Live Election Results: Leo Varadkar a 'happy blueshirt' as Micheál ...

Welcome to the Business Post’s Live Election News section. We’re here all day to keep you up to date on the latest developments in the local and European elections.

6pm Counting to continue into the night

We are signing off on our live election coverage for the evening, but we will be back in the morning to pick up on the results of local counts going late into tonight and begin our coverage of European counts as they get under way.

In the meantime, read our political correspondent Conal Thomas’ analysis of how today went.

5.26pm Micheál Martin has a bee in his bonnet ... about polling

Micheál Martin, the Fianna Fáil leader, has said the elections today raise “serious questions” about the methodology of pollsters.

He says Fianna Fáil’s performance calls into question the accuracy of the polls, adding: “I think it’s a real lesson to the commentariat – stop presuming, based on... these polls, what the outcome will be,” he tells Newstalk.

“You might have picked up a certain sense of frustration on my part.”

Martin also says that he thinks the government will go its full term.

5.19pm ‘Far from a wipeout’ for the Greens, says Eamon Ryan

Eamon Ryan, the Green Party leader, has said the day has been a “good one” for Fianna Fáil.

“Some people might have predicted a wipeout, but it’s far from that,” he said. “We are holding our own, and in some areas a really strong performance.

He hailed the party’s performance in local elections in Dublin, adding: “All over the country we have people in with a good chance ... but it has been a good one for the Green Party so far.”

5.15pm Leo Varadkar a ‘happy blueshirt’ as Fine Gael vote holds steady

Leo Varadkar, the former Fine Gael leader, has said he is pleased with his party’s potential performance in the local elections.

“Happy enough today – happy blueshirt, you might say,” Varadkar told Newstalk. “Numbers are still coming in, so it’s early days yet but it looks like we’re up in Dublin.”

He added that he thinks Fianna Fáil will be the “biggest losers” in the election.

5.12pm Sinn Féin’s Doolan still ‘in with a chance’ for Europe seat

Daithí Doolan, a Sinn Féin candidate in the Dublin European elections, has said he thinks he still has a shot of taking a seat.

“Until every vote is counted I'm in with a chance,” the councillor said, adding that campaigning for Europe had taken him “way out of my comfort zone”.

Doolan said he was proud of the work he has done over the campaign, alongside Lynn Boylan, his running mate.

“Unlike other parties Lynn Boylan and I like each other,” he said in remarks reported by RTÉ, adding that Sinn Féin has campaigned on politics of “progressive, positive change”.

5.07pm Aodhán Ó Ríordáin ‘happy to be in the mix’ in Dublin MEP election

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour’s candidate the Dublin European elections, has said his party has had “great traction” with its message over its campaign.

Across Dublin, he says, “everywhere we went it was great traction with our message, and our positivity, and that’s what we’re bringing into the count”.

“We’ll see what happens, but we’re happy to be in the mix. It’ll be a long couple of days, but we’ve already had some great successes, so it’s going to be a great few days.”

Ivana Bacik, the party leader, has also said the party’s councillors have been to the “forefront” of its campaign and hailed its results in local elections.

Ó Ríordáin, you’ll note, was keen to get some camera time in this video posted by Louise Burne, political correspondent at the Irish Mirror...

4.46pm ‘The Irish people know best’ – Stephen Donnelly

Stephen Donnelly, the minister for health and Wicklow TD, has said early indicators suggest that the government parties have had a “good outing” in the elections.

At the Wicklow count centre, Donnelly acknowledged a strong independent vote but pointed out that there were different types of independent candidates running.

“Some of the independents have been very strongly far right or certainly anti-immigration, and then there are other independents who would not be in that camp at all,” he said, in quotes reported by RTÉ.

Donnelly added that it was too early to say how Fianna Fáil has performed. “I think a lot of this is going to come down to second last seats and last seats, and a lot will depend on the transfers,” he said.

“I think it will be an interesting few days – the Irish people know best, so we'll have to wait and see what they've said.”

4.36pm John Moran looking increasingly strong in Limerick mayoral election tallies

Some 68 per cent of boxes have now been opened in the Limerick mayoral election, and independent John Moran is in the lead on 23 per cent.

Helen O’Donnell, a fellow independent, is on 16 per cent, after tallies that have remained relatively consistent throughout the day.

4.25pm Simon Harris tells internal FG group he is ‘so encouraged’ by party’s performance

Simon Harris has sent a missive to an internal Fine Gael group, telling members he is “so encouraged” by the party’s performance so far.

“While there’s still a very long way to go, I’m so encouraged at this stage to see so many of our candidates doing so well in urban Ireland, in rural Ireland – right across this country,” he said.

“This hasn’t happened by accident. It's happened to your hard work on the ground – to the grassroots members and supporters. It is the honour of my life to be your leader and to be the taoiseach of this country.”

4.15pm Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher says centre is holding

Billy Kelleher, the Fianna Fáil MEP in the south constituency, has predicted that there will be a “strong centrist vote expressed by Ireland”.

