FF claims six of the first 12 seats

Fianna Fáil has secured half of the first 12 seats counted in the general election for the 29th Dáil and an estimated 40.6 per cent of first preference votes.

Counting in the three constituencies which used the new electronic voting; Meath, Dublin West and Dublin North, meant that results became available on the night polling for the first time.

In the case of Fine Gael’s Nora Owen, it shortened her tenure as a TD by one day as she surprisingly lost her Dublin North seat to Fianna Fáil’s Mr Jim Glennon, who now joins Mr GV Wright in the Dáil.

The blow for Fine Gael is particularly bitter because this used to be a two-seat constituency for the party. Ms Owen’s canvassing had been hampered by a leg injury.

Ms Owen described the loss as pretty shattering and said she did not get the feeling on the doors that there was no seat for Fine Gael in Dublin North. "I have to accept it, that’s what the people decided, but I am extremely disappointed, obviously for myself, because I have now lost my job but more importantly for the people in Dublin North who gave me their loyalty over the last 20 years."

Fine Gael’s vote share in the first three constituencies has slipped by nearly 6.7 per cent to just over 19 per cent of first preference votes.

As expected, Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent topped the poll in Dublin North and will be joined by returning TD Mr Sean Ryan of the Labour Party.

However, Fine Gael fared much better in Meath where they managed to hold their two seats despite a strong drop in their percentage vote. Mr John Bruton was joined by Mr Damien English despite a fall of 9.7 per cent in party support in Meath.

Former Minister for the Environment, Fianna Fáil’s Noel Dempsey was joined by party colleagues Ms Mary Wallace and Mr Johnny Brady as the status quo was maintained.

In Dublin West there was more bad news for Fine Gael as their candidate Ms Sheila Terry was beaten to the third seat by Labour’s Ms Joan Burton.

Labour will be particularly pleased as their vote appears to be holding firm on 9.5 per cent which is off just over one per cent on 1997.

Mr Brian Lenihan topped the poll and became the first TD elected to the 29th Dáil. Socialist Party candidate Mr Joe Higgins polled very strongly and regained his seat with second place.

Use of the electronic voting machines was reported to have gone very smoothly, although there were delays experienced with the breakdown of count information in each constituency.