He urged the public to “vote left and transfer left”, adding that 100 years of the two big parties should end.

The two main parties in the outgoing Irish government have again ruled out Sinn Fein as a potential coalition partner in the next government. The leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin were taking part in a TV debate just days before the general election.

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.