The Labour Party will have speaking rights in the 32nd Dáil, having secured seven seats in the election.

The final two seats in the Dáil were filled this morning following the election of Fine Gael's Peter Burke and Labour's Willie Penrose in the Longford-Westmeath constituency.

It followed the distribution of outgoing Fine Gael TD James Bannon's votes.

The four-seater constituency also includes Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy and Kevin 'Boxer' Moran of the Independent Alliance.

Willie Penrose says it was a vital to secure to speaking rights for the Labour party in the Dáil.

He told Newstalk Breakfast he has learned a few lessons from the election campaign.

The final picture of the 32nd Dáil has Fine Gael on 50 seats, Fianna Fáil on 44, Sinn Féin 23, Labour 7, Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit 6, Social Democrats 3, Green Party 2 and Independents on 23.

Meanwhile, James Bannon says he will take advice on whether to pursue a legal option as the margin of his defeat is very narrow.

The outgoing Fine Gael TD lost his seat in the constituency this morning.

Speaking to Shannonside Radio, Mr Bannon did not rule out a return to politics in the future.

A disappointed Bannon issued a statement to attending reporters | Image: Shannonside Radio

Speaking at the Longford-Westmeath recount, Labour leader Joan Burton told Shannonside Radio she will continue as leader of the party.