Counting is under way for nominees to Seanad Éireann (the upper house of the Irish parliament) on Thursday. One of the hopefuls is Sinn Féin Minister Conor Murphy, who made the announcement of his intention to run and quit Stormont if elected last month.

Independent Waterford Councillor Joe Conway has been elected to the Cultural and Educational Panel in Seanad Éireann following a recount that took place earlier on Friday morning. Cllr Conway's votes surpassed those of the outgoing Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee.

Kilkenny has increased it representation in Dáil Eireann today (Friday) - with the election of former minister, The Green Party's Malcolm Noonan. The new Senator Noonan topped the poll on the Agricultural Panel and was the first elected on that panel.

Counting got underway for the Seanad’s agricultural panel at lunchtime today. Outgoing senator Eugene Murphy is hoping to retain his seat in the Oireachtas, after breaking with Fianna Fáil and running in the general election as an independent.

Independents Michael McDowell, Ronán Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins have all been re-elected to the Seanad. Mr McDowell was the first to be elected in the National University of Ireland (NUI) panel, with 11,390 first-preference votes.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL HAS become the first candidate to be elected to new Seanad. The Independent Senator was re-elected to the National University of Ireland (NUI) panel on the first count just before midnight.