Bertie Ahern has predicted that Fianna Fáil will end up with 80 or 81 seats, which is two or three short of a working overall majority. Throughout the election, the Fianna Fáil leader had insisted that the result would come down to a handful of votes in a handful of constituencies.
Mr Ahern said he would be happy to see a coalition with the Progressive Democrats. Such a Government would have a firm majority in the Dáil, and would not have to rely on Independents for support.
Several recounts have been ordered and will resume later today. In Dublin Central, Fianna Fáil's Dermot Fitzpatrick narrowly held off the challenge of Sinn Féin's Nicky Kehoe. Recounting will also take place in Kerry South, where Jackie Healy Rae was just ahead of Fianna Fáil's Tom Fleming, as well as in Wicklow, where Labour's Nicky Kelly was just edged out of the last seat by Independent Mildred Fox.
In Limerick West, there is yet another recount after just one vote separated two outgoing Fine Gael TDs, Dan Neville and Michael Finucane for the final seat.
The other members of the depleted Fine Gael parliamentary party have other problems, as they face into a leadership election following Michael Noonan's resignation.
Fine Gael's overall vote share is down five and a half points at 22.5%. This is the party’s worst result since 1948, and it is likely to end up with around 31 seats, a loss of 23.
Labour's vote is also down on the combined total of Labour and Democratic Left five years ago. However, many candidates who seemed in trouble earlier in the day have improved their position as the counts progressed, and the party seems likely to return with a total close to 21, the same number as in the last Dáil.
