fianna fáil secured the most seats, with 38, then returning and unopposed ceann comhairle giving them a 1-seat advantage. sinn féin finished with the most first-preference votes of any party and 37 seats to obtain the party's best showing since the foundation of the modern republic of ireland. fine gael, the party of taoiseach leo varadkar, finished third in both number of seats (35) and first-preference votes.