Following unsuccessful votes in the Dail....>

IRELAND: Following unsuccessful votes in the Dail (parliament) last night to

elect a new taoiseach (PM), the probability of a snap election has increased.

- The leaders of the three largest parties (Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Fine Gael)

all failed to win a majority in favour of them becoming PM. Fine Gael's Leo

Varadkar lost by 36 votes to 107, meaning his gov't falls. With nobody receiving

a majority he remains in office in a caretaker role.

- Parties will continue coalition negotiations. On the left there is momentum

behind a 'rainbow coalition' of parties, but given the 3-way split in seats

between the largest parties in the Dail any gov't would require 2 of the 3. 

- There is no formal time limit on how long it can take to form a gov't. After

2016 vote it took 70 days. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail both refusing to work with

Sinn Fein due to IRA history. Fine Gael resigned to period in opposition. 

- Only 1 op poll carried out in wake of election. Shows Sinn Fein up to 35%

(from 25%), Fine Gael down to 18% (from 21%) and Fianna Fail at 17% (from 22%).

Should be taken cautiously as just 1 poll, but if reflected in a snap election

could allow Sinn Fein to form gov't.