Voters going to the polls in the Republic of Ireland
Voters in the Republic of Ireland have began going to the polls to cast their vote in what many said will be a historical election.
Sinn Fein is topping opinion polls and this has unnerved the other parties, especially those in government.
The tv contest among candidates had a record audience. It was the first time most of the Irish public had an opportunity to hear the main partners in the outgoing confidence-and-supply government pact presented with an alternative.
On the housing crisis, the Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald tore into the record of the past two decades of right-wing government.
"The reality is each in their individual ways... have created this crisis. Fianna Fáil was and is the party of property developers, and Fine Gael is the party of landlords," she said.
Appealing directly to voters, Ms McDonald said: “It is right to say the theme of this election has emerged as a thirst for change.
"People have said to me that they recognise that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - essentially identical parties - have had it all their own way now for almost a century. People increasingly recognise Sinn Féin as an alternative."
