Animal welfare groups have hit out at Government plans to implement a loophole clause allowing Ireland to carry out experiments that inflict severe pain on animals in spite of an EU directive.

Green Party leader John Gormley has said that he is "unsurprised" by the resignation of one of the party's councillors today, saying it had been "on the cards" for some time.

A Green Party Councillor has resigned from the party saying she could not stand over certain decisions made on behalf of the Greens.