FF secures seat after second recount

Fianna Fail, secured a further boost when it retained a seat previously thought to have been lost following a second recount of votes.

Initially, it was believed Fianna Fail candidate John Dennehy had been beaten in the Cork South-Central constituency by independent Kathy Sinnott after the final count of votes under the proportional representation system of polling.

But Ms Sinnott’s original two-vote winning margin was changed to a three-vote deficit after a first recount, and last night Mr Dennehy was confirmed to have won by a majority of just six.

It meant that Fianna Fail ended up with 81 of the 166 seats in the Dail, narrowly short of an overall majority in the house.

The figures for the other parties were: Fine Gael 31, Labour 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, Independents 13.

The remaining seat will be decided today at a recount in the Wicklow constituency, with the final position being fought out between Labour and an independent candidate.

Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney, head of the Progressive Democrats, made preliminary contact last night ahead of anticipated negotiations aimed at forming a new coalition Government.

Earlier, the Progressive Democrat’s enlarged new parliamentary party gave Ms Harney the go ahead for the move.

A statement from the party said it regarded the result of the election as providing ‘‘a clear mandate’’ for the formation of a new partnership after their previous five-year coalition.

Ms Harney said ‘‘I would like to see the shape of a new Government becoming clear as quickly as possible.’’

The new Dail meets for the first time on June 6 to elect a Taoiseach. Mr Ahern is certain to retain the job and the only question is who will be backing him in office.

In the meantime, the two other parties to make significant election gains, Sinn Fein and the Greens, will assemble at Dublin’s Leinster House parliamentary headquarters for the first time since the election tomorrow.

Sinn Fein’s Dail strength - up to five from just one - will be joined by party leader Gerry Adams and other Westminister MPs for the occasion, and collectively sign the role of Dail members early tomorrow afternoon.

Ahead of that event, Sinn Fein’s officer board will meet to discuss their approach to the new parliament.

Mr Adams said while it was arguable that the electorate had voted for the return of the outgoing Government, the wider implications of the poll were not so clear.

He added ‘‘We could be seeing the beginning of a realignment, or at least a redefining of Irish politics.

‘‘The big question is also about who will form the opposition to the Government and what will be the basis of that opposition.’’

The Green Party, which boosted its numbers from two to six last week, will also be together for the first time in Leinster House tomorrow.

:: Fine Gael, the big loser in the election, will meet on Friday to consider its next move following the resignation of leader Michael Noonan as their disastrous performance unfolded last weekend.

:: In another move last night, Mr Ahern nominated public enterprise minister Mary O’Rourke, his party’s highest profile casualty in the election to be a member of the Senate.