Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are in a tight race to become Ireland’s next taoiseach, leaving Sinn Fein locked out of power, according to the latest general election results.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are expected to secure a combined total of more than 80 seats, just shy of the 88 needed to secure a majority in the Dáil.

Sinn Féin is expected to secure around 40 seats, well short of a majority, and it has little prospect of entering into a coalition with the other two major parties. Exit polls on Friday had initially placed them first, but counting over the weekend altered final projections.

The party has said it wants to be in the next government, but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have said they will not work with Sinn Féin due to policy differences.