Barry Andrews confident of 'positive' result for Fianna Fail

Incumbent MEP Barry Andrews, who is set to top the poll in the Dublin constituency, said the result is “positive” for Fianna Fail.

The first count is set to be announced after 10pm, however none of the candidates is set to be elected in the first round.

Vote counting in the European elections will begin again on Monday morning.

“There is certainly positive information about the first count,” Mr Andrews said.

“So we should have it (first count) (soon) and put us all out of our misery.

“It’s a long time since the polls closed, it feels that way since Friday night.

“It’s very positive for Fianna Fail. We are clearly competitive in a four-seat constituency in Dublin.

“That means we should be competitive in four-seat constituencies across Dublin with the general election not too far away, so we should be able to really increase our complement of TDs in the Dail.”

Mr Andrews said it has been a “huge challenge” to get re-elected in Dublin.

Speaking at the RDS count centre in Dublin on Sunday night, he added: “I think if I do get re-elected, it will be the first time in 25 years that a Fianna Fail candidate will get re-elected in the Dublin European constituency.

“It was a really difficult campaign but I tried to present a very positive campaign, tried to present a very positive message, a pro-EU message and I think people really responded to that at a time where there is increasing ideological fervour on the extremes of the political spectrum.

“So I think that resonated with me.”

Earlier, Independent Ireland’s Niall Boylan said he was “hopeful” he will take the third or fourth seat in Dublin.

The former radio presenter appears to be in contention for a seat following strong polling in parts of Dublin.

Mr Boylan said he would prefer to take the third seat to avoid a long and “nervous” wait.

There are 23 candidates vying for four seats in the Dublin consistency.

Two candidates, including Mr Andrews and Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty, are expected to comfortably win a seat each.

There are around six candidates who will go head to head to claim the remaining two seats.

They include sitting MEPs Clare Daly and Ciaran Cuffe, as well as Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain, People Before Profit TD Brid Smith, Sinn Fein Senator Lynn Boylan and Mr Boylan.

Mr Boylan, a former DJ who has taken a hard stance on migration issues, said that people see him as a protest candidate.

He said that while there are issues where he will not be able to effect change, including healthcare, we will want to “embarrass the Irish Government because I am a loudmouth”.

“When you say a protest candidate, I think there is part of that,” he said.

“I think people want something different.

“Maybe it is a protest against the Government or against the establishment in general.

“You say, ‘Can I do anything?’ Of course I can. There’s a lot we could do.

“When it comes to housing, people say I don’t have competence in Europe and the EU when it comes to housing.

“There is.

“This is Airbnb directives coming in.

“We can stop hedge funds coming in and buying lots of properties.

“There’s also a commission being set up for affordable housing as well.

“But (can I do anything) with healthcare? Probably not, that’s a national issue.

“But I would call the Irish Government out. Me being the type of person that I am, I’m very outspoken.

“I’ve been no stranger to getting in the news over the last 30 years and I’d be no stranger to doing it now.”

Meanwhile, Mr O Riordain said his party is feeling good.

“We’ve had a good day in the country,” he said.

Asked if he is confident he will take a seat, Mr O Riordain said: “I don’t know. I really don’t.

“The tallies we saw yesterday were very incomplete and they’re only partial tallies from certain boxes, but we are not surprised really because the reception we’re getting around the county was very positive.

“People were connecting with me on issues that they had told me about, from drugs, education, to football.

“There were various different reasons why people were wanting to chat to me about our campaign.

“We tried to be positive, it wasn’t a government campaign.

“Obviously there’s a strong centre left which is a progressive vote in Dublin and I think those of us in the centre need to start thinking about that and strategising around that.

“That block of votes can be utilised to potentially lead a government in the future.”