<P> Because Ireland uses PR - STV, it is rare for any one party to have a majority on its own . The last such occasion was 1977 . However, one or other coalitions are known to be possible before and during the election . Therefore, a "hung Dáil" (Dáil Éireann being the lower and most dominant chamber of the Oireachtas / Parliament) in Ireland refers more to the inability of a coalition of parties who traditionally enter government together or would be expected to govern together, from doing so . </P> <P> The President has no direct role in the formation of governments in the case of a hung parliament . However he retains the power to convene a meeting of either or both the Dáil and Senate which could become important if there was a government trying to use parliamentary recess to prevent confidence votes and hold onto power . The President may also refuse to dissolve Dáil Eireann and call an election if the Taoiseach loses a vote of confidence, instead giving the other parties a chance to see if they can put together a government without proceeding to another election . </P> <P> In 2016, Fine Gael and Labour, who had been in government the previous five years, were unable, due to Labours collapse, to enter government again . Fianna Fáil had enough seats to put together a rainbow government with the other centre - left, hard left parties and independents but negotiations broke down . Fianna Fáil had also promised not to enter coalition with Sinn Féin due to the current leaderships Provisional IRA connections . </P> <P> The press began to speculate about a Germany style "Grand Coalition" similar to the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats there . Many members of FF considered FG too right wing to enter coalition with and threatened to leave the party this came to pass . As talks continued on without a new government (the old government, constitutionally, which had just been voted out, remaining in power including ministers who had lost their seats) FF agreed to allow a government to form by abstention . The parliamentary arithmetic fell in such a way that if FF TD's abstained on confidence and supply matters, a FG minority govt could, with the support of a group of independents, form a new government . This was agreed in exchange for a number of policy concessions . Once the deal with FF was signed, Taoiseach Enda Kenny conducted talks with the independents and entered government for a second term . </P>

How often has there been a hung parliament