The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney looks set to be elected in Cork South Central on 14% after the first tally in the General Election. Coveney eventually secured a seat, but endured a tough battle with Sinn Fein candidate Donchadh Ó Laoghaire.

Tom Hayes, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture failed to keep his seat in Tipperary.

Coveney received 7,965 first preference votes in the first count, behind Michael Martin who received over 11,000 first preference votes. Martin was elected along with Michael McGrath.

Eamon O Cuiv, the Fianna Fail spokesperson on agriculture, in Galway West was comfortably the only person with a secure seat in his constituency and took the first seat in the constituency.

Martin Ferris, the Sinn Fein spokesperson on agriculture is under pressure with just 12.7% of the tally and will be fighting for the last seat.

Jackie Cahill, the former president of the ICMSA, ran in North Tipperary for Fianna Fail and took the last seat in the constituency. Independent Michael Lowry topped the poll, again, while Cahill polled 10% of the first preference votes, as did Alan Kelly, while the Junior Minister at the Department of Agriculture Tom Hayes was on 8%. Hayes failed to secure a seat, leaving Fine Gael with no seat in the constituency.

Wicklow’s Andrew Doyle looks to have a fight on his hands for the last seat, after only polling 8%. The man who once topped the poll in his constituency will be fighting it out with his former party colleague and current Renua Deputy President Billy Timmons as well as Pat Casey from Fianna Fail.