Lucinda Creighton has stepped down as leader of Renua.

The former Fine Gael Junior Minister announced her decision at a members meeting of the party in Portlaoise this afternoon.

Renua failed to win a single seat in the general election, despite running 26 candidates.

Creighton had been a TD since 2007 but failed to retain her seat.

Ms Creighton has used her resignation speech to give the new Minister for Social Protection her backing, saying Leo Varadkar has the ability to bring about a new kind of leadership that has been lacking in Ireland.

Billy Timmons, former deputy leader of Renua, says her decision hasn't come as a surprise - but he hopes Ms Creighton returns to politics: