount was requested by Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, after she finished 17 votes behind Fine Gael's Sean KyneMorning Ireland:
David Davin-Power, Political Correspondent, reports that there is an appetite among the Labour parliamentary party to go into GovernmentMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports from Galway West on a long night with no conclusionMorning Ireland:
Eric Byrne, Labour TD for Dublin South Central, talks about what he regards as the 'blood sport' of recountsMorning Ireland:
Fionnan Sheahan, Irish Independent, says that senior Labour figures have warned that the party is still prepared to go into OppositionMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports on the latest from Galway West, where a recount will begin this afternoonMorning Ireland:
Brian Finn reports from Wicklow, where the request by Fianna Fáil's Dick Roche for a full recount didn't prevent his eliminationMorning Ireland:
Eileen Dunne reports from the Laois-Offaly count, which was completed in the early hours of the morningMorning Ireland:
Fergus Finlay, former advisor to Labour leader Dick Spring, says mutual respect is key to sustaining credible, long-lasting GovernmentMorning Ireland:
Eileen Dunne, Brian Finn and Pat McGrath report on the three remaining counts in Laois-Offaly, Wicklow and Galway WestMorning Ireland:
Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD, says his party is a strong advocate for the creation of a new party of the left in the DáilMorning Ireland:
David Davin-Power, Political Correspondent, reports that Fine Gael and Labour's relationship is like the early stage of a teenage courtshipMorning Ireland:
Paul Hannon, Dow Jones News Service, says most European leaders will be happy with the outcome of the electionMorning Ireland:
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party TD, says it is his party's view that the talks should begin immediatelyMorning Ireland:
Martin Mansergh, Fianna Fáil, says his party played a huge part in the development of the State over the last 80 yearsMorning Ireland:
Brian Dowling reports that there are no insurmountable obstacles to Fine Gael and Labour forming a new GovernmentMorning Ireland:
Alan Shatter, Fine Gael, says it would be premature to rule out a union with Independent TDsMorning Ireland:
Election special featuring the latest from the remaining countsMorning Ireland:
Election special featuring RTÉ's Exit Poll resultsMorning Ireland:
Alex White, Labour Party, and Eamon Ryan, Green Party, assess the chances of their respective partiesMorning Ireland:
Brian Hayes, Fine Gael, and Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil, discuss the upcoming electionMorning Ireland:
Micheal Lehane looks at some battleground constituencies in the upcoming electionMorning Ireland:
Paul Colgan reports on the aspirations and motivations of some of the 233 Independents standing for electionMorning Ireland:
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Féin, says transfers will be kinder to his party this time than in previous electionsMorning Ireland:
Micheál Martin argues that his party has the most open, honest and credible policy platformMorning Ireland:
Eleanor Burnhill reports the Fianna Fáil leader's canvassing began with a cup of tea on the outskirts of NaasMorning Ireland:
Kevin Rafter, Lecturer in Media & Politics at DCU, and Noirín Hegarty, Sunday Tribune Editor, run the rule over the leaders' performancesMorning Ireland:
Eoin O'Broin, Sinn Féin candidate for Dublin Mid West, and Trevor Sargent, Green Party candidate for Dublin North, analyse the policies of the three largest partiesMorning Ireland:
David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, says Micheál Martin kept the pressure on Enda Kenny in particularMorning Ireland:
Paul Ferris reports that one of the first issues the leader were asked about was their position on burden-sharing with bondholdersMorning Ireland:
Simon Coveney, Fine Gael Transport Spokesman, and Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil Transport Spokesman, detail their respective plans for the areaMorning Ireland:
Micheál Lehane outlines the proposals the main parties have put forward for the transport sectorMorning Ireland:
Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin President, says his party's policies are based on 'good economics'Morning Ireland:
Cian McCormack reports that jobs and the economy were top of the agenda, but there were also some autographs, photos and hugs along the wayMorning Ireland:
Joe Higgins, Socialist Party Leader, believes that the entire deal should be scrappedMorning Ireland:
Will Hutton, Economist, says he has heard the views of two EU finance ministers who believe that a discussion should take place on a better bailout deal for IrelandMorning Ireland:
Ciaran Lynch, Labour, and Leo Vradakar, Fine Gael, discuss what their parties propose to do about the issue of mortgage arrears and negative equityMorning Ireland:
Constantin Gurdgiev, TCD Finance Lecturer, suggests that debt forgiveness could be necessary to assist those in mortgage arrearsMorning Ireland:
Paul Ferris spoke to a number of people who found themselves in arrears with their mortgage paymentsMorning Ireland:
Stephen Collins, Irish Times, says the latest poll figures indicate a likely election result is a Fine Gael/Labour coaltionMorning Ireland:
Sean Donnelly, political analyst, explains how proportional representation works and the importance of first preference votesMorning Ireland:
Enda Kenny, Fine Gael leader, says his party would protect those most vulnerableMorning Ireland:
Eleanor Burnhill reports that candidates in Dublin South Central were given a chance to hear the views of votersMorning Ireland:
Paul Ferris reports that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was tackled about the same sex marriage policy on the campaign trail yesterdayMorning Ireland:
David Begg, ICTU General Secretary, says he wants Fine Gael to explain references in its election literature to taking on vested interestsMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports the views of western islanders, that polling day should be standardisedMorning Ireland:
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore insists anti-Fine Gael advertisements are not a sign of desperationMorning Ireland:
