02/03/2011

Sinn Fein 'Winners' As Dáil Count Completed

All the Irish Republic's politicians now know their fate as the counting of votes in the general election has ended - with Sinn Fein making massive gains.

Fine Gael won 76 seats; the Labour Party, 37; Fianna Fail, 20; Independents, 14; Sinn Fein, 14, and Others, five. The Green Party won no seats.

With talks between Fine Gael and the Labour Party on the formation of a coalition government set to resume again on Wednesday - with negotiating teams from the two parties already meeting for around nine hours on Tuesday - the other big winner has been shown to be Sinn Fein (SF) - it has tripled the number of seats it has in the Dáil.

SF's Brian Stanley was elected in Laois-Offaly on the thirteenth count bringing the party's total number of elected TDs to 14.

Former West Belfast MP, Gerry Adams had already romped home - topping the poll in Louth after the party President gave up his Westminster seat.

Mr Adams secured his seat in Louth on the first count with more than 15,000 votes in his first bid for election success in the Republic.

The declaration followed his dramatic decision to resign the West Belfast Westminster seat he first won in 1983, and to step down from the Northern Ireland Assembly, in order to enter southern Irish politics.

Meanwhile, a recount of votes concluded on Wednesday morning in Galway, with Fine Gael's Sean Kyne elected as the final TD of the 31st Dail after a challenge in Galway West.

The recount was requested by Independent candidate, Catherine Connolly after she finished 17 votes behind Mr Kyne in the race for the final seat.

The conclusion of the count also means the other successful candidates in Galway West have been formally declared elected.

Now, talks between Fine Gael and Labour on forming a new coalition government in the Republic are set to intensify as the two main parties strive to crack a deal have named their negotiation teams.

Taoiseach-designate and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will meet his Labour counterpart Eamon Gilmore again as the two sides ratchet up the talks.

The parties have set a weekend deadline to form a stable pact and programme for government.

(BMcC/GK)

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