Ireland’s two centre-Right parties have vowed to extend Sinn Fein’s 100-year stint on the political sidelines as they clashed ahead of this week’s closely fought general election.

Promises made by the Sinn Fein pro-Irish unity party to tackle a housing and cost-of-living crisis and stop young people leaving the country have bolstered its popularity ahead of a general election on Friday.

Sinn Fein's polling collapse from government-in-waiting to likely also-rans at an Irish election next week looks set to rob Irish nationalists of a potentially transformative moment in their pursuit of a united Ireland.

Fianna Fáil’s refusal to contemplate Sinn Féin as a coalition partner is policy-based and not personal, Micheal Martin has insisted. Mr Martin again made clear he would not engage with Sinn Féin in relation to government formation post-election.