Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said the new Government must be formed ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump taking his place in the oval office on January 20th.

You can keep up to date with all the General Election results throughout the weekend through Newstalk’s live blog and video stream.

With Trump threatening tariffs on international goods imported to America and putting pressure on multinationals to bring business back to the States, Ireland’s financial position could become rocky in the next few months.

“The deadline is that we have to wrap this up before Trump takes over as President,” Mr Ahern told Newstalk. 

“There's a lot of sense why that should happen, because the Government - particularly key ministers - need quickly to get our lobbying in with the United States.

“If you believe the man and I'd be afraid not to, because he tends to do what he says, and he made a few appointments last night that look crazy, but it's what he said he do, and he has the mandate.

“So, I think we need to be ready to get our lobbying in.

“If he starts slapping tariffs on, if he starts putting pressure on multinationals not to reinvest, you know, all of a sudden, the economic pictures could change quickly.”

Mr Ahern said he thinks negotiations will begin the week after next.

“The leaders are all a bit tired,” he said.

“They'll have their great hurrah during the week - the new parliamentary parties will meet.

“I assume it'll be probably the following week, and we're drifting into Christmas.

“But I think in a week's time, they'll start thinking about just how they knock all this together and hopefully they will do that quicker.”

Newstalk reporters will be at count centres around Ireland bringing you all the results as they come in.

We will also be running election specials throughout the day, and you can follow all the action on our live blog and on our social channels.

Image shows Frances Fitzgerald (L) and Bertie Ahern (R). Image: Newstalk