A Green Party MEP says the exportation of live animals to countries outside the EU "shouldn't be happening".

The newest member of the Seanad has promised to represent farmers who want a new vision for agriculture in Ireland that is in tune with the environment and biodiversity.

It is part of a global movement by young people campaigning for radical and systemic action on the climate crisis.

Delegates at its National Conference in Dublin have heard promises of a future they can believe in - with 'a party of hope'.

The Green party hierarchy has set its sights on running European elections candidate, Saoirse McHugh, in a Seanad by-election to replace newly-elected party MEP Grace O'Sullivan in the upper house.

Green Party MEP candidate, Saoirse McHugh, is being lined up to contest the Seanad seat vacated by Grace O'Sullivan.

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.

Sinn Féin’s Liadh Ní Riada has conceded in the Ireland South constituency in the European Elections.

Teams of experienced counters from Cork's City and County Halls have been drafted in to speed up the recount in Ireland South.

A full recount of European Election ballot papers in the Ireland South constituency is to get underway this morning.

Additional staff from outside Cork are set to be drafted in to ensure as speedy a conclusion to the full recount in Ireland South which begins tomorrow.

Sinn Féin will pull the plug on the Ireland South recount if it becomes clear they are not making up the gap in votes, Mary Lou McDonald has said.

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

A full recount has been called in Ireland South which is expected to leave the constituency without representation in Europe until mid-July.

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

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

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.

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.

More than 25,000 of the spoiled votes in the Ireland South ballot were left entirely blank.

Grace O'Sullivan has admitted she has a massive battle on her hands to win a seat in the Ireland South constituency.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has admitted candidate Saoirse McHugh is looking increasingly unlikely to win a European elections seat despite "inspiring" the country with her campaign.

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

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

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.

Results of the votes here will not be announced until 10pm tonight due to a European-wide embargo.

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

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.

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.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must scrap the Government's 2040 national development plan if he is serious about climate change, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said.

Fianna Fáil TD and Ireland South MEP election candidate Billy Kelleher has been accused of "selling out" traditional pro-life party support over his decision to back the removal of the eighth amendment.