Counting has begun in the Irish general election, as exit polls suggest a close contest between the three major parties.

An exit poll on Friday night suggested that Sinn Fein would narrowly get the highest share of first-preference votes, 21.1%, ahead of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively, but in fact the latter two parties outpolled SF in the end.

The first meeting of the new Dáil is due to take place on the 18th of December, but the government will be officially formed whenever the Dáil passes a vote to install the new Taoiseach