Time for a tidy up...

As the last results are counted up, and before the political analysis begins, I wanted to post a link to a collection of all the election posters for readers in Britain - such a different image to elections over here - take a look here on flickr

Counting underway for 30th Dail

Counting has now started across Ireland for the election of the 30th Dáil.

RTÉ has reported a surge in voter turnout, with weather conditions much better than polling day five years ago and the final turnout expected to be higher than the level of 63% in several constituencies. Even in Cork North-West where 73.36% was 2002's best turnout, there are early indications that turnout increased this year.

An RTÉ exit poll suggests that Fianna Fáil will win almost exactly the same share of the vote as in 2002, but that Fine Gael will increase its vote by around 4%. The poll shows decreases in support for Labour and the PDs, with the Greens and Sinn Féin expected to take new seats. However the exit poll refers only to first preference votes, with the election decided on transfers.

Despite repeated assertions that they will not enter into coalition with Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil are likely to fall short of the target needed and their coalition partners, the PDs, may not be able to win enough to stay in government. Depending on the number needed, Fianna Fáil may have to seek support from elsewhere. Labour's coalition with Fine Gael complicates matters for them and makes a straightforward deal with FF more difficult. And if Sinn Féin have enough to keep FF in power then Bertie Ahern will be aware that the public is not as opposed as he has personally claimed to be. Despite Sinn Féin failing to win many transfers in the past, it is likely that more Fianna Fáil and Labour voters will be willing to transfer to them this time.

Sean Donnelly has made a prediction for electionsireland.org whilst reports will come in through the day at irishelection.com

And they're off...

Polls are open in the Irish general election in what commentators expect to be a nailbiting result with a variety of coalitions still possible after the seats have been divided up.

Read www.irishelection.com for regular updates.

Accusations and gaffes from main parties as campaigning ends in confusion

The last few days of campaigning in the Irish general election have ended in chaos as parties have jockeyed for the last few votes.

The Irish Independent reports that Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has hinted he may be prepared to go into government with Bertie Ahern to keep Fianna Fáil from relying on Sinn Féin's support in power. Until the results are out however, Labour is formally committed to its coalition deal with Fine Gael.

And yesterday was a bad day for Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil as Ahern admitted his claims on Fine Gael tax policies were incorrect and was found quoting different figures to other FF ministers on the cost to the taxpayer of 'co-locating' private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals.

Ahern was also adamant that he would not form a government with Sinn Féin but the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, while also ruling out a deal, said that Fianna Fáil could form a minority government if Sinn Féin gave it unsolicited support. Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness however said he had "no doubt" that the Taoiseach would seek Sinn Féin's support to form a coalition government if the election resulted in a hung Dáil.

And the Labour Party today admitted that mystery surrounded the appearance of an election poster for its Galway West candidate TD Michael D Higgins in the main street of Quimper in Brittany.

However the story on the BBC website shows the different side to the Celtic Tiger from the stories of new town centre shopping developments. The report says not everyone is benefitting and in Laytown north of Dublin there are no facilities for youngsters in the run-down withthe steel doors of a disused library firmly shut, covered in graffiti. There has been massive housing development for commuters forced out of Dublin by rising costs, but it has brought only rapidly-constructed houses in what were recently fields, with no community centre or built leisure or social facilities. No new school has been built, meaning children starting at Laytown primary school last year came to class in shifts, some starting in the morning, with others in the afternoon.

The new government needs an injection of social responsibility and the prioritisation of public services to support the communities the Celtic Tiger is neglecting. Whichever of the main parties is elected, it is likely to require a coalition partner to ensure its accepts the responsibility of a social agenda.