Exit poll put left-wing nationalists Sinn Fein at 21.1 percent of votes, slightly ahead of two centre-right parties.
Polls show centre-right incumbents Fine Gael and Fianna Fail running neck and neck with leftist-nationalist Sinn Fein.
We examine why the Irish are so sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
After a series of Israeli attacks on UNIFIL in Lebanon, the peacekeeping mission says it is staying put.