With fewer than 100 seats to fill, FF disaster becomes clearer

The election disaster for Fianna Fáil is becoming clear tonight, with Tánaiste Mary Coughlan becoming the latest and most high-profile casualty of Election 2011.

Enda Kenny is now officially Taoiseach-in-waiting. The key question now is whether he will do a deal with Labour or Independents to form a government.

Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore is leading his party to its biggest electoral success, becoming Ireland's second most-popular party for the first time.

There are fewer than 100 seats now to be filled, and a clearer picture of how the country has voted is emerging.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will be leading less than two dozen TDs into the 31st Dáil.

Brian Lenihan will be the party's only Deputy in Dublin, meaning Fianna Fáil is now only the 5th most popular political force in the capital.

Labour is likely to be the largest politcal party in Dublin, in terms of elected TDs.

The "Gilmore Gale" started early when Joan Burton was the first person to be elected to the 31st Dáil.

While Eamon Gilmore has been deemed elected in Dun Laoghaire, a full recount will take place in the constituency tomorrow morning.

Enda Kenny has said it is still too early to decide the composition of the next Government - in other words whether he will go into a coalition with Labour with a massive majority or try and do a deal with a few independents.

Addressing party faithful in Dublin tonight he promised to protect and nourish the faith the people have put in Fine Gael.

Mr Kenny said he also revealed he received a phone call from former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave who told him he was an old man but that Enda Kenny had made him proud.