Fianna Fáil has secured 43 seats so far in the election count.

People Before Profit Alliance candidate Boyd-Barrett is in line for the fifth seat in Dun Laoghaire - he has almost 700 votes more than Ciaran Cuffe of the Greens.

Bertie Ahern appeared to be on course for a third term as Taoiseach this afternoon.

Ministers Willie O'Dea and Mary Hanafin became the latest high-profile Fianna Fáil candidates to be re-elected to the Dáil this afternoon as they were returned in Limerick East and Meath West respectively.