Dublin West live coverage: Chambers, Donnelly and Currie elected

Fine Gael’s Emer Currie has been elected on the second count in Dublin West, securing the constituency’s third seat. Ms Currie received 788 transfers from Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers, bringing her total count to 7,579. She joins Mr Chambers and Sinn Fein’s Paul Donnelly who were elected on the first count.
Mr Donnelly’s surplus of 358 votes will be distributed for the third count which will take place on Sunday morning. The Dublin West count has now finished for the day.
The emerging 2024 election results indicate the Irish electorate wants to see a “constructive approach” to policy issues and a rejection of the “extreme type of politics” appearing on the wider international stage, Jack Chambers has said.
“People want politicians who have a constructive approach and are policy focused,” said the Fianna Fáil deputy leader. “I think Irish people want a type of politics that’s welcoming, that’s inclusive, that supports that sense of community. Notwithstanding general political fragmentation, party groups in the main represent a constructive approach, whether it’s social democratic or the wider centre. And I think that’s a positive.”
Mr Chambers said he expected Fianna Fáil to secure “at least 40 seats” in the election and remain “in a position for gains in many parts of the country”.
On Government formation, Mr Chambers reiterated that his party would not enter talks with Sinn Féin. “There ‘s just not a common ground when it comes to key issues and policy, their approach to the enterprise economy, to the European union and also to many other areas of policy, particularly home ownership and housing.”
He added that the party was cognisant of the demands of those who did not vote Fianna Fáil and who want to see “further action on housing”. “People obviously have still pressure when it comes to cost of living.”
First official Count – Dublin West
Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers and Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly have both been elected to the Dublin West constituency. Mr Chambers secured 9,446 first preference votes, far exceeding the quota of 7,373.
Mr Donnelly also exceed the quota on the first count, securing 7,731 votes. The total poll for Dublin West was 44,593 out of an electorate of 78,034, while 357 spoiled votes were registered. The total valid poll was 44,236.
A surplus of 2,073 votes will now be distributed in the second count.
Fine Gael’s Emer Currie is still on track to secure the constituency’s third seat, with 6,791 first preference votes. Ms Currie is expected to benefit substantially from Mr Chambers’ transfers.
PBP-Solidarity’s Ruth Coppinger is sitting in fourth place, with 3,552 first preference votes, while Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman is holding onto fifth place with 2,909.
Chambers, who is on track to top the poll in the Dublin West constituency, says he expects his party to “exceed 40 seats” in the general election. Speaking ahead of the first official count, the outgoing minister for finance and Fianna Fáil director of elections said it was “clear” his party would exceed the exit poll.
“We’re in strong position for gains in many parts of the country, and obviously we have to wait the final counts and the general counting over the next 24 hours,” he said.
Fianna Fáil is “in a strong position” and there is “real optimism in the party about possible gains”. Asked whether he would like to be re-appointed as minister for finance in the next Dáil, Mr Chambers said the conversation was “not about positions” but “about the substance of policies”.
“I’m happy to play whatever role I’m asked to say if we form a government,” he said.
Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers is safely on track to secure the Dublin West’s first seat. It’s expected most of his transfers, numbering around 3,000 votes, will be divided between his running mate Lorna Nolan and Fine Gael’s Emer Currie.
Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly is due to clinch the constituency’s second seat on first preferences, while Ms Currie is expected to be elected to the third seat on the second count. Her transfers are forecast to go to the Green Party’s Roderic Gorman who is fighting to secure the 5th seat in the constituency. PBP-Solidarity’s Ruth Coppinger remains comfortably in fourth place, while Labour’s John Walsh and Aontú’s Ellen Troy’s are currently sitting in joint sixth place.