The next Government will most likely be a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael coalition propped up by "sensible" independents. Although a handful of seats are yet to be filled, it is expected that Fianna Fáil will be the largest party with 48 seats, Fine Gael will have 38 TDs and Sinn Féin will 39 seats.

Fine Gael is willing to ‘recognise’ the additional seats Fianna Fáil has secured, but not at the expense of parity of esteem in government

With only two of the Dáils 174 seats left to be decided, Fianna Fáil is the clear winner of Friday’s general election and is set to emerge with the most TDs on 48.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majority - The two parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century have fallen just short of the combined number of TDs required for a Dail majority.

With the two large parties look set to share power again, the shape of a programme for government can begin to be gleaned from their election promises.