Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said it is a matter for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to decide whether to continue with the Confidence and Supply Agreement.
He said the Government is facing a challenging summer in relation to Brexit, which is likely to shape October’s budget and that a number of Dáil by-elections will be needed in the autumn.
Mr Coveney was speaking as the second day of counting continues for the local elections.
The sorting of votes in the European and Local Elections, as well as the divorce referendum, began yesterday morning.
STATE OF PLAY #le19 - 541out of 949 seats filled@FineGael 140@fiannafailparty 171@sinnfeinireland 37@labour 33@solidarityie + @pb4p 4@socdems 9@greenparty_ie 34@independents4_C 3
— Conor McMorrow (@ConorMcMorrow) May 26, 2019
Independents 106
Others 4
This weekend 949 council seats will be filled across 166 local electoral areas.
First count results have come in from over 100 local electoral areas and by 10pm this evening, 751 of the 949 council seats had been filled.
The referendum on divorce has been passed by a large majority with a final result of 82.1% voting in favour, and 17.9% voting against.
The declaration was made at Dublin Castle in the early hours of this morning.
Counting to fill the 13 European Parliament seats is taking place today. The first European results are expected to be announced after 10pm tonight once voting in all EU countries is complete.
The Northern Ireland EU Elections count will begin tomorrow.
In addition, voters in Cork City, Limerick and Waterford were asked if they want a directly elected mayor. Those counts are due to take place tomorrow.
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Referendum on divorce passes
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In Dublin City Council, recounts have been called in the Artane-Whitehall and Kimmage Rathmines local electoral areas.
So far Fine Gael has won 24% of the first preference vote. Fianna Fáil is on 26% - putting it on course to retain its position as the largest party of local government .
Although counts are still under way, parties are already assessing the wider political implications.
Highs, lows and lots of reflection as the dust settles on the local and European elections. @MichealLehane reports #LE2019 #Elections2019 pic.twitter.com/u2B9Pm1P5I
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 26, 2019
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has acknowledged that the wind is against his party, which, he said, is on course to lose some very valuable councillors.
Within Cabinet there is a view emerging among some ministers that a reshuffle might be in order.
Last year, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was open to a summer reshuffle of his ministers.
But in recent months he said Brexit was the priority and appeared to rule out such a move.
Mr Coveney said three or four Dáil by-elections will be needed, suggesting these could happen in October.
The Green party's success continues - by 10pm this evening, it had secured 44 seats.
The Labour Party leader has said that Green Wave has impacted on the labour vote.
Brendan Howlin said that the Greens "took votes that would normally come to us", and that people wanted to send a Green message.
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However, Mr Howlin said he was "very confident" that Labour will gain 20 new seats in the Local Elections, and that it was "heartening" that his party was building in areas where Labour needs to win back Dáil seats, like Wicklow, Waterford, Louth and Westmeath.
The tradition of political dynasties in Irish politics also continues. Máirín McGrath, daughter of Independent TD Mattie, was elected today in Tipperary.
Ireland's newest political party Aontú has won its first seat south of the border with first-time Cavan County Council candidate Sarah O'Reilly topping the poll.
