Sinn Féin has defended the decision to call a recount in the Ireland South European elections - claiming a price cannot be put on democracy.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged ex-Rehab chief executive Angela Kerins was "treated badly" by a previous Dáil public accounts committee during its pursuit of serious financial issues at the organisation.

Brian Crowley will once again top the poll in the Ireland South European elections with Sinn Féin newcomer Liadh Ní Riada and Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly on course to take the second and third seat.