Historic day! The RTE Repeal referendum exit poll has just been released

Following the news from the Irish Times exit poll that Ireland is set to Repeal the 8th by a landslide, RTE has released the results of its own survey.

Announced during the Late Late Show on Friday evening, Ryan Tubridy was joined for the discussion by journalists Lise Hand and David McCullough. Behaviours And Attitudes had spoken to 3,800 individuals at some 175 polling stations around the country... and the result is outstanding for the Yes side.

• Almost 70 percent voted Yes.
• Almost 31 percent voted No.

In Dublin, close-to 80 percent of voters opted to Repeal. Record-breaking turnout had been reported in many constituencies - with an incredible 30 percent of voters turning up before noon in some areas. The earlier poll compiled by the Irish Times had also confirmed that Ireland is en route to Repeal. In short - it looks likely Ireland will shortly be making abortion freely available to women. https://twitter.com/IpsosMRBI/status/1000124089074442240

"Ireland has voted by a landslide margin to change the constitution so that abortion can be legalised, according to an exit poll conducted for The Irish Times by Ipsos/MRBI," the Irish Times reported.

In response, the Social Democrats said it was "encouraged" by the polls. Commenting, the party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said:

"While we await the counting of votes tomorrow, we are very encouraged by these early signals showing that Irish people have understood the need to vote Yes so that we can provide women with the healthcare they need in a compassionate, caring and medically safe system."