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

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

The Irish General Election 2024 will be held this Friday, November 29 - here, an overview of the major political parties running candidates. What parties are running in the Irish General Election 2024?

Counting will start across the Republic of Ireland at 09:00 local time Exit polls in the Irish election suggest a close contest between the three major parties. Figures from Friday's exit poll show Sinn Féin slightly ahead of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in first preference votes.

Ireland's main opposition Sinn Fein looked on course to win the most votes at a general election by the narrowest of margins on Friday, but its two main centre-right rivals will likely have enough seats to govern again without it,

Vote counting is underway in Ireland’s national election. An exit poll suggests the contest is a close-fought race among the country’s three largest political parties.

After an exit poll that showed the main three parties effectively neck-and-neck in the Irish General Election, there is some way to go before the final picture emerges and the options for government formation crystalise.

Sinn Féin, the former political arm of the IRA, is hoping Ireland's 2024 election will bring it to power for the first time ever.