Despite having spent the last four years in Government, the Green Party is potentially facing a total wipeout in the current election.

The two main parties in the outgoing Irish government have again ruled out Sinn Fein as a potential coalition partner in the next government. The leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin were taking part in a TV debate just days before the general election.

The protracted process of counting votes in Ireland’s General Election will begin as an exit poll put the three main parties virtually tied.

How do you go from jumping down each other’s throats to jumping back into bed together in the space of days? And how do you expect voters to trust you?

Stakes were high for the main political parties of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin going into this election, with polls showing them neck and neck.

Sinn Féin has come back from the disaster of the local elections and showed it will be a force in Irish politics for the foreseeable future, but will not be in government

11:50am: As tallies in Limerick city continue, Willie O’Dea, Kieran O’Donnell, Maurice Quinlivan and Maria Byrne are still ahead. Elisa O’Donovan (Soc Dem), Conor Sheehan (Labour) and Dee Ryan (Fianna Fáil) are also polling well, with 1,720 votes, 1,593 votes, and 1,526 votes, respectively.

As nearly 3.7m voters head to the polls, what does the path to power look like for Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael?