The Tánaiste has said she expects the Progressive Democrats to secure six or possibly seven seats in the 29th Dáil, in a "tremendous achievement" by the party.
She also said she believed Fianna Fáil was heading for an overall majority. However, she said the PDs would not enter government with them in that scenario.
Ms Harney retained her seat in Dublin Mid-West, as expected.
Party President and Attorney General Mr Michael McDowell arrived at the RDS to pay tribute to his hard-working team after toppping the poll in Dublin South East.
He recovered the seat he lost in the mammoth recount battle against the Green TD, Mr John Gormley, in 1997. This time round, both candidates were first elected, on the fourth count.
Mr McDowell said that the massive turn around in his vote was due to hard work and strategy of his team. "It’s not what I’ve done personally, it’s what a team, including myself, have done to change the situation in Dublin South East."
We knew we had a big mountain to climb and we set out to mathematically charter the course of the campaign and to canvass every vote," said Mr McDowell.
He added that he hoped his party would gain five seats nationally. "Everybody who wrote off the Progressive Democrats, everybody who wrote our obituary, everybody who said it was the end of the party, they should now go back to the drawing board and work out where they went wrong," he added.
Mr McDowell's apparent success highlights a trend of strong PD support. The former IFA leader, Mr Tom Parlon is putting up a strong showing in Laois Offaly, where outgoing Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen is expected to comfortably top the poll.
The Tánaiste Ms Harney, in Dublin Mid-West, and Ms Liz O'Donnell in Dublin South are expected hold their seats for the PDs. In Dún Laoghaire Ms Fiona O'Malley is tallying well. Her cousin Tim, in Limerick East is also heading for the Dáil.