Taoiseach comes under renewed pressure to call early general election
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Taoiseach Simon Harris is coming under renewed pressure to call an early general election after the Government vote held strong at both local and European level.
As counting continues today, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are on track to claim seats in each of the European constituencies, while the Green performance has been described as mixed. Independents have also gained seats at local level across the country, with a number of far-right candidates breaking through for the first time.
However, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was forced to admit that her party has a "job to do" after "disappointing" local and European elections.
Sinn Féin has secured around 11% of first-preference votes at local level, compared to Fianna Fáil, which is on around 22%, and Fine Gael on 23%.
The first count in the EU Dublin constituency was announced after 10pm last night with Fianna Fáil's Barry Andrews topping the poll, followed by Regina Doherty of Fine Gael.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are also on course to record a victory in Ireland South, with a fight for the three remaining seats that could go any way.
However, it will be later today before a first count is announced in the sprawling Midlands North West constituency.
Arriving into the RDS count centre, the Taoiseach said he was "delighted" with the Fine Gael performance. However, he ruled out going to the polls early, despite calls from veteran party TD Michael Ring to do so.
"I think what the people right across the country want me to do is my job," Mr Harris said when pressed on the chances of an early election.
In Cork, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the positive showing of government parties did not necessarily mean that a general election should be called. He said that a budget should be passed and that it "cannot just be about electioneering".
"You cannot draw any conclusions from the local elections in respect of a general election. We know that from experience and I certainly will not be making that error. A general election is a clean sheet and is a different perspective; they're different elections by far, and there will be a different dynamic at play."
Mr Harris described Sinn Féin's performance as an "unmitigated disaster" and claimed that people knew exactly what Mary Lou McDonald's party was selling, but didn't buy it.
He also said the "penny has now dropped" with Ms McDonald that if you want to lead Government "you have to have solutions and policies".
Also speaking at the RDS count centre, Ms McDonald said her party would be carrying out a full review of how it conducted the campaign and any changes that might be needed ahead of a general election.
"I am sorry that we didn't do better. I know that we can do better and I am determined that we will do that," she said.
Migration had factored strongly as an issue in the lead-up to the elections and a number of far-right candidates won seats at local level, including Gavin Pepper and Malachy Steenson in Dublin. However, the number of breakthrough councillors on the far-right does not appear as high as some had predicted.
However, across Europe, far-right parties have made big gains at the European Parliament as the Greens took a major hit, according to a first projection provided by the EU.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron called shock legislative elections for later this month after he was trounced in the European Union vote by Marine Le Pen's far-right party.