Outgoing Fianna Fáil senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee is understood to be considering her legal options after she lost her Seanad seat following a recount this morning.
She has not yet ruled out the possibility of court action in the wake of a recount on the vocational Cultural and Educational panel.
The North County Dublin-based politician, who came in a fraction of a vote behind Independent Co Waterford Cllr Joe Conway late last night in the complicated counting system, requested the 18th count be re-done.
The recount this morning did not change the result and she was deemed eliminated.
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Preliminary paperwork has been submitted to leave open the possibility of legal action. Ms Clifford-Lee has been contacted for comment.
Party colleague Cllr Shane Curley from Loughrea, Co Galway secured the sole Fianna Fáil seat despite early expectations of two seats.
The party’s former Longford-Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty also failed in his bid to win a Seanad seat.
The five seats on the panel have now been filled and counting has moved to the Agricultural panel.
Former Sinn Féin Cavan-Monaghan TD Pauline Tully who topped the poll just two votes shy of the 191 quota was elected first.
Fine Gael Wexford Cllr Cathal Byrne has also been elected while Fine Gael Senator Seán Kyne has retained his seat.
Independent Tramore, Co Waterford Cllr Joe Conway secured the final seat on the panel.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Shane Curley and outgoing Fine Gael Senator Seán Kyne look set to be re-elected.
Counting has begun on the Agricultural panel with 28 candidates for 11 seats.
Initial tallies show former Green Party minister Malcolm Noonan on course to win a seat, with Sinn Féin Joanne Collins of Limerick and Independent Senator Victor Boyhan also doing well.
Meanwhile, a recheck of the votes for the final seat in the University of Dublin (TCD) constituency is continuing.
A recount was requested after just 31 votes separated Green Party councillor Hazel Chu and entrepreneur Aubrey McCarthy on the 15th and final count.
Mr McCarthy had 3,741 votes while Ms Chu ended the last count with 3,710 votes following the distribution of former rugby international Hugo MacNeill’s vote after his elimination on the 14th count.
Independent senators Lynn Ruane and Tom Clonan were elected earlier in the count for TCD, while outgoing Independent Senators Michael McDowell, Rónán Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins were returned for the NUI constituency.
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