TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Exit poll has Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail together on 22%
LAST night’s General Election exit poll put the top three parties all on 22%.
Fine Gael appeared to have turned it around in the last days of canvassing after bouncing back in the crucial figures released at 10pm.
Sinn Fein had their highest showing ever, while Fianna Fail
were still on course to win the most seats. The result showed the three big parties practically level-pegging, with all on 22%.
Fine Gael had a slight edge on 22.4%. Sinn Fein held their own on 22.3% and Fianna Fail were on 22.2%, making it a virtual dead heat.
But with a margin of error of 1.3% it’s impossible to split the top three.
It was a stunning turnaround for the outgoing Government party of Fine Gael.
They were looking like they were in freefall, but now could theoretically challenge again to be the lead party in terms of seats after the counting is done.
There was a mixture of jubilation and confusion among the party chiefs of Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail last night.
Fine Gael had been as low as 20% in opinion polls, while Sinn Fein were riding high at up to 25% although there were fears they would plummet after a bad week.
Fianna Fail hovered around 23% worried they might fall between the two stools.
It was virtually impossible last night to see how exactly the votes would spread in the next day or two, with the last seats in the majority of constituencies going to go down to the wire.
The exit poll was conducted by Ipsos/ MRBI for RTE, the Irish Times, TG4 and UCD. Counting of votes commences nationwide this morning at 9am.