Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has said it is "too close to call" how many seats his party will win in the Irish general election. Exit polls suggest a close contest between the three major parties. Figures show Sinn Féin slightly ahead of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in first preference votes.

The final seats in the Irish general election are expected to be filled later on Monday. Only a small number of seats separate the three major parties with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael best placed to form a coalition government. However, Sinn Féin insists it will still be involved in the coalition talks.

Weakened centrist coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties may have to share power with conservative independents

But the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) meeting was overshadowed by the Irish general election. Speaking less than 24 hours after the final results were declared in the election, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it is “far too early” to speculate on cabinet positions within the next Irish government.

Voters across Ireland cast their ballots in the country’s general election on 29 November. First preference vote shares indicated that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are set to continue their coalition as support for Sinn Féin declines.