Fine Gael In Pole Position After Ireland Vote

12:42am UK, Sunday February 27, 2011

The first results have started to come in as counting continues in Ireland's general election, with opposition leader Enda Kenny on course to be the country's new leader.

Enda Kenny after casting his vote

The chief of the Fine Gael party looks set to lead the next government, possibly in coalition with Labour.

Early results showed ruling Fianna Fail looked set for a humiliating defeat, which would make it the first eurozone government to be brought down by the debt crisis.

Mr Kenny was elected on the first count in Co Mayo with 17,472 votes, making him the biggest vote-getter in the country.

An exit poll for state broadcaster RTE indicated his main opposition party would win 36.1% of first preference votes under Ireland's system of proportional representation.

Launching a fierce attack on the outgoing government earlier, Mr Kenny said his first priority was to tell the world that Ireland would be on a new track under Fine Gael, whose focus is to create jobs.

"I intend to send out a clear message around the world that this country has given my party a massive endorsement to provide stable and strong government with a clear agenda," he said.

"That's absolutely critical."

The election was a statement - a shout from the electorate that they didn’t like what had been done on their behalf

Correspondent Michelle Clifford blogs from Dublin

Outgoing premier Brian Cowen said he accepted "full responsibility" for decisions
taken in government, while Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he believed that Fine Gael had managed to secure support from floating voters.

The Labour Party, Fine Gael's traditional partner in government, is expected to secure 20.5% of the vote, which would be its best ever electoral performance.

Labour had early reason to celebrate, with the first declared seat going to the party's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton in Dublin West.

Brian Cowen said he accepted 'full responsibility' for decisions in government

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore was also elected on the first count in Dun Laoghaire with 11,468 votes.

"This is the first election in the history of the state that the Labour Party is going to emerge as the second largest," Mr Gilmore said.

It is the Republic's first election since it accepted a multi-billion pound bailout from the International Monetry Fund (IMF) and the European Union.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has clung on in Dublin and, after securing his seat, he said: "The Government has taken a hammering at the polls.

"I will do everything I can to rebuild the party and to be responsible opposition in the Dail."

There are more than 550 candidates running in 43 constituencies for 165 of the 166 seats, as the parliamentary speaker Seamus Kirk is automatically returned.

Enda Kenny cast his vote in Castlebar, Co Mayo

Gerry Adams also secured his Sinn Fein seat in Louth on the first count with more than 15,000 votes.

The ruling Fianna Fail party is tipped to win just 15.1% of first preference votes - its worst-ever result.

Across the country polling officers reported bigger numbers casting ballots during Friday, with the strong interest continuing until close at 10pm.

Around three million people - 70% of the electorate - are believed to have voted.

Polling stations opened at 7am on Friday with party leaders voting early in their constituencies.

Voting on islands off the west coast took place over the latter part of the week, with the Aran Islands off Galway taking to the polls on Thursday.

They saw a turnout around the mid-70% mark.