Final result

The final outcome is

FF 78

FG 51

Labour 20

Greens 6

SF 4

PD 2

Others 5.

Note that the above correctly sums to 166, unlike the previous tables which totalled 165 and 167.

Bertie Ahern is keeping his cards close to his chest in relation to how he plans to form his next government, but has been stressing stability. This requires him to carefully assess whether he could rely on the Greens as partners, or whether the extra concessions, and very hard work, needed to successfully get Labour to do a deal,would be worth it. I am inclined to think that he may end up simply keeping the PDs, sweet-talking some independents, and trusting in his ability to keep the others from finding a common cause sufficient to bring him down.

Stability may not be as assured as before the election, but no-one may notice the difference.