He adds that the “anti/migrant, anti-foreigner mantra … has been rejected” in quotes reported by RTÉ.

4.07pm Paschal Donohoe takes aim at Sinn Féin

With a Sinn Féin surge looking increasingly unlikely, Paschal Donohoe, the minister for public expenditure and Fine Gael TD, has had his say on what the situation means.

“This election is going to shatter the illusion that there's any sense of inevitability about Sinn Féin being in government,” he said, adding that the government intends to run its full term until March 2025.

“Overall, the portrayal that some have offered of Fine Gael as a tired party ... that narrative, that claim, has been shattered by the results that we’re seeing potentially coming through at the moment,” Donohoe said.

“And the other narrative – that there’s anything inevitable about Sinn Féin being in government – that’s been shattered, too.”

3.58pm Tallies from four Dublin local authorities coming in

We have reports of tallies from the four local authorities in Dublin – and it’s good news for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Less positive reading here for Sinn Féin.

With 100 per cent of boxes opened in the authorities, here’s how things stand.

3.48pm Kerry County Council returns first count, but nobody elected

In Kerry, we have the result of the first count in the Corca Dhuibne local electoral area, but no candidate has reached the quota.

Tommy Griffin, of Fine Gael, is top on 1,807 votes, but is – for now – short of the quota of 1,966.

Robert Brosnan of Sinn Féin is second on 1,429 votes while Michael O’Shea is on 1,388 votes.

Mike Kennedy, the Labour candidate, has been eliminated after finishing bottom of the poll with 508 votes. These will now be distributed.

3.45pm We have a councillor elected

Thomas Welby has become the first councillor elected in the 2024 local elections, taking a seat on Galway County Council for the Conamara North local electoral area.

Welby, an outgoing councillor, has topped the poll after the first count with 1,758 votes – exceeding the quota of 1,591.

3.33pm Latest tallies from Limerick mayoral election put John Moran comfortably ahead

Six hours in, and with 52 per cent of boxes open, John Moran is out ahead in the race to become Ireland’s first directly elected mayor.

Moran, an independent candidate, is on 22 per cent in the Limerick mayoral election, ahead of fellow independent Helen O’Donnell, who is on 17 per cent.

Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has a significant amount of mileage to make up, with 11 per cent in the tally, while Fianna Fáil’s Dee Ryan is on 15 per cent. Daniel Butler, the Fine Gael candidate, is on 12 per cent.

2.30pm Paschal Donohoe says general election still on for March 2025

Paschal Donohoe, the minister for public expenditure, has poured cold water on the idea of an early election even if the government parties perform well in the local and European elections this weekend. Speaking to RTÉ, the Fine Gael TD said he wanted the government to “finish our work”. He emphasised that the government had a mandate up to the end of March 2025, and in his view they would stick to that. Donohoe said he had been speaking with Taoiseach Simon Harris this morning and he agreed that the government should serve out its term.

Donohoe noted a trend he had picked up, which was that the three government parties were transferring strongly to each other.

He also said Fine Gael candidate Nina Carbery was polling well in Midlands North West, which he said was little surprise based on her abilities.

He said Simon Harris has added a new energy to Fine Gael, and it looked like it would be a good day for them as a result.

“I am hopeful, but all I can offer is hope,” Donohoe said.

1.40pm Green MEP seat at risk in Dublin

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has admitted that Ciaran Cuffe is in a dog fight to maintain his MEP seat in Dublin. Ryan said Cuffe was still “in with a chance” to win the last of the four Dublin seats, based on tallies.

Ryan said Cuffe’s seat was“always” at risk. “It's such a competitive field,” he said.

1pm The Green Party won’t be wiped out - Eamon Ryan

The Green Party won’t be “wiped out” at the local elections, Eamon Ryan has said, as counting got underway across the country on Saturday.

With Green councillors Michael Pidgeon and Claire Byrne likely to top the polls in their Dublin city electoral areas according to early tallies, the Green Party leader said he was “hopeful” of further gains across the country.

“We don’t know, it’s way too early,” Ryan said in response to how the Green Party would perform in the local elections overall.

Commenting on the narrative that the Greens could face an electoral backlash from voters after almost five years in government, Ryan said: “There won’t be a wipe out, we felt confident that that wouldn’t happen.”

“Let’s wait and see, in Dublin certainly it’s a message - the city wants to keep going green,” Ryan said.

12.47pm Housing dominant issue - Fianna Fáil

Minister Jack Chambers says: "Housing was the major issue for many people, but I don't think they're necessarily convinced by Sinn Féin, or their message on housing and their negativity and their the lack of an opposition or constructive approach."

12.45pm No July general election - Fine Gael

Fine Gael minister Peter Burke says there will be no July general election, even if the government parties have exceptionally good locals and Europeans. He says the government needs to deliver a “strong budget” in the autumn to “protect our economy”.

Fianna Fáil minister Jack Chambers agrees that his party is committed to delivering a budget first. In the aftermath of that budget inteh autumn, Chambers said the party leaders would “engage” and make a decision on budget timing.

