McDowell: My days as a public representative are over

Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has said his days as a public representative are over.

Mr McDowell's fight for a seat in Dublin South East went down to the wire with Green candidate John Gormley.

"I love Ireland," said Mr McDowell, adding he was very proud of having had the opportunity to service in public office.

"The people have made their choice," he said, "and I respect their choice as a democrat.

"My period in public life as a public representative is over."

He has been leader of the Progressive Democrats for some six months.

Fine Gael's Lucinda Creighton and Labour's Ruairí Quinn have been elected on the third count.

It has been a dismal day for the Progressive Democrats with Mary Harney and Noel Grealish the only party TDs to be re-elected so far.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael frontbencher Olivia Mitchell has been re-elected in Dublin South.

She passed the quota on the seventh count - thanks to transfers from outgoing PD Deputy Liz O'Donnell, who was eliminated.

The Greens' Eamon Ryan looks set to be elected next - but the final seat is now a toss-up between Fine Gael's Alan Shatter and Fianna Fáil's Maria Corrigan.

Minister Noel Ahern (FF) has been re-elected in Dublin North West.

Fine Gael's deputy leader Richard Bruton has been elected in Dublin North Central on the first count.

The second count is now underway with Junior Minister Sean Haughey likely to be elected next.

Fianna Fáil's Ivor Callely may pick up the third seat, but must beat off competition from Independent deputy Finian McGrath.

Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald is in with a chance of taking the final seat in Dublin Central.

The Taoiseach's surplus has just been distributed, and the high profile Sinn Féin candidate is running neck and neck with two Fianna Fáil hopefuls and one Fine Gael.

It now looks very likely that Labour's Joe Costello and Independent Tony Gregory will take the other two seats in the hard-fought constitutency.

Michael Fitzpatrick FF and Emmet Stagg of Labour returned in Kildare North with just one seat left to fill.

It is predicted that Fine Gael will gain 20 seats giving them over 50 deputies in the next Dáil.

When asked about the future of the 'Alliance for Change', Enda Kenny says nothing is being ruled out.

The number of seats confirmed nationwide so far is: FF 43, FG 12, Lab 7, PD 1, GP 2, SF 1, Ind 1.