MR. LYNCH: "Voting is I say anticipating us out of office but I don't see the signs there. I think we are doing very well. It seems to me from my nationwide tour that we have done at least as well as on the last occasion with the possibility of picking up a couple of seats here and there."



INTERVIEWER: "Do you think you will be back in your desk in Merrion Square on Monday morning?"



MR. LYNCH: "I certainly will, I certainly will."




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In the Irish Republic, Prime Minister Jack Lynch cast his vote early in Dublin in Wednesday's General Election, before travelling to his own constituency in Cork to wait for the results.

The opposition coalition was trying to unseat Mr. Lynch's Fianna Fail party after 16 years in power - and some bookmakers were offering slight odds-on for a win for the opposition.

But after voting, Mr. Lynch told newsmen he was sure he would not be voted out of office.

Voting was reported to be very heavy.

SYNOPSIS: Wednesday was General Election day in the Irish Republic. Prime Minister Jack Lynch's Fianna Fail party, after sixteen years in power, faced a neck and neck struggle against the Opposition coalition. There was a high poll with both sides claiming victory. But some Dublin bookmakers were offering slight odds-on for the coalition. In the election campaign domestic issues had tended to overshadow the bloodshed in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Lynch voted early in Dublin before returning to his own constituency in Cork to await the results. After voting, he spoke to newsmen:
The Irish Republic has a complicated system of proportional representation ... and it could be some days before the final result is known.