Dominant Parties Hammered In Irish Election

Ireland's political future has been plunged into uncertainty after voters dealt the traditionally dominant parties an unprecedented hammering.

Early indications suggest a widespread disaffection with mainstream parties and austerity.

The outgoing Fine Gael-Labour partnership is facing a humiliating defeat, as the electorate sent a resounding message to the established order.

A poll for the Irish Times newspaper shows support for Prime Minister Enda Kenny's Fine Gael party slumped to 26.1%, compared to 36.1% in 2011.

After five years of austerity, backing for junior coalition partners Labour also plummeted - from 19.5% to 7.8%.

By contrast Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Independents and smaller parties all made significant gains.

The poll by Ipsos MRBI puts Fianna Fail on 22.9%; Sinn Fein on 14.9%; Anti Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit on 3.6%.

The Greens are on 3.5%; Social Democrats on 2.8%; Renua on 2.6%; and others on 16.1%.

However, the final picture could be very different as Ireland has a single transferable vote system.

Counting of the votes began this afternoon, with the final results not expected until later tonight.

The outlook raises the prospect of weeks of protracted negotiations on potential coalitions.

By 7pm, 10 of 158 seats had been declared.

Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin, the opposition leader in the last Dail parliament, insisted the party did not want to take power with Fine Gael.

"We have made it clear we do not want to go into government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein," he said.

"The idea that it is just down to two parties, I think, is ignoring the reality of how people voted."

Mark Mortell, the Taoiseach's closest adviser, said Ireland would have to review its "political system" once the outcome is decided.

The top-ranking aide admitted the chance of another general election was "now very, very high".

Around two million people cast their votes in one of the most uncertain elections in the country's recent political history.

If, as seems likely, Fine Gael fail are unable to form a new administration with Labour, they will have a number of options.

One would be to form a minority government supported by arch-enemies Fianna Fail.

Another would be a rainbow coalition with Labour and some other groups.

The parties will have until 10 March - when the Dail is scheduled to reconvene - to forge a power-sharing deal.

If they fail to do this, another election may be necessary.