This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9x9wn802ko
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tight three-way race in Irish general election, RTÉ exit poll suggests | Tight three-way race in Irish general election, RTÉ exit poll suggests |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| An exit poll in the Republic of Ireland suggests that Sinn Féin has 21.1% of first preference votes with Fine Gael having 21%, making the result of the general election too close to call. | An exit poll in the Republic of Ireland suggests that Sinn Féin has 21.1% of first preference votes with Fine Gael having 21%, making the result of the general election too close to call. |
| The poll indicates Fianna Fáil has 19.5% of first preference votes. | The poll indicates Fianna Fáil has 19.5% of first preference votes. |
| It also suggests that 20% of the second preference votes goes to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with Sinn Féin at 17%. | |
| The results were published at 22:00 local time and was carried out by Ipsos B&A for RTÉ, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin. It has a margin of error of 1.4%. | |
| Polls closed at 22:00 local time in The Republic of Ireland's election | |
| Results also indicate that the Green Party first preference support stands at 4%; Labour at 5%; the Social Democrats at 5.8%; People Before Profit-Solidarity at 3.1%; and Independents at 12.7%, Independent Ireland 2.2% with others on 1.9%. | |
| The poll is based on 5,018 completed interviews that were carried out immediately after people voted at polling stations in 43 constituencies across the Republic of Ireland. | The poll is based on 5,018 completed interviews that were carried out immediately after people voted at polling stations in 43 constituencies across the Republic of Ireland. |
| In the 2020 Irish general election, Sinn Féin secured 24.53% first preference votes, while Fianna Fáil obtained 22.18% and Fine Gael got 20.86%. | In the 2020 Irish general election, Sinn Féin secured 24.53% first preference votes, while Fianna Fáil obtained 22.18% and Fine Gael got 20.86%. |
| The results from this poll set the scene for the official counting of votes which starts at 09:00 local time on Saturday and is expected to continue across the weekend. | The results from this poll set the scene for the official counting of votes which starts at 09:00 local time on Saturday and is expected to continue across the weekend. |
| 'Could be a challenge' | |
| Analysis by BBC News NI's political editor, Enda McClafferty | |
| Exit polls are far from an exact science, but they are a good indicator of where the votes go. | |
| In 2020, it correctly predicted a close battle between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin and in the end, only three seats separated the parties | |
| If the exit poll is right this time, then Sinn Féin will be pleased with its performance. | |
| Coming in slightly ahead of Fine Gael, but short of the almost 25% Sinn Féin secured in 2020. | |
| The party limped into the election campaign of the back of a series of damaging controversies and poor European and local council elections in June when it secured just 12% of the vote. | |
| Over the three-week campaign, it managed to recover the lost ground with the promise of bringing change. | |
| But delivering on that pledge could be a challenge if the exit poll is right. | |
| It suggests Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fáil on 19.5% could return to the government benches, with the help of two smaller parties and some independents. | |
| While Sinn Féin’s path to power is more challenging as it had hoped to lead a coalition of left-leaning parties, it may struggle to get the numbers with the performance of those smaller parties. | |
| But the true picture will only become clear when all results are in. | |
| Irish President Michael D Higgins cast his vote alongside wife Sabina at St Mary’s Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin | |
| It is possible that some of the 43 constituencies may not have a final result until the beginning of next week. | It is possible that some of the 43 constituencies may not have a final result until the beginning of next week. |
| Successful candidates are known as Teachtaí Dála (TDs) and there are 174 seats to fill, but the Ceann Comhairle (speaker) is returned automatically. | Successful candidates are known as Teachtaí Dála (TDs) and there are 174 seats to fill, but the Ceann Comhairle (speaker) is returned automatically. |
| More than 680 candidates competed for the remain 173 seats. | More than 680 candidates competed for the remain 173 seats. |
| The number of seats required for an overall majority is 88 but no single party is fielding enough candidates to win a majority on its own. | The number of seats required for an overall majority is 88 but no single party is fielding enough candidates to win a majority on its own. |
| The first meeting of the new Dáil (lower house of parliament) is on 18 December but it is unlikely coalition negotiations will have finished by then. | The first meeting of the new Dáil (lower house of parliament) is on 18 December but it is unlikely coalition negotiations will have finished by then. |
| A government will be officially formed when the Dáil passes a vote to install a new Taoiseach. | |
| Few expect the new government to be in place before 2025. | |
| There will be coverage of the election results on BBC Two NI at 18:00 GMT on Saturday and on BBC One NI on Sunday Politics at 10:00 GMT. | There will be coverage of the election results on BBC Two NI at 18:00 GMT on Saturday and on BBC One NI on Sunday Politics at 10:00 GMT. |
| The BBC News NI website will be running a live page with the latest updates over the weekend. | The BBC News NI website will be running a live page with the latest updates over the weekend. |