Noonan bows out

Michael Noonan has said he is resigning as leader of Fine Gael with immediate effect.

He said the election was a very bad result for Fine Gael, beyond their "worst expectations and fears". He said that, as leader, he accepted full responsibility for it.

Mr Noonan’s resignation follows Fine Gael's worst election performance in half a century. The party’s big name election casualties include deputy leader Jim Mitchell, former leader Alan Dukes, former deputy leader Nora Owen and former presidential candidate Austin Currie.