McDowell was the first candidate elected on the National University of Ireland (NUI) panel, receiving 11,390 first-preference votes. The NUI panel had a quota of 9,029 from a valid poll of 36,114. After his victory, he expressed gratitude for being re-elected to the 27th Seanad.

Mullen and Higgins, both outgoing senators, retained their seats after the eighth count, meaning all three NUI panel candidates successfully defended their positions.

On the Dublin University/Trinity College panel, incumbent Lynn Ruane topped the poll with 3,761 votes and was elected on the 11th count.

Former children’s minister Katherine Zappone, one of the best-known candidates, was eliminated on the ninth count.

Meanwhile, counting continues for the five vocational panels at Leinster House, where 111 candidates are vying for 43 seats. The process began on

Thursday with the Cultural and Educational panel and is expected to last until Bank Holiday Monday. Each panel is counted sequentially, starting with Cultural and Educational, followed by Agricultural, Labour,

Industrial and Commercial, and Administrative. Counting takes place daily from 9:30 a.m. until around midnight, with results posted on the Oireachtas website and social media.

The majority of the public does not have a vote in the Seanad elections.

The electorate for the five vocational panels consists of Dáil TDs, outgoing senators, and local authority councillors. Graduates of NUI institutions and Trinity College Dublin elect six senators across two panels, while the final 11 seats are appointed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Among the candidates are Fine Gael’s Alan Farrell, Fianna Fáil’s Joe Flaherty, the Green Party’s Malcolm Noonan, and Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy and Pauline Tully. Murphy, Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator and Stormont’s

Economy Minister, made a surprise entry into the race last month.

Running on the Industrial and Commercial panel, he has stated that “constitutional change is coming” and that his experience will be instrumental in advancing referenda and Irish reunification.

Other notable contenders include Frances Black, Restaurants Association of Ireland chief executive Adrian Cummins, and former TD Cathal Berry.

Elected senators will debate government legislation, propose and amend Bills, but they do not have the power to prevent a Bill from becoming law.