Micheál Lehane reports on the health policies of the political partiesMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports from Labour's campaign convoy as it rolls through several constituencies in the west and north westMorning Ireland:
Rónán Ó Domhnaill reports that the TG4 leaders' debate heated up on the issue of the Irish languageMorning Ireland:
Jack O'Connor, President, SIPTU, and Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael Spokesman on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, discuss Mr O'Connor's public backing for Labour and parties of the leftMorning Ireland:
Fionnan Sheahan, Political Editor, Irish Independent, reports that Fine Gael is edging closer to winning enough seats to secure single-party ruleMorning Ireland:
Kevin Rafter, Lecturer in Politics and Media, DCU, and Noirin Hegarty, Sunday Tribune Editor, discuss last night's debateMorning Ireland:
Brian Lenihan, Minister for Finance, and Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson, discuss Ireland's options in regard to the EU/IMF dealMorning Ireland:
David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, assesses the leaders' performancesMorning Ireland:
Colman O'Sullivan reports on the atmosphere before, during and after last night's debateMorning Ireland:
Reverend Jesse Jackson, civil rights campaigner, urges the Irish electorate to use their vote with passion and not angerMorning Ireland:
Brian Dowling, Political Correspondent, and Brendan Keenan, Irish Independent Group Business Editor, previews the upcoming televised leaders' debateMorning Ireland:
John Gormley, Green Party leader, says that the other political parties can not be trusted on the environmentMorning Ireland:
Paul Ferris reports on how the Green Party is being received on the doorstepsMorning Ireland:
Michael Marsh, Prof of Comparative Political Behaviour, TCD, says he would not pay a lot of attention to the amount of people still undecided in a recent Red C pollMorning Ireland:
Tony Connelly, Europe Editor, reports there had been contacts between Angela Merkel's office and Fine Gael in JanuaryMorning Ireland:
Mary Hanafin, Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader, James Reilly, Fine Gael Deputy Leader, and Joan Burton, Labour Deputy Leader, discuss the main issues of the election campaignMorning Ireland:
Pat McGrath reports that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny's plans to end compulsory Irish for the Leaving Certificate have been met with scepticismMorning Ireland:
David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, reports that the election campaign has been quiet so far, but there should be some more meat from the parties todayMorning Ireland:
Dan Boyle, Green Party, & Roisin Shortall, Labour, discuss their party's policies on social welfare and react to the leaders' debateMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack reports from Carrick-on-Shannon where Enda Kenny addressed several hundred people at a public meetingMorning Ireland:
Fionnan Sheehan, Irish Independent, & Michael Clifford, Sunday Tribune, discuss the performances of the party leaders on the TV3 debateMorning Ireland:
David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, discusses the debate and the absence of Enda Kenny from itMorning Ireland:
Paul Colgan reports on the first televised debate on TV3, after which both Eamon Gilmore & Micheál Martin claimed they were happy with their performancesMorning Ireland:
Olive Falsey, Meath County Council, says it is not too late to get a polling card for the electionMorning Ireland:
Seamus Healy, Workers and Unemployed Action Group and United Left Alliance, says independents need to provide an alternative to the main partiesMorning Ireland:
Gary Murphy, senior lecturer in government at DCU, discusses the different plans to reform the political systemMorning Ireland:
Eleanor Burnhill speaks to potential voters in Dublin to see how they are reacting to what they are hearing from the partiesMorning Ireland:
Susan McKay, National Women's Council Chief Executive, says there are not enough women candidates in the General ElectionMorning Ireland:
Tony Connolly, Europe Editor, reports on Irish attempts to renegotiate the interest rates on the EU-IMF bailout dealMorning Ireland:
James Reilly of Fine Gael and Barry Andrews of Fianna Fáil debate the change required to reform the health systemMorning Ireland:
Colman O'Sullivan, Political Reporter, reports that the number of independents in the Dáil is likely to rise after the electionMorning Ireland:
Brian Dowling reports that the seventh day of the election campaign is seeing political reform ideas dominate the agendaMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack visits Dún Laoghaire and Tallaght to compare and contrast opinions among the electorateMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack meets two people with positive stories amidst the doom and gloom of the financial crisisMorning Ireland:
Young people in Monaghan Town tell Cian McCormack what they consider are the big issues, while the Monaghan Anti-Pylon Group is looking for promises from the political partiesMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack talks to elderly people in Clones, Co Monaghan, about their thoughts ahead of the General ElectionMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack visits Co Longford, where most people he speaks to seem to think a change in Government is neededMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack reports from the road, where he has been talking to a mother and toddler's group in Co RoscommonMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack discusses the issues of unemployment and emigration with voters in Birr and BallinasloeMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack speaks to voters in Clara, Tullamore and Ballinasloe about Brian Cowen's decisionMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack speaks to Barry Cowen about his brother Brian's legacy as Taoiseach and as a MinisterMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack says that the regeneration schemes in the poor areas are a big issue for voters in LimerickMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack says that job creation is the main issue for voters in Mallow in Co CorkMorning Ireland:
Cian McCormack begins his 'Taking the Temperature' series as he gets the views of potential voters in Ennistymon in Co Clare