Ireland Votes 2007: Update

Well, the results so far are looking promising for Bertie Ahern who looks like gaining a third term as the Taoiseach. Currently the state of the parties is...

Fianna Fail - 54
Fine Gael - 25
Labour - 10
Green Party - 3
Sinn Fein - 2
Progressive Democrats - 1
Others - 2

Ireland Votes 2007: The Taoiseach is Re-elected

In the Dublin Central constituency, they are on their 3rd count, but elected after the first count was the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, so he is safe and at the moment,looks like returning to the equivalent position of Prime Minister, after this election.

Nearby in Dublin South East, another Progressive Democrat TD, Michael McDowell has been ousted, and he has announced that he is leaving politics as a result. The polarisation of Irish Politics continues, as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael gain the seats that smaller parties would normally have gotten. It looks like Ireland is returning to what was known as the "2 and a half party system".

Ireland Votes 2007: Story So Far...

Well, I'm joining the coverage late, due to having to do other work today but the story so far seems to be that the major parties are doing well and the minor parties not so well.

All indications are pointing to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, gaining a record third term in office.

At the moment, Fianna Fail have 26 seats, Fine Gael have 5, the Labour Party (nothing to do with Tony Blair) have 3 seats, whilst Progressive Democrats, Sinn Fein and the Green Party all have one seat each, as well as one 'other' party. I'll try and find out if that is an Independent or not as I go on.

Coverage continues on RTE One, if you can recieve it, or live online at www.rte.ie/live/ . In the UK, RTE's coverage can be seen on BBC Parliament. There is also radio coverage on RTE Radio 1, and if you can understand Gaelic, also on TG4 and RTE RnaG.