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Summary

  • Sinn Féin won the most number of first preference votes, with 24.5%

  • Many counts have yet to be completed, so final results will not be known until later

  • Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she hopes to form a government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael

Live Reporting

Luke Sproule, Leanna Byrne and Amy Stewart

  1. 'People associate Fine Gael with the status quo'

    Paschal Donohoe, minister for finance and Fine Gael candidate in Dublin Central, said that for the party to win a third term in office would be a difficult political feat.

    He was Fine Gael's director of elections.

    "The first thing we have to do is reflect on the message the Irish people have asked us to do," he said.

    He added that many people in Ireland associated Fine Gael with the status quo.

    Paschal Donohoe¸é°ÕÉ

  2. Leo Varadkar is elected

    Taoiseach Leo Varadkar shares a bag of popcorn with his partner Matt BarrettLiam McBurney/PA Wire

    Leo Varadkar was elected on the fifth count.

  3. 'A confidence and supply agreement is unlikely'

    Simon Coveney¸é°ÕÉ

    Simon Coveney, Tánaiste (deputy PM) and minister for foreign affairs, is on track to keep his seat.

    He admitted that it was not a good result for his party nationwide.

    But, he said, Fine Gael would not speak to Sinn Féin and that it is going to take many weeks to form a government.

    "It is very unlikely we will see the next government supported by a confidence and supply agreement," said Mr Coveney.

    There has been a confidence and supply agreement for the past four years, with Fianna Fáil supporting Fine Gael.

  4. The party line

    Tánaiste (deputy PM) and minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney seems to be offering an olive branch to Fianna Fáil.

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  5. Any Simpsons fans?

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  6. How things have unfolded so far

    There's still a long way to go before the exact number of seats for each party is known, but Sinn Féin has been performing very strongly and has topped the poll in a number of areas.

    Our Ireland Correspondent Chris Page looks at how things have unfolded so far today.

  7. Minister loses seat

    Shane Ross, who has served as an independent TD since 2011, has said he will not be re-elected.

    Mr Ross was one of the independents who supported the Fine Gael government and has been minister of transport, tourism and sport since 2016.

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  8. A 'forced marriage would not result in a good government'

    The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says it seems clear that this is an election which is going to result in a three-party system in the Dáil.

    He said this is going to make it challenging to form a government.

    Sinn Féin's Paul Donnelly topped the poll in Mr Varadkar's constituency Dublin West and Mr Varadkar congratulated him.

    Leo VaradkarRTE

    He said he still believed it was possible for Fine Gael to be part of that government.

    His party has consistently ruled out forming a coalition with Sinn Féin and said this was still his position.

    That is “in large part because of their policies in relation to crime, tax and the way the economy and society should be run and also our deep concerns about their democratic structures.

    "We don’t believe a coalition between Sinn Féin and Fine Gael is a viable option. I have an immense amount of respect for the people of Dublin West who voted for them but a forced marriage would not result in a good government."

  9. Ruled out coalition

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  10. The state of play so far

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  11. Cheers in RDS

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  12. Mary Lou McDonald elected

    Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has been elected on the first count in Dublin Central.

    Mary Lou McDonaldCharles McQuillan/Getty Images

  13. A good day for Sinn Féin so far

    Mary Lou McDonaldCharles McQuillan/Getty Images

    Of the 16 constituencies that have announced results so far, 11 have been topped by Sinn Féin candidates.

  14. A break in our coverage

    If you’re watching our coverage from ¸é°ÕÉ, it will be back at 18:40.

    But you can continue following full coverage on this live page - we aren't taking a break.

  15. 'We won't be working with Sinn Féin'

    Eoghan Murphy, Fine Gael candidate in Dublin north-west and minister for housing, said housing and homelessness were major issues in the campaign.

    He said none of the other parties had new ideas to solve the problems.

    "We didn't come forward with populist proposals that would damage supply," he said.

    He repeated that Fine Gael would not be working with Sinn Féin.

    Eoghan Murphy¸é°ÕÉ

  16. Was Brexit a non-issue?

    European Affairs Minister and Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee looks set to keep her seat.

    According to the exit poll, only 1% of voters cared about Brexit as an election issue.

    Ms McEntee said: "I'd like to think the vote that I've gotten reflects on the work I've done on Brexit".

    Helen McEntee¸é°ÕÉ

  17. 'A good green team'

    Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said he hopes his party can put together "a good green team".

    He has just been re-elected in Dublin Bay South.

    He said his party wants to "talk to everyone".

    "I think it's very difficult to see what kind of government will be formed," he said.

    Eamon Ryan¸é°ÕÉ

  18. First seat for the Green Party

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  19. Sinn Féin candidate tops poll in Varadkar's constituency

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    Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar is still set to be elected, but Paul Donnelly has knocked him off the top of the poll.

  20. 'Excluding Sinn Féin would be wrong'

    Mary Lou McDonald said she hopes to form a government.