Irish PM admits defeat

Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Enda Kenny expressed his intention to dissolve the Irish Parliament, after which he had a meeting with the Irish President Michael Higgins.

The 31st Dáil (Lower house of Irish Parliament) was then formally dissolved on 3 February 2016.

Later, Enda Kenny declared that the elections for the 32nd Dáil would be held on 26 February 2016.

The chances of Fine Gael being re-elected in Ireland were slim, as only 26% of the people voted for the party, according to the Red C/Irish Sun opinion survey poll.

The poll suggested that the Enda Kenny-led-party's position had dropped drastically.

A senior Fine Gael member blamed the fall in support on a 'failed election campaign' by Enda Kenny.

During one of his interviews ahead of the poll Enda Kenny announced that he wouldn't contest in the next poll; however, he hoped to be re-elected as Taoiseach.

All the political parties geared-up to make last-minute appeals and tried to persuade voters.

Kenny said that his role in the next general-elections is a later decision as he only wants to focus on being re-elected.

Despite a snow-ice prediction, about 3.3 million voters were expected to cast their votes for the 2016 Irish General Elections.

In one of the most unpredictable polls, more than 550 candidates contested for 158 seats, from 40 constituencies.

Exit poll surveys showed low chances of Kenny being re-elected.

The 32nd Dáil was scheduled to resume from 10 March 2016.

An exit-poll indicated a sharp decrease in voters' support for Taoiseach Enda Kenny's re-election.

In the last general elections in 2011, the Fine Gael political party had gained about 36.1% of the votes, whereas this time it gained only 26.1% according to Ipsos the exit poll, by the Irish Times.

Coalition partner Labour party's support decreased from 19.5% in the previous elections to 7.8%.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has conceded that the existing Fine Gael-Labour coalition government will not return in the Republic of Ireland's general elections.

Mr Kenny said the voting showed that the existing government will not regain power.

​He added that the "majority government option is gone" but he will wait for the full results and consider options on how to form a government "very carefully".

Gerry Adams ruled out the possibility of his Sinn Fein party becoming part of an Irish coalition government.

With the ruling centre-Right Fine Gael bloc losing votes after an anti-austerity backlash, no overall winner looks likely to emerge by the time vote counting is finished.

Mr Adams said his efforts were to distance his party from what he considers a failed political mainstream.