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the chosen ones

Here's who the Taoiseach has chosen to fill the remaining Seanad seats

The Taoiseach picked some Fine Gael TDs who lost their seats in February’s general election.

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has filled his 11 Seanad positions today.

A number of Fine Gael TDs who failed to win a seat in the Dáil have been picked for the Upper House.

While the Seanad elections filled 49 seats already, the Taoiseach enjoys a privilege of filling the remaining 11 seats.

However, Micheál Martin had a hand in choosing three of the new senators according to members of his party.

Those three senators are Joan Freeman, Colette Kelleher and Pádraig Ó Céidigh.

Here’s the full list of the chosen ones.

1. Fine Gael’s James Reilly

28/2/2016 General Elections Campaigns Results RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

The former Health and Children’s Minister, Dr James Reilly lost his seat in Dublin Fingal after being defeated by Sinn Féin in the battle for the fifth Dáil place.

Following his defeat, the Fine Gael deputy leader said he would consider his future role in the party and in politics.

However, Kenny has given him the nod.

2. Fine Gael’s Michelle Mulherin 

12/9/2014. Fine Gael Think Ins Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

The former Mayo TD comes from Taoiseach’s very own county but lost her seat to Fianna Fáil’s Lisa Chambers.

While it was expected to go down to the wire between the two, Chambers easily won out – with over 2,000 votes between them (11,686 to 9,593).

3. Fine Gael’s Paudie Coffey

23/6/2015 Issues Over Future Concerts Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Former Fine Gael Minister of State Paudie Coffey who lost his Dáil seat in the last election.

4. Marie-Louise O’Donnell

3/12/2015. Civil Service Reports Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

Marie-Louise O’Donnell is well-known to be a close friend of Enda Kenny and a fellow Mayo woman.

O’Donnell is an Irish broadcaster and has already been nominated by an Taoiseach to serve in the Seanad.

5. Joan Freeman 

An estimated 120,000 peop graphy: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland graphy: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Freeman is the founder of the suicide awareness and support charity Pieta House.

6. Fine Gael’s Ray Butler 

Taoiseach Enda Kenny on a visit to Trim,County Meath Ray Butler with Enda Kenny RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Ray Butler was elected as a TD for the Meath West constituency at the 2011 general election but lost his seat this year.

7. Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan 

6/11/2012 Fine Gael Frank Feighan Wearing Poppys Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Feighan is a former and Dáil deputy – He served as a TD for Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency from 2007 to 2016.

8. Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony

16/9/2013 Fine Gael Think Ins John O'Mahony Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

O’Mahony is a former TD for the Mayo constituency. He was elected in 2007 but lost his seat this year.

9. Billy Lawless

Lawless is an advocate for Irish immigrants in the United States.

10. Colette Kelleher

Kelleher is the CEO of Alzheimer’s Ireland.

11. Pádraig Ó Céidigh 

Ó Céidigh is a businessman and the founder of of Aer Arann Express and of Aer Lingus Regional.

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald

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Read: Repairs to Leinster House ‘shouldn’t result in early holidays for TDs’>

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