Several pro-life voices have either been re-elected to the Seanad, or won a seat in it for the first time after counting in the Seanad election finished over the weekend.

Senators Ronan Mullen and Sharon Keoghan were returned to the chamber, while Aontú won its first Seanad seat through Sarah O’Reilly. In addition, Aubrey McCarthy, who opposed the repeal of the 8th amendment won a seat as part of the Trinity College panel.

Two leading opponents on last year’s referendum on carers were also re-elected, namely Tom Clonan on the Trinity panel, and Michael McDowell on the NUI panel.