Willie Penrose victory lands Labour in seventh heaven

Labour has managed to secure its speaking rights in the new Dáil after party TD Willie Penrose retained his seat following a six-day count in Longford-Westmeath.

Party leader Joan Burton has now pledged to remain as leader, despite the party seeing its Dáil numbers reduced to just seven after a disastrous election.

Mr Penrose took the fourth and final seat after the drawn-out count saw outgoing Fine Gael TD James Bannon eliminated.