After the votes are counted and the results calculated – common goals will be negotiated and a coalition formed. The shape of the next Irish government is set to be almost the same as the last one. But it will nonetheless take some weeks for the parties to agree a deal which will culminate with ministers taking office.

Ireland faces weeks of coalition talks before it gets a new government, as the country’s two major center-right parties work to form a stable administration. With all but a handful of seats filled in the 174-seat legislature on Monday after three days of counting election ballots,