Bookmakers back Ahern as he takes late swipe at Sinn Fein
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Your support makes all the difference.A Fianna Fail victory seemed so assured in yesterday's Irish general election that bookmakers were offering odds of 100-1 that the party leader, Bertie Ahern, will once again become Taoiseach.
His only realistic rival, Michael Noonan of Fine Gael, is so far behind that his odds are 33-1 against.
The key unanswered question is whether Mr Ahern will achieve an overall majority or will need the support of others to form a government. The answer to this may be known either late tonight or tomorrow, after the lengthy counting procedures required under the proportional representation voting system.
A rainy day over much of the Irish Republic initially dampened hopes of a high turn-out, but voting was none the less described as brisk in many areas. Voting hours were extended in the hope of reversing the recent trend of falling turn-outs.
The electorate of roughly three million people will elect 165 members of the Dail, with counting in most constituencies beginning today at 9am.
The exceptions are three constituencies in which electronic voting is being tried out. The system was said to be working well after some early teething problems.
In a late move, Mr Ahern dealt a mild rebuke to Sinn Fein in a lengthy statement giving details of his contribution to the Irish peace process.
He declared: "There is a need for republicans to do more, and to show not just that the war is over but that their commitment to peace is truly generous and open."
This is in line with his stance, shared by other large parties, that while republicans have advanced towards democracy they have not yet travelled far enough to be included in an Irish government.
He claimed credit for improvement in Anglo-Irish relations and in his dealings with the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, saying: "The people of Ireland and Britain have reached a new and unprecedented plateau in our long relationship.
"This is evident in the enhanced quality of the relationship between Ireland and Britain. Where before there were tensions, there is now a new maturity and a new ease.
"The British Government and the Unionists know they can rely on us to be honest, fair-minded and reasonable.
"The relationship I am in some ways proudest of is that with David Trimble. It might seem to some the least likely, in terms of our political backgrounds and even our styles, but I believe it has worked extremely well."
Fergal Keane, page 18
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