Last orders for Dail bar are overdue

THE disclosure that €5,500 has had to be written off by the Oireachtas because some former TDS and senators refused to pay their bar bills will outrage the public.

The disputed claim that the Department of the Taoiseach is the worst offender will fuel the anger – especially as Leo Varadkar recently said those who refuse to pay should have the cash docked from their wages.

The practice of keeping the in-house bar open during late-night sittings has been the subject of criticism in recent years.

The “lapgate” scandal when a