Exit polls to give first indication of country's mood

The first results of the 2007 general election will be compiled overnight and released on RTÉ tomorrow morning.

The Lansdowne Exit Poll will present the earliest possible picture of how the next Dáil will look.

Hundreds of market research staff asked voters who they gave their first preferences to as they left their polling stations in each of the 43 constituencies.

Meanwhile more than 400 people will be working around the clock on RTÉ's Election 2007 programmes for the national broadcaster during the weekend.

"It will be the fastest and most comprehensive results service ever," said an RTÉ spokesperson.

RTÉ TV and Radio will feature live reports from every count centre around the country as the results come in.

Radio coverage, led by Sean O'Rourke and Rachael English, will include early tallies from each constituency.

Election veterans John Bowman, Bryan Dobson and Miriam O'Callaghan will anchor the TV programmes.

Broadcasters will also be joined by politicians, party strategists and journalists to analyse the results.