{"id":19530,"date":"2024-11-28T23:54:46","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T23:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=19530"},"modified":"2024-11-28T23:54:46","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T23:54:46","slug":"how-the-republic-of-ireland-will-elect-its-next-parliament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=19530","title":{"rendered":"How the Republic of Ireland will elect its next parliament"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\">\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 ejjhCR\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8437\/live\/5c26c290-adb3-11ef-8f6c-f1a86bb055ec.jpg.webp\" alt=\"PA Media A woman wearing a red top empties a large black bin containing ballot papers onto a desk. To her right, a woman and a man both sit at the desk ready to count. They are in a large hall. In the background a number of other people sat at desks can be seen.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 fxQYxK\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">The Irish general election takes place on Friday<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The Irish general election on Friday will decide who will sit in the D\u00e1il, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Ireland&#8217;s parliament).<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Elected members are known as Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la (TDs).<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The number of TDs and constituencies will both increase for the 2024 election <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ec-report.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/constituency-review-report-2023.pdf#page=7\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">after a 2023 review<!-- --><\/a>.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">There are now 43 D\u00e1il constituencies (up from 39 in 2020) which will elect between three and five TDs each. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">A total number of 174 TDs will be selected, up from 160 in 2020. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">One seat in the D\u00e1il goes to the Ceann Comhairle (Speaker), so 88 TDs is the number required for an overall majority.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">More than 3.4 million people are registered to vote in the Republic of Ireland.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">How will votes be counted?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The Republic of Ireland elects its government using a system of proportional representation known as the single transferable vote. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Voters will have the opportunity to rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference, marking their favourite with a number one, a number two beside their next choice and so on. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">They can vote for as many or as few candidates as they like. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Candidates will have to reach a certain number of votes in order to be elected.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5c49\/live\/e47c95a0-adc4-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp\" alt=\"PA Media A man in a yellow hi-vis jacket is walking among a sea of grey ballot boxes, checking the lids are secure.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 fxQYxK\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">Ballots are transferred to the next usable preference after a candidate has reached their quota for election<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">That number is decided for each constituency using a mathematical formula based on the number of seats available and the number of votes that have been cast. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Counting the ballots takes place in multiple rounds.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Each ballot is initially credited to the first choice.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Once a candidate receives the number of votes required, they are elected and any remaining ballots that are marked with them as first choice are transferred to the second ranked preferences.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Ballots continue to be transferred to the next usable preference until all of the seats in the constituency are filled with candidates who have reached the quota.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">What parties are standing in the election?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">Irish general election: What you need to know about the 2024 vote<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Politics in the Republic was traditionally dominated by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Both parties emerged following a split in nationalist opinion over the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Fianna F\u00e1il was once seen as more centrist, Fine Gael as more conservative, but differences have blurred and both are now seen as centre-right parties.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Four years ago Fianna F\u00e1il won 38 seats and Fine Gael ended up with 35.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">To gain a governing majority, a coalition government was formed between <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-53181372\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Green Party.<!-- --><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/941a\/live\/77352970-adc5-11ef-93a6-9fd2d3586a96.jpg.webp\" alt=\"PA Media Miche\u00e1l Martin stands to the left in front of a grey podium. He is wearing a blue suit and tie and is holding his hand out. Mary Lou McDonald stands in the middle in a blue top and bright pink blazer, holding two hands up. Simon Harris stands behind a podium to the right and also appears to be in the midst of talking. \" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 fxQYxK\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">The most prominent parties are Fianna F\u00e1il, led by Miche\u00e1l Martin (L), Sinn F\u00e9in, led by Mary Lou McDonald (M), and Fine Gael, led by Simon Harris (R)<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">This year\u2019s election is the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">He was <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/ce7r19g90gno\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">new to the role in April<!-- --><\/a>, when he became the youngest person to lead the Republic of Ireland at 37 after his predecessor Leo Varadkar stepped down.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Harris entered the D\u00e1il in 2011, aged 24, as TD for Wicklow.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">He had <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-68624474\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">a rapid rise through the party ranks<!-- --><\/a>, landing his first cabinet role before his 30th birthday.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">As health minister, he oversaw the Republic&#8217;s vote to overturn its abortion ban and was in charge of the country&#8217;s initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$!