Kenny refuses to concede, Ahern defiant

The formation of the next Government will become clearer today as the final votes are counted in an extraordinary General Election.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is expected to secure a third term in office with 41.6% of support but Opposition leader Enda Kenny last night refused to concede defeat.

Fianna Fáil broke through the 60-seat barrier around midnight and Mr Ahern said he expected 78 party TDs to be elected to the 30th Dáil.

With half of the counts completed, Fine Gael has 43 TDs but believes it could assemble a 77-seat tally with Labour and the Greens.

Refusing to speculate on possible Coalition partners, Mr Ahern said last night: “Whatever I try to do – and I’m not going to work that out now – my favoured option is to man a stable government for a five-year term.”

The biggest election casualty was outspoken Progressive Democrats leader and Mr Ahern’s deputy, Michael McDowell, who immediately announced he was quitting politics.

Mr Ahern said of the his party’s unexpectedly buoyant performance: “There are very few parties anywhere in Europe who could have achieved what Fianna Fáil did today.

“For that I am just hugely proud as the president of the Fianna Fáil organisation.”

In a frank interview on RTÉ TV, Mr Ahern also attacked the media for trying to “kick the life out of” politicians attempting to do their jobs.

“It isn’t really about a bloodsport. It isn’t really about trying to denigrate people. It’s about how the country is run and how it is managed.”

The new Dáil will have its first husband and wife duo, Joe McHugh and Olwyn Enright for Fine Gael and the first wheelchair-user, Sean Connick of Fianna Fáil.

The biggest first preference vote was achieved by outgoing Defence Minister Willie O’Dea in Limerick East who polled 2.3 times his constituency quota.