Ireland on the cusp of single-party government

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was today celebrating his greatest electoral triumph as his centre-right Fianna Fail party powered its way towards a possible overall majority.

With 136 of the country’s 165 seats declared at 1am, Fianna Fail had secured 69 seats, Fine Gael had 25 TDs, Labour had 18, the Greens 5, the Progressive Democrats 4, Sinn Fein 3, Socialist Party 1, Others 11.

As his party basked in a commanding victory and Fine Gael wallowed in the misery of a spectacular election collapse, Mr Ahern hailed a ‘‘great night’’ for him and his colleagues.

‘‘It’s a great night for Fianna Fail. It’s a great night for the party and all those who work for the party,’’ he said.

‘‘We have to wait to see what the final figures are.’’

With the party who served with Fianna Fail in the last coalition, the Progressive Democrats performing strongly and confounding many of its critics, the Taoiseach hinted he could invite them back into government if he failed to reach the 83 seats needed to secure an overall majority.

‘‘They did very well with the seats and did very well on transfers and they did very well in government these past five years,’’ he noted.

‘‘I am delighted to see my Attorney General (the PD’s Michael McDowell) get elected.

‘‘We were a good government. The people saw us as a good government and I think the parties made it a good government have benefited from five years of hard work.’’

Mr Ahern expressed sympathy for Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan who quit as leader after his party lost several leading members following the collapse of its vote in Dublin and around the country.

There was good news for Sinn Fein which topped the poll in the three constituencies it took seats in - Cavan-Monaghan, Dublin South West and Kerry North.

The party was also tipped to take seats in the border constituency of Louth and Dublin South Central.

Sinn Fein was also engaged in a bitter battle for the final seat with Fianna Fail in Mr Ahern’s Dublin Central constituency.

After a recount was ordered, tellers went home for the night.

There was speculation that the result could be crucial in determining whether Fianna Fail will become the country’s first single party government for 25 years.