Three TDs who failed to get re-elected in the General Election have been appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Simon Harris.
Former Galway East Fianna Fáil TD and Junior Minister Anne Rabbitte and her party colleague Joe Flatherty, a former TD for Longford Westmeath, were appointed to the Seanad seats vacated by Timmy Dooley and Erin McGreehan.
Mr Dooley and Ms McGreehan were elected to the Dáil as TDs for the Clare and Louth constituencies respectively.
Meanwhile, former Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, who lost his seat in Dublin Fingal East, has been appointed to the seat vacated by Emer Currie after she was elected to the lower house for Dublin West.
Ms Currie was elected to the seat vacated by former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who did not stand for re-election.
A Government spokesperson said the appointments were made "as part of an agreement between the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil" in accordance with Article 18.10.02 of the Constitution.
That provision allows for casual vacancies in the number of the nominated members of Seanad Éireann to be filled by nomination by the Taoiseach with the prior consent of persons so nominated.
