Counting has been completed after the 2024 Irish general election
Fianna Fáil has the most seats with 48, Fine Gael has 38 and Sinn Féin has 39
A return of an administration involving Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael now looks very likely
Sinn Féin insists it will still be involved in coalition talks
Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, and Fine Gael's Simon Harris were all re-elected on Saturday
Turnout for the election was 59.7% - the lowest in more than a century
Earlier we reported a full recount was looking likely in Louth but it turns out that has been avtered.
The deputy returning officer at the count centre confirmed the count can continue after Count 13 was looked at again.
So no need for the vote counters in Dundalk to go all the way back to the start and things will pick up where they left off a couple of hours ago.
Lili Busby
BBC News NI
Here's everything you need to know about how counting in the Irish election is going:
Lili Busby
BBC News NI
Image source, PA MediaFianna Fail's Micheál Martin, Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald and Fine Gael Simon Harris
With almost 100 of the Dáil's 174 seats filled, attention can turn to what comes next - who will form the next Irish government.
The previous government was formed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. With Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on track to again be two of the largest parties - but short of an outright majority - there is belief they will form a coalition to return to government.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said that whatever group the parties negotiate with "it will mean very detailed work will have to be done in terms of a programme for government".
Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he was confident his party will have a "very significant role to play in the years ahead" and that he was "cautiously optimistic and excited".
Sinn Féin's path to government looks more difficult, with Craig Hughes, political editor of the Irish Daily Mail, telling BBC News NI's Kevin Sharkey that their only way in is if talks collapse between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that when all the votes are counted the party "will be talking to people about the possibilities of government".
No matter what happens, don't expect a quick resolution - it took four months of negotiations for a government to be formed after the 2020 election.
Polling company Ipsos B&A has blamed the lower than expected election turnout for its exit poll, which underestimated Fianna Fáil and overestimated Sinn Féin's vote beyond the margin of error.
As we said earlier, the first preference votes were different to the exit poll, in which estimates were outside the margin of error of plus or minus 1.4%.
Kieran O'Leary, from the firm, pointed to the low turnout of 59.7% for skewing the data and affecting its model.
He said there were anecdotal reports of a higher decline in turnout among young voters than among older voters.
He added it was also possible the decline was more severe in urban areas than in rural areas.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was looking very unlikely we'd have a full result tonight, but news of counting being suspended in Louth has pretty much confirmed it.
A recount of count 13 has been ongoing for three hours at the Dundalk count centre, after a request by Aontú candidate Michael O'Dowd was granted.
According to RTÉ, it's understood it's over Mr O'Dowd reaching the threshold of votes necessary to have his election expenses reimbursed.
No candidates have yet been elected in the constituency - and the wait will go on.
Lili Busby
BBC News NI
The official turnout for the election is 59.7%, which marks the lowest turnout since 1923.
That was an incredibly tumultuous time in Irish history - the Irish Civil War ended months before the election was held and it was the first election in what then known as the Irish Free State, the nation that was formed after Ireland secured its independence from Britain.
The civil war was fought between pro and anti-Treaty factions - the Treaty being the arrangement between Ireland and Britain that secured independence but also led to the formation of Northern Ireland.
Many of the republican TDs (the anti-treaty side), were still imprisoned during and after the election. They were committed to not participation in the Dáil if elected.
Which is all to say that election took place in a time of great change and made a low turnout understandable. This time around there'll be plenty of analysis as to the reason why the turnout has fallen below 60%.
Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI
You'd be forgiven for thinking Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in charge of picking the Labour Party's candidates.
As Oisin on X has pointed out, external, there has been a Sherlock and a Moriarty - but sadly no Watson running for the party.
Labour are hoping that they won't be in The Valley of Fear, external by the time votes are fully counted.
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
Image source, PA MediaAs the complex counting continues, unpredictability has given way to clarity in Ireland’s election.
It looks like the country has bucked the trend across the world, in a year of numerous elections, by putting the outgoing centrist government parties in prime position to go back into power.
There is a now frontrunner to be prime minister, known as the taoiseach – Michéal Martin of Fianna Fáil (pictured above).
His party has won the biggest number of first preference votes, and is on course to win the most seats for the second election in a row.
You can read more of Chris Page's analysis here.
In the immortal words of Bon Jovi - whoooa oh, we're halfway there.
More than 32 hours after counting began, more than half - 88 - of the Dáil's seats have been filled.
It came after Labour's Mark Wall and Sinn Féin's Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh were both elected in Kildare South.
Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI
We still have about half the seats to go - and already the possibility of a full recount is rearing its head in Louth.
The deputy returning officer is due to make a decision as to whether there will be a full recount, after granting a request by Aontú candidate Michael O'Dowd for votes in one count to be looked at again.
According to RTÉ, the reason doesn't relate to O'Dowd getting a seat but rather reaching the threshold of votes needed to have his election expenses reimbursed.
Chloe Gibson
BBC News NI
A wedding ring that was surprisingly found in a County Donegal ballot box has been reunited with its owner.
The man’s ring fell into the ballot box as he cast a vote at Scoil Eoghain in Moville on Friday.
It has now safely returned to its rightful owner and was delivered by Ali Farren, a local councillor, who said staff were “up to high doh” after being notified.
“Everyone is over the moon that we were able to find and return the ring, not least Aaron the owner. He and his wife are both delighted."
Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI
Image source, RTÉIreland's Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, who is the former leader of the Green Party, says his party will "rebuild".
Speaking to RTÉ, he says: "You come back, I'm absolutely convinced we can and will. It's not easy but it's doable."
