E-bike subsidies, ringfenced funding for cycling infrastructure, and the establishment of a National Cycling Office are some of the measures sought by cycling lobbyists in their pre-budget submission to Government this week.

Miracles can happen. A week ago, we were told that it would take 28

The Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan has secured the fourth seat in Ireland South, with Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune taking the fifth, so-called Brexit seat.

So that’s nearly Wednesday wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

The 20th count in the Ireland South constituency has seen the Green Party's Grace O'Sullivan secure the fourth seat while Deirdre Clune from Fine Gael claimed the fifth seat.

Outgoing Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada said she her party needs to engage better with voters after a disappointing local and European election campaign.

A full recheck and recount has been called in the Ireland South election.

Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher has vowed to act as a strong voice on Brexit after becoming the second elected MEP in the Ireland South constituency.

A dogfight to the last is expected in Ireland South with three seats yet to be filled.

Counting staff will begin the process of rechecking tomorrow morning at 9am and, if required, a full recount will begin next Tuesday.

Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune has made an incredible comeback in the Ireland South constituency and is now in contention to take the fourth seat.

The race for seats in Ireland South has heated up as Labour candidate Shelia Nunan and Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle have both been eliminated in the 15th count.

Fianna Fail TD Billy Kelleher described himself as "elated, honoured and humbled" after being elected to the European Parliament.

Another day of drama is expected in the Ireland South count today, as Seán Kelly became the first MEP elected in the constituency.

All four European parliament seats have been filled in Dublin but counting continues in South and Midlands-North West.

Independents 4 Change candidate Mick Wallace continues to be the surprise story of the Ireland South vote.

Dublin's four new MEP seats have finally been decided, after three days of counting.

Fine Gael's Sean Kelly has topped the poll in the first count for the European elections in the Ireland South constituency.

Fine Gael MEP candidate Andrew Doyle has dismissed suggestions that his party's focus on colleague Deirdre Clune negatively impacted his chances of getting elected.

Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune has no regrets about her party's decision to run three candidates in Ireland South.

A confident Sean Kelly has sent a warning shot to those set to be elected to Europe in the coming days that they have to "work for Ireland" and not spend their time "spoofing".

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan remains optimistic that Fine Gael will secure two seats in Ireland South.

Counting has resumed for a second day in the Ireland South constituency where it now appears that exit polls were not accurate.

Fine Gael has become the first government party in two decades to make gains in mid-term elections, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Sean Kelly is set to become the first MEP elected in Ireland South later today.

Ireland South candidate Mick Wallace insists that the nerves aren't getting to him despite facing a tough fight to secure a seat in Europe.

Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly claims that the party is still in contention to win two seats in Ireland South.

A first round result in the Ireland South elections is not expected until at least midnight with the lengthy ballot papers causing significant delays.

Counting is under way in the European elections where the Greens could pick up as many as three seats.

Since the RTE/TG4 exit poll dropped at 10 pm on Friday evening, most of the talk about the local and European elections has been about the so-called 'Green Wave'.

Latest: Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has suggested Leo Varadkar could be facing a worse local election performance than Enda Kenny.

Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune is at real risk of losing the seat she won in 2014, with an official exit poll placing her seventh on first preferences in the five seat constituency.

A “deeply disappointed” junior minister Andrew Doyle openly defied his party's instructions not to canvass in Cork and Tipperary amid an escalating feud between Fine Gael's Ireland South candidates.

Europe holds the key to solving the housing crisis and action now could help "restore trust" in the EU, Labour's Ireland South MEP candidate Sheila Nunan believes.

The Tánaiste has warned of dangerous times for the European Union and urged the electorate to counter the rise of the Brexit party by voting for pro-European candidates in tomorrow's European elections.

Fine Gael has been forced to “revise” its division of the Ireland South constituency in order to bolster MEP Deirdre Clune's flagging campaign, just 48 hours before polling.

European election candidates had spent almost €60,000 combined on Facebook advertising up to last Sunday, figures made available by the social media giant have revealed.

On Friday, Irish citizens will be asked to cast their vote for candidates who will represent them in the European Parliament, as well as at local council level and a referendum on divorce legislation.

There are two sleeps left to local and European elections on Friday.

A new manufacturing facility in Cork has created 70 new jobs, with 30 of these roles already filled in recent months.

Election candidate Deirdre Clune recently visited a school where pupils are taught to elect a council. The Cork MEP says she’s learned a lot about politics in recent years too, writes Catherine Shanahan

Ms Clune is one of three sitting MEPs contesting Ireland South, with five seats up for grabs. But she was placed seventh in a Red C poll.

With Rosalia Long’s Zumba moves triggering positive feelings left, right and centre, Beaumont Girls National School was as good a place as any to re-energise for the final week of European Elections campaigning.

In this special report Elaine Loughlin reveals the extent of expenses payments accrued by Irish MEPs over the most recent five-year European Parliament term.