Yes side moving ahead in early tallies

Counting is continuing across the country in the EU Fiscal Treaty referendum, and the Yes side seems to be ahead according to early tallies.

The majority of the boxes have now been opened and the ballots sorted.

A declaration of the result is not expected until later this afternoon, but there are some early indications already from around the country:

- First indications from Waterford suggest 55% have voted Yes .

- The first boxes from rural Galway suggest the Yes vote could be as high as 70%.

- In boxes opened in Limerick's Moyross, it was a very strong NO vote.

- Rural South Kilkenny seems to be backing the treaty by three to one according to first boxes opened.

- Very early tallies from Wicklow suggest a vote of about 54% in favour of Yes there.

- In Cork, it looking like the Yes side have it in Cork South Central, but it's much closer in North Central.

- In Dublin, the result may be tight. In Dublin West for example, the first indications are yes 51%, No 49%.

- In Dublin South East it's very close in the working class inner city areas of Ringsend and Pearse Street. It's being claimed as a victory by the Yes side who may have expected the result to be a strong no.

- Dublin North including the rural North County is suggesting a 60% Yes vote so far.

A much clearer picture should emerge in the next hour, before a formal result is declared later this afternoon.