ieExplains: The election is over. What happens next?

With none of the main parties having secured enough seats to form a government, negotiations will take place over the coming days and weeks on forming a coalition

Counting of votes in the general election is still taking place. Picture: Chani Anderson

As the dust settles on the general election, the focus has now shifted to the road ahead and towards a new government.

With all the counting complete, Fianna Fáil has emerged as the biggest party in the country with 48 seats, followed by Sinn Féin with 39 seats and Fine Gael with 38.