McDowell resigns from politics as smaller parties squeezed

A final week of intense speculation over which coalition might form a government has seen a surge in support for both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with all smaller parties being squeezed.

Whilst Fine Gael may hit 50 seats, the possibility remains that Fianna Fáil could form a majority without the need of any coalition partner.
The squeeze of all the smaller parties has seen the Socialist Party's Joe Higgins and Sinn Féin's Sean Crowe lose their seats but the main story - and the highlight for the left on a poor night - is the decision of PD leader to leave politics for good after losing his seat in Dublin South-East. He announced on RTE that 'My period in public life as a public representative is over.'

McDowell's departure is good news in particular for all those who celebrate multi-culturalism and the defence civil liberties. The Bills produced with McDowell as Justice Minister have included biometric ID cards and the prevention of access to the judicial review system for asylum seekers who fail to get refugee status.

Sinn Féin are still scrapping to win the final seat in Dublin Central and Dublin North West, with Mary Lou McDonald and Dessie Ellis but Larry O'Toole and Pearse Doherty appear to have just missed out. The party's vote has marginally increased but are set to make only the smallest gains - if any - and could have less seats than the Greens despite a higher national share of the vote. The two main parties tight control of their supporters votes in Ireland's multi-member constituencies, and their greater willingness to transfer to the Greens over SF will limit the seats that the polling can translate into.

The left's vote overall has held up, but has failed to break into the huge conservative block of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The surprise for the left is that the SWP's Richard Boyd Barrett may take the final seat in Dun Laoghaire.

For more results see www.politics.ie