The former garda, who is not yet being named, is also taking High Court action against his former employers.

The former tánaiste was giving evidence at the High Court on the fourth week of a defamation case brought by Gerry Adams against the BBC

Votes are being counted for the 43 seats available on the upper house’s five vocational panels.

Outgoing senators Ronán Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins were re-elected on the eighth count.

The vast majority of the public do not have a vote in the Seanad.

The Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll saw a list of 14 potential presidential candidates put to the public with the question: 'Which of the following would you vote for in an Irish Presidential election in 2025?'

The south Galway facility, which has 70 turbines and was the largest windfarm in the country when constructed, can provide enough electricity to supply 30,000 homes