Yes side at 60% halfway through referendum count

Results in the EU Fiscal Treaty referendum are flowing in fast this afternoon and it looks like the country has passed the 30th Amendment to the Constitution.

At the halfway stage in the count and with 22 constituencies declared, the Yes vote stood at 60% as the opinion polls had predicted last weekend and as Government insiders had suggested overnight.

A full national declaration is expected later this afternoon.

Within an hour of the boxes opening the result was clear, we had passed the referendum.

Just after 12.30pm, Tipperary South became the first constituency to declare a result, giving a resounding Yes to the treaty - 60.65%.

Donegal South West became the first No constituency with just under 55% voting against the treaty.

Donegal North East and Dublin South West have followed suit with No votes.

That result will disappoint the Coalition's two ministers - Pat Rabbitte and Brian Hayes - in Dublin South West.

In contrast, the highest yes vote in the country is likely to come from Dun Laoghaire this afternoon, which has backed the treaty with a 74.2% yes vote, it is home to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Richard Boyd-Barrett of the People Before Profit party.

A final declaration's expected in a couple of hours, but before that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Tánaiste will celebrate at a press conference in Government Buildings.

Mr Kenny has already celebrated the win with a stroll around the Bloom Festival in Dublin.