--><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Fianna F\u00e1il are led by T\u00e1naiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Mich\u00e9al Martin.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">He is a seasoned politician, having left a short-lived teaching career in 1985 to work in politics full-time. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Martin was first elected as a TD in 1989 and has been re-elected in each election since.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">He took up the mantel as leader of Fianna F\u00e1il in 2011 and was elected taoiseach in 2020 as part of the three-party coalition agreement.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$!--><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Sinn F\u00e9in, led by <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cv229ry3d73o\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">Mary Lou McDonald<!-- --><\/a>, is an Irish republican and democratic socialist party and the main opposition party.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">McDonald was the party\u2019s first MEP (member of the European Parliament) in 2004, and won her first seat for the party in D\u00e1il for the Dublin Central constituency in 2011.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">She became vice-president of Sinn F\u00e9in in 2009, and took over from Gerry Adams as president in 2018.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Since then, the Dublin politician has sought to distance her party from criticism about its historic links to IRA violence.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">In 2020 her party made significant gains and <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-51432660\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">topped the popular vote<!-- --><\/a>, winning 37 seats.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Since then it has become the <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c8978z7z8w4o\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">largest party across Northern Ireland<!-- --><\/a>&#8216;s councils, as well as in its assembly and at Westminster.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Other parties putting forward candidates for the election include Labour, Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity, Aont\u00fa and the newly-formed Independent Ireland.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">What have been the key issues for voters?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">How has the election campaign played out?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">This campaign has seen its fair share of viral moments.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">An awkward encounter between a care worker and Simon Harris while canvassing in County Cork last weekend was viewed millions of times across social media platforms during the last week of the campaign.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">In his first campaign as leader of Fine Gael, he is getting plenty of practice trying to put out election fires.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The party has been running its campaign under a &#8220;new energy&#8221; slogan after his election as leader and Taoiseach earlier this year.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Commentators have been musing over how the \u2018Harris Hop\u2019 mave have turned into something resembling a \u2018flop\u2019.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Fianna F\u00e1il, on the other hand, have managed to avoid any negative viral moments.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Under the leadership of Miche\u00e1l Martin, the party has had what&#8217;s being referred to as a steady campaign, no big breakthroughs but also no big gaffes.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Sinn F\u00e9in has faced questions over its handling of <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cy804e79j09o\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">recent internal controversies <!-- --><\/a>on both sides of the border, but these events do not appear to have had a particularly significant impact during the campaign as the party&#8217;s polling position has recovered marginally.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">It has focused on delivering its policy positions around key issues such as its proposed solutions to the country&#8217;s housing crisis.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">What could a new government look like?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The last poll before the election suggests it\u2019s tight &#8211; Fianna F\u00e1il 21%, Fine Gael 20%, Sinn F\u00e9in 20%.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The two main parties in the outgoing Irish government have again <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cgk1v3g8yn0o\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\">ruled out Sinn F\u00e9in as a potential coalition partner.<!-- --><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Polling also suggests more independent candidates will be elected than in 2020 and if parliamentary arithmetic is tight, their role in government formation could be critical.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">If it is to get into government for the first time, it is likely Sinn F\u00e9in will have to look to smaller parties or like-minded independents to find the majority. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6e52\/live\/6ec0be70-adc6-11ef-b778-0575c0dbf437.jpg.webp\" alt=\"PA Media Miche\u00e1l Martin sits in the Dail in conversation with Simon Harris \" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 fxQYxK\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, led by Miche\u00e1l Martin and Simon Harris respectively, have both ruled out Sinn F\u00e9in as a potential coalition partner<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The first meeting of the new D\u00e1il is on 18 December but it is unlikely coalition negotiations will have finished by then.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Few expect the new government to be in place before 2025.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">A government will be officially formed when the D\u00e1il passes a vote to install a new taoiseach.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">When will votes be counted?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Ballot boxes will be sent to the constituency count centre after polls close on Friday but counting will not start until the following morning. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The count can sometimes last several days. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr style=\"border-top: 2px solid #ccc; margin-top: 20px;\">\n<p><em>Source: <\/em> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cvg47jrgyvno\">www.bbc.com\u2026<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PA Media The Irish general election takes place on Friday The Irish general election on Friday will decide who will sit in the D\u00e1il, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Ireland&#8217;s parliament). Elected members are known as Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la (TDs). The number of TDs and constituencies will both increase for the 2024 election after a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19530\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}