12.40pm The ‘centre is holding’

The “centre ground is holding” according to Fine Gael minister Peter Burke, who tells RTÉ he is confident Fine Gael’s vote will remain strong across local areas when compared with its 2019 result.

Louise O’Reilly of Sinn Féin says it is still too early to call, and that transfers look likely to decide the last 2-3 seats in every local electoral area. She said transfer patterns were unclear so far, making the final makeup exceptionally difficult to call.

Jack Chamber of Fianna Fáil says his party is looking “solid” across many Dublin areas.

12.20pm Transfers ‘all over the place’

Reports from Dublin European tallies so far are that transfers are “all over the place”, especially for Sinn Féin’s candidates.

But a new trend of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael transferring to each other after their first term in government together looks to be an interesting new development.

Broadcaster Ivan Yates tells Newstalk this election is being decided by those that didn’t vote, and that Sinn Féin seem to be the losers there so far, while Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have “got their vote out”.

11.50am Chu looks safe but way down on 2019 result

Hazel Chu looks likely to retain her seat on Dublin City Council in the Pembroke ward but the Green Party councillor is way down on her 2019 local election result based on early tallies.

In the five-seater it’s currently looking like Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan could top the poll followed by either Dermot Lacey, the veteran Labour councillor, Emma Blaine, the sitting Fine Gael councillor in Dún Laoghaire, or Chu.

While Chu appears to be picking up more and more votes in Ranelagh at present, she’s currently on just over 16 per cent alongside Blaine with about 85 per cent of boxes tallied. Lacey is currently on 18 per cent.

It would indicate a dramatic drop on Chu’s 2019 success where she received a historic 33.1 per cent of the first preference vote.

It was always going to be difficult after nearly five years in government to maintain that level of support and Chu’s current faring is testament to that.

Across the city, however, the Green Party’s fortunes are looking better with councillor Michael Pidgeon, who ran a social-media savvy campaign, set to top the poll in the South West Inner City.

11.35am Independent Ireland ‘quietly confident’ based on early European tallies

Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland tells Newstalk he is “quietly confident” for the party’s three European candidates: Niall Boylan in Dublin, Ciaran Mulooly in Midlands North West, and Eddie Punch in Ireland South. Fitzmaurice says Niall Boylan especially seems to be going well, but that there is “a lot of mileage to go yet”. He says it it will ultimately be down to transfers, which are very unusual so far with no clear pattern and therefore are unpredictable.

11.20am Mid-term elections ‘always challenging for government parties’ according to Fine Gael

Fine Gael minister Hildegarde Naughton tells Anton Savage on Newstalk that it is still “early days”, but she is happy wth early tallies for the party. While she wouldn’t be drawn on what would be a good result for Fine Gael, she said the hope is for Fine Gael to “maximise” its vote across the country. However, damage control mode had already been engaged, as she warned these were just mid-term elections, which are “always more challenging for government parties”.

Naughton reiterated the party’s mantra of a “new energy” having taken hold of Fine Gael in last few months following Simon Harris taking over as leader. She said at local level it was clear that the hard work of existing councillors was resonating on the doors, but it would be harder to predict how newer candidates would do. Her summary for Fine Gael this morning: “So far, so good”.

10.45am Government parties expected to lose ground at local level

Ossian Smyth, Green Party minister and director of elections for the party, tells Anton Savage on Newstalk that he expects all government parties to lose seats at local level. However, he hopes the Green Party will be able to remain strong in cities.

Fianna Fáil minister Jack Chambers admits on the same show that a more “fragmented” political landscape means it will be “challenging” for Fianna Fáil to maintain its “position of strength” from the 2019 local elections.

10.35am Counting well underway at the RDS

Counting is well underway at the RDS in Dublin where ballot boxes were opened at 9am.

All very much to play in the European four-seater but government party MEP candidates Barry Andrews of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty performing strongly across the board so far but European counting won’t officially begin until tomorrow.

In the Dublin South West Inner City ward, Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon is performing strongly in the local election count but elsewhere it’s a mixed bag for the Greens.

10.20am Limerick Mayor early tallies positive for Moran

Early tallies for Limerick Mayor election suggest Independent John Moran is well ahead. Sinn Féin’s Maurice Quinlivan also doing well in the city. Actual counting in the Limerick Mayor election won’t get underway until Monday, however.

10am European Dublin tallies show large government parties faring well

Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty faring well in very early tallies for the Dublin European constituency. Independent Niall Boylan also popping up regularly in city centre areas, with Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan also looking good.

9am Boxes opened as counting begins

Ballot boxes have been opened around the country and counting is getting under way following voting in the local and European elections yesterday.

Only local elections will begin counting today, with European elections counts waiting until tomorrow. The size of constituencies for Europe and the number of candidates running means those European counts could run well into next week. Counting for the Limerick Mayor election won’t begin until Monday.

Officials at count centres will first have to split local and European ballot papers. After that, counting of locals will begin and tallies will give some picture of how things are faring as the day progresses.