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Taoiseach Bertie Ahern arriving at RTÉ last night. Mr Ahern said it had been a great night for Fianna Fáil, and he expected the party to win about 79 seats. He said he would serve as Taoiseach until May or June of 2012, when he will be 60.

Photograph: Aidan Crawley

FF poised for third term after strong performance
Bertie Ahern was in a commanding position last night to form his third successive government after an impressive performance by Fianna Fáil that saw the party come close to holding the same number of seats it won in the last election, writes Stephen Collins , Political Editor
McDowell quits politics after losing Dáil seat to Gormley
Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has announced he is quitting political life following his defeat in Dublin South East yesterday. Mark Hennessy , Political Correspondent, reports.

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Ireland

McDowell bows out of public life after defeat
Tánaiste's statement: Tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell was the biggest casualty of the general election yesterday when he lost his seat in Dublin South East to his long-time rival John Gormley of the Green Party, write Martin Wall and Seán Mac Connell. p
Kenny has to dream on as Mayo coalition fades away
There was no etiquette book for this. Fine Gaelers stood around the heaving count centre in Castlebar, not knowing how to act or what to say. Kathy Sheridan in Castlebar p
Independents squeezed out by major parties
Independents: It was a bad night for Independents with many, as expected, losing out to both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. p
GP could yet be in coalition frame
Green Party performance/analysis: It looks like being a disappointing election for the Green Party, writes Liam Reid. p
Party gets wake-up call as outcome upsets expectations
Sinn Féin performance/analysis: Sinn Féin had got used to winning. Now it must regroup and reorganise, writes Mark Hennessy , Political Correspondent. p
Voting figures at 67.3%, up 5% on 2002
Turnout: Turnout in the election was significantly higher than in 2002, with 67.3 per cent of voters casting ballots, up from 62.6 per cent, almost five percentage points. Polling was highest in Connacht/Ulster (69 per cent), and lowest in Dublin (64 per cent). p
90% of public supports ban on smoking
Support among the Irish public for the smoking ban remains overwhelming, according to an EU survey of attitudes of Europeans to tobacco. Paul Cullen reports. p
45,000 expected for Slane extravaganza
Gardaí have put in place a traffic plan to cope with the crowds attending a motocross extravaganza at Slane Castle, Co Meath, this weekend. p

World

China moves to check clamour for reform
CHINA: China has launched a high-profile counter-attack against tentative calls for democratic reform and reiterated the country's commitment to good, old-fashioned Marxist values. p
Yushchenko move causes alarm
UKRAINE: Ukraine's feuding president and prime minister accused each other of dragging the country towards violence yesterday, as the head of state's decision to take direct control of tens of thousands of troops caused alarm in Brussels, Washington and Moscow. p
Devastating analysis from Gore of Bush's politics
America Letter: In New York this week, Al Gore was answering the question he is asked everywhere these days and, as usual, he was leaving his questioners less than satisfied. p
Aboriginals told they must learn English
AUSTRALIA: Australian government plans to stop parents' welfare payments if children do not attend school, writes Pádraig Collins in Sydney p

Finance

Families set for Arnotts buyout battle
The two families who own department store group Arnotts are heading for a buyout battle after one of them revealed that it is planning to make an offer valuing the business at €500 million, writes Barry O'Halloran . p
UTV predicts small gain in Irish radio revenue
Revenue from UTV's Irish radio operations will be lower than expected in the first half of the year, shareholders were told at the company's agm yesterday, writes Carissa Casey in Belfast. p
Investors thwart IN&M bid for media group APN
Sir Anthony O'Reilly has suffered a big setback in Australia after investors in media group APN thwarted a 1.93 billion Australian dollars (€1.19 billion) bid by Independent News & Media to take the business private, writes Arthur Beesley, Senior Business Correspondent. p

Sport

Harrington stays on target
GOLF: Kerching! Whether he likes it or not, Padraig Harrington can't ignore the sound of the cash register. Yesterday, on greens at Wentworth that traditionally have confused him more than the columns in a financial ledger, the Dubliner - a qualified accountant before embarking on life as a tour professional - shot a second successive round of 69 for 138, six under, to stay on target for potentially the biggest payday in professional golf. p
Staunton keeps his cards to his chest
SOCCER/Republic of Ireland v Bolivia: Already running a little behind schedule, Steve Staunton swung past the team hotel's branch of a well-known coffee-shop chain on the way to yesterday morning's press conference, which he entered carrying something resembling a bucket of their finest. p
Santa Fe the last outpost for some
RUGBY: Amid the surfeit of Test matches few games throw up much of a novelty factor any more. But a first Test in the relative rugby outpost of Santa Fe between two inexperienced, experimental rivals has something a little different and refreshing about it. It could be fun; it will certainly be revealing. p