Polling in the Lisbon Treaty referendum was mixed throughout the country by mid-afternoon, with figures of between 15 per cent and 25 per cent reported at various centres.
In the Taoiseach’s constituency of Laois-Offaly, turnout was running at between 16 and 25 per cent this afternoon, with a good turnout reported in Mr Cowen’s hometown of Clara.
The returning officer for the Dublin Mid-West and South areas described this morning’s turnout as better than expected. The south Dublin suburbs of Templeogue, Milltown and Castleknock in Dublin showed a turnout of between nine and 13 per cent before lunchtime.
Polling in the other Dublin centres was running at between 15 to 18 per cent this afternoon, with Dublin north-east reported to be busy.
After a relatively brisk morning at the polls in Cork, turnout was noticeably quieter in the afternoon.
The fine weather did not appear to have helped the turnout in Galway however, where it was described as low in the morning.
In Louth turnout was at 20 per cent by 3pm. A pick-up in the early evening was expected however.
In Donegal about 10 per cent turnout was reported in Letterkenny and 8 per cent in Buncrana reported this morning.
Polling stations opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm. The weather for this evening is expected to remain dry and cool with no major rainfall, which can often deter voters from venturing out.
Turnout will be key after the Republic almost scuppered EU plans for eastwards expansion by rejecting the Nice treaty in 2001 where only 35 per cent of the electorate voted. It was eventually passed in a second vote.