Fine Gael has been engulfed by infighting over candidates breaking rules set by party HQ over where they could canvass in the final, frantic days of a ‘bumpy’ General Election campaign.

Despite having spent the last four years in Government, the Green Party is potentially facing a total wipeout in the current election.

Counting is to get under way later on Saturday morning in the Irish general election, as exit polls suggest a close contest between the three major parties. Figures from Friday's exit poll show Sinn Féin slightly ahead of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in first preference votes.