Despite having spent the last four years in Government, the Green Party is potentially facing a total wipeout in the current election.

The two Civil War parties are in pole position to once again form the core of the next coalition. Tallies suggest that Fianna Fáil could return with the highest share of first-preference votes, followed by Fine Gael in second and Sinn Féin in third, in a reversal of Friday night’s exit poll.

The two main parties in the outgoing Irish government have again ruled out Sinn Fein as a potential coalition partner in the next government. The leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin were taking part in a TV debate just days before the general election.