Former Monaghan councillor Catherine Martin , has been elected the Green Party's new deputy leader.

She was one of three candidates for the post  which were former Senator Mark Dearey and Northern Ireland green activist John Barry.

The position they were contesting was held by former junior minister Mary White for the past 10 years.

After her victory, she insisted the Greens would prove wrong predictions of their demise in the wake of an electoral wipe-out at the last general election.

"This is the liveliest, most enthusiastic group of extinct people I know," she said.

Ms Martin said she was looking forward to recruiting new members to the party, and in particular encouraging women that it is possible to combine political life with family commitments.

She is a secondary school teacher and mother of three young children.