Sinn Fein has made significant gains in the local government elections winning key council seats in Dublin and also performing well in the Dublin and Connacht-Ulster Euro constituencies.
Among the main parties, Fine Gael was the only winner in the local elections with a 1.3 per cent increase in its vote predicted last night, based on incomplete figures for county and borough councils throughout the State.
Fianna Fail support fell by half a percentage point from its 1991 figure of 37.9 per cent, which was regarded as a poor showing for the party at the time. However party spokesmen insisted last night that the vote had been better managed and that it had won more seats with fewer votes.
Labour support remained static, representing a loss in the light of the fact that the party has merged with Democratic Left since the 1991 poll. The PDs vote also fell, although candidates were elected in target constituencies.
In the European Parliament elections, a surprise emerged early today in Connacht-Ulster as independent Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon seemed certain to take a seat. As counting continued early today, Dana was seen as favourite to take the seat over independent Ms Marion Harkin after the second Fianna Fail candidate Mr Noel Treacy was surprisingly eliminated.
Outgoing MEPs, Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fail) and Mr Joe McCartin (Fine Gael), were both comfortably re-elected in the three-seat constituency.
The most spectacular personal vote was won by Fianna Fail MEP, Mr Brian Crowley, who won 159,195 votes in Munster, almost double the quota and the highest received in any constituency since direct elections to the European Parliament began in 1979. His running mate Mr Gerard Collins, independent Mr Pat Cox and Fine Gael's Mr John Cushnahan were also re-elected.
There was one change in Leinster with Fine Gael's Ms Avril Doyle topping the poll, ousting her running mate Mr Alan Gillis MEP. The other outgoing MEPs, Mr Jim Fitzsimons and Mr Liam Hyland (Fianna Fail) and Ms Nuala Ahern (Green Party) were re-elected.
There was one change in personnel in Dublin too, with the Labour Party president, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, replacing Ms Bernie Malone MEP.
Speaking at the count centre Ms Malone, who was visibly upset, said she was not bitter nor was she "whingeing" but the result proved her point that there was just one seat in the Dublin constituency for Labour.
Outgoing MEP Ms Mary Banotti (Fine Gael) topped the poll in Dublin and was elected on the first count. Mr Niall Andrews (Fianna Fail) and Ms Patricia McKenna (Green Party) were both re-elected.
The referendum to give constitutional recognition to local government was passed by more than three to one, although 10 per cent of those who voted spoiled their ballots. The high number of spoiled votes - 109,066 - confirmed that many voters were confused about the purpose of the referendum. The turnout was 51.08 per cent.
Sinn Fein made the most dramatic gains in the local government elections with Fine Gael also improving on its 1991 vote. Labour has seen little electoral reward for its merger with Democratic Left, with the merged party's share remaining at 10.6 per cent, which it received in 1991.
The party fared worse in the European elections with its share falling by 5.8 points to 8.7 per cent, reflecting the low public recognition of most of its the candidates.
With most results in early today, Fianna Fail appeared to have won 37.4 per cent of the vote in elections to county and borough councils. This is 0.5 points down on 1991. Fine Gael, at 27.7 per cent, is up 1.3 points; Labour at 10.6 per cent is unchanged. The Green Party, at 2.4 per cent is unchanged; Sinn Fein at 3.5 per cent is up 1.4 points; and others at 15.7 per cent, are up 0.1 points.