FF braces for heavy losses as count begins

COUNTING in the elections gets under way today with Fianna Fáil bracing itself for heavy losses and Fine Gael set to overtake it as the largest party at local government level.

Voting in the local and European elections and two Dáil by-elections closed at 10pm last night, with turnout varying widely throughout the country.

Queues were reported in Bundoran, Co Donegal, at lunchtime as voters waited to cast their ballot, with estimates last night suggesting the turnout there could exceed 75%.

Voting in the commuter belt around Dublin also rose steadily last night. But in sharp contrast, turnout in north inner city Dublin was running at less than 20% with just a short time left to the polls closing.

In all, more than three million people were eligible to vote, and opposition sources predicted the overall turnout would be close to 60%, mirroring the 2004 elections when voters turned out in droves to express their dissatisfaction with the Government.

However, Government sources reckoned the figure would be in the 50%-55% range.

Counting in the local elections and two Dáil by-elections begins today, with first counts expected at about 5pm.

Counting in the European elections will get under way at 9am tomorrow, but no results will be issued until after 9pm tomorrow night when polling stations in all EU member states have closed.

However, tallies should indicate the way those contests are shaping up before the results are announced.

Fine Gael looks assured of becoming the biggest party in the country at local authority level, having come within touching distance of Fianna Fáil in 2004.

The latter lost 80 city and council seats on that occasion and is set to suffer further this weekend when its goal will be to minimise losses as much as possible.

Brian Cowen’s party is also expected to lose the two Dáil by-elections in Dublin Central and Dublin South.

But it is the outcome of the European elections that could pose the greatest risk to Mr Cowen. If Fianna Fáil loses any of its four European Parliament seats – particularly that of sitting MEP Eoin Ryan in Dublin – it could increase internal party dissatisfaction with Mr Cowen’s leadership.

Mr Cowen, however, has rejected suggestions these elections represent a referendum on his government, and has pledged to continue in office whatever the outcome.

Twelve seats are up for grabs in the European Parliament – three each in the Dublin South, North West and East constituencies.

At local level, 1,627 councillors will be elected to the country’s 114 local authorities, 34 of which are city and county councils and represent the main focus for the political parties.

In the Dáil by-elections, the vacant seats caused by the deaths of former Fianna Fáil minister Seamus Brennan in Dublin South and former Independent TD Tony Gregory in Dublin Central will be filled.