Good morning.
So this is it: after three-and-a-half weeks of intense electioneering by candidates all over the country, this is the last day of the general election campaign.
The broadcast moratorium - banning television and radio stations from discussing the election, silencing the endless cacophony of recent weeks - begins at 2pm today, and continues until polls close at 10pm tomorrow.
At that time, The Irish Times will publish the results of our Ipsos MRBI exit poll, which will give the first indication of the election results, although the final seat totals will not be clear until all the counts are completed - probably on Tuesday.
The exit poll will be published simultaneously by RTÉ, with whom the Irish Times has partnered to commission the poll, along with TG4 and UCD. Further details from the poll will be available on Sunday morning.
So the time for talkin' is nearly over; the time for votin' is nearly here. But there was more talkin' last night when the leaders of the smaller parties held the final live televised debate of the campaign. Sean MacCarthaigh's report is here.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin renewed his call for a “left-of-centre progressive alliance” in advance of any talks on those parties’ possible inclusion in the formation of a new government. Unless they stick together, Howlin warned, they will be “picked off” by the larger parties.
The Labour leader said he had already made the suggestion without any pre-condition and would welcome the opportunity to meet leaders of the Social Democrats and the Green Party next week to discuss such an alliance. In reality, the viability of any alliance depends on the numbers. But if the numbers fall for them, it could be interesting.
Harry McGee's analysis of the debate is here.
As the campaign winds down, most observers believe Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will be in pole position to try to put together the next government. As the week has gone on, a sense of foreboding has engulfed Fine Gael, and there is barely a TD in the party who does not fear for his or her seat - including many Ministers.
Some bullishly maintain recent days have seen a comeback on the doors, as voters focus on choosing a government and the Sinn Féin surge worries traditional Fine Gael-inclined voters. Perhaps they are right - who knows what way a late swing could go? But a lot of it sounds like wishful thinking. We shall know soon enough.
In the meantime, reports of last-minute election skulduggery flood in from around the country with candidates trespassing on each other's agreed territory, bogus instructions from party headquarters to vote this way or that, and all the dark arts that inevitably surface at this stage of a campaign. In Carlow-Kilkenny, European Commissioner Phil Hogan wades in for Fine Gael.
Despite its spectacular growth, Sinn Féin is finishing the campaign in a defensive crouch. Mary Lou McDonald spoke yesterday with the mother of murder victim Paul Quinn, but the Quinns remain unsatisfied. Jennifer Bray has the story, our lead today.
Sinn Féin also faced further questions about its attitude to the Special Criminal Court.
How much will any of this matter? That is now the most important question in this election.
Best reads
Stephen Collins does not mince his words about Sinn Féin.
Cliff Taylor and yours truly examine the anatomy of Sinn Féin's appeal to younger voters.
Here's the Irish Times view.
And Miriam.
And one non-election story that will matter a lot after the election: Martin Wall reports the Dart expansion project - one of several big capital projects to be undertaken in the coming years - is now expected to cost €600 million more than previous estimates.
The next government’s in-tray is already beginning to fill up.
Election playbook
Leo Varadkar is in Ennis this morning and then back to Dublin - though no word yet of any closing rally, or anything like that. Paschal Donohoe will host the final party press conference at election headquarters.
Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall is in Bray-sur-Mer with Wicklow candidate Jennifer Whitmore for their closing event on the seafront. Hope they get the weather for it.
All the parties will be doing their final press conferences this morning but have not as yet furnished the details. Wherever they happen, though, irishtimes.com will bring you the details. Over the weekend, we'll bring you results and analysis from around the country (here's a note on what to expect in our coverage).
And with that, it’s (nearly) over to the voters. Make sure you get to the polling station. Choose wisely. And whatever you do, have an entirely fruity election day.