The Green Party were part of the last Irish government, in coalition with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. In the 2020 election, they won 12 seats and Ryan became environment minister.
So far the Green Party have not won a seat and it is anticipated it will suffer significant losses.
Ryan, who was not standing for re-election due to retirement, says there is "space in Irish politics for green political perspective".
However, he adds that the party's coalition partners in government, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil "turned against the Greens".
Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
Image source, ReutersGerry Hutch may feel robbed after being hotly tipped to secure a seat in Dublin Central but he didn’t appear sore about his defeat when he arrived at the count centre.
Besieged by journalists, the gangland figure made his way through the hall to congratulate Labour’s Marie Sherlock who pipped him to the final seat.
He is known as a man of few words but when asked by BBC News NI if he planned to run again for election he said he would.
“I have been running all my life, so yes I would go again,” he said.
Hutch also said he wasn’t surprised by receiving more than 3,000 first preference votes.
“I expected more to be honest,” he added.
He was challenged about his criminal past but refused to answer any questions.
After shaking hands with Marie Sherlock he left the centre surrounded by journalists and ended up running away from the building to escape the media attention.
So where did go wrong for the man poised to be the story of the Irish general election?
The key moment came when Social Democratic candidate Gary Gannon got elected much earlier than expected.
That set in motion a series of transfers from eliminated candidates, which allowed Sherlock to close the gap and eventually win.
But, as one tally expert suggested, it could easily have turned in favour of Hutch and while there was a narrow path to victory for Sherlock, no one expected her to find it.
Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI
The first preference votes have all been counted - and while it's still tight between the three main parties, it's a slightly different picture compared to Friday night's exit poll.
Sinn Féin were shown to have the most first preference votes in that poll, with 21.1%, ahead of Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fáil on 19.5%.
But will all the votes tallied, that order has flipped - Fianna Fáil has polled 21.9%, Fine Gael has 20.8% and Sinn Féin has 19%.
In the 2020 election Sinn Féin had the highest percentage with 24.5, Fianna Fáil had 22.2% and Fine Gael were on 20.9%.
Exit polls, of course, do have a margin of error for a reason and in Ireland's electoral system, first preferences do not necessarily translate into seats.
Adam Mandeville
BBC News NI in Dublin
Earlier, I spoke to several people at the Charleville Lawn Tennis Club in Phibsborough - it's a relatively more well-off area of the Dublin Central constituency. During a break in play, one man told me that he found the election results so far “depressing”.“People aren’t seeing that climate change is the biggest issue out there”, he told me.However, not all of those on the courts shared his view.“I thought it [the election] was good. I’m glad Sinn Féin didn’t get in," one woman explained.
When the conversation turned to controversial candidate Gerry Hutch, the assembled players were far more united.
“He doesn’t stand for anything”, said one man, while another felt it was “craziness” that the convicted criminal was in contention.
Image source, ReutersAfter being one of the most hotly talked about stories of this election, Gerry Hutch has officially lost out in the constituency of Dublin Central.
At one point he had a 2,000 vote lead on Labour's Marie Sherlock, but she overtook him after a series of transfers from eliminated Green Party and Fianna Fáil candidates.
Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald, the Social Democrat Gary Gannon and Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe all confirmed their seats earlier in the process.
After Donohoe's seat was confirmed earlier today, the surplus from his votes was enough for Sherlock to secure the last seat.
Lili Busby
BBC News NI
If you're just joining us, counting is continuing across Ireland's constituencies. Here's a round-up of what's been happening:
Aoife Moore
BBC News NI Dublin Reporter
Gerry Hutch's chances of winning the final seat in Dublin Central have waned.
The controversial candidate was tipped to win the fourth seat in a nail-biting fight with Marie Sherlock from the Labour Party.
However, the election of Social Democrat Gary Gannon saw Sherlock pull tightly in behind Hutch.
He at one point held a 2,000 vote lead on Sherlock - however just 124 votes are between them as Paschal Donohoe's surplus are distributed. His votes are the last ones to be allocated before we have a final result.
Lili Busby
BBC News NI
Image source, PA MediaBacik hopes to reach out to party leaders of the Green party and the social democrats or other groups who are "serious about bringing change, building houses, disability services, delivering for children who have no homes."
"Thrilled and honoured" - that's the reaction of Labour leader Ivana Bacik to her re-election.
"We have had a really positive weekend, for Labour there is more to come," Bacik told RTÉ.
"We will be seeing an increased number of Labour TDs (members of the Irish parliament) back. I'm delighted our message of consecutive change has had resonance with people."
In the 2020 election, Labour won six seats - so far they have won two but are in the race for more and have marginally increased their percentage of first preference votes since 2020 from 4.4% to 4.7%.
Bacik said she hopes to reach out to leaders of smaller parties, such as the Green Party and Social Democrats, who are "serious about bringing change" about building a "left bloc" in the next Dáil.
"If we want to achieve change must be able to deliver through government."
Daniel Logan
BBC News NI
Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe has taken the third seat in Dublin Central, with the final seat now down to independent candidate Gerard Hutch and Labour's Marie Sherlock.
Donohoe, a veteran of the Irish cabinet, was in his second stint as public expenditure minister before the election was called and previously served as the minister of transport, tourism and sport and finance minister.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Social Democrat Gary Gannon are the other two to have been elected in the constituency.
Eyes now turn to Hutch and Sherlock as they wait to see which one of them will take the last seat, with Hutch in the lead by just 124 votes.
Donohoe's surplus will now be distributed between the two candidates.
