Dublin  - As the Irish government suffered "serious losses" in the European elections Sunday, Eurosceptic Libertas leader Declan Ganley was also set for defeat, according to the first official results in what promises to be a photo-finish European election.

On the basis of the first-count official results announced in the North-West constituency, Ganley is out of the race for the third seat after com ing fourth with 16 per cent.

Ganley, who led the successful "No" campaign to the Lisbon treaty, has said that he would not campaign against Lisbon again if he failed to win a seat.

Ireland is to elect 12 MEPs to the European Parliament.

The results of the third count in the Dublin constituency show the governing Fianna Fail candidate set for a tussle to hold his seat. The first two seats are set to go to opposition Fine Gael and the Labour party.

The final results in Dublin, of symbolic significance for beleagured Fianna Fail, are expected to be delayed until Monday after the Green party candidate requested a partial recount after being eliminated.

Opposition Fine Gael outgoing MEP Mairead McGuinness topped the poll in the East constituency, making her the first Irish MEP to be elected. A Labour party candidate is also set to be elected in the East.

Fianna Fail said it would continue on its course despite "serious losses" in both the European and local elections held the same time.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said he did not expect the government to be defeated Tuesday when opposition Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he would table a motion of no confidence.

Fianna Fail's popularity, now at 21 per cent, has been halved since the last general election in 2007. It got 26 per cent of the vote in the local elections.

Lenihan acknowledged that the party had "suffered very serious losses" in the local and European elections, but said the government's task was now to provide leadership and a government that would "bring this country through the economic crisis."

The Green Party, which has been in coalition with Fianna Fail since 2007, suffered what has been called a meltdown in the elections.

The remaining Libertas candidates failed to make an impact in the elections.

In the South constituency, Fianna Fail's sitting MEP there is topping the poll. Fine Gael is also set for election in the South constituency where counting has been suspended un til Monday.

Turnout was expected to exceed 59 per cent when the official figures are announced. (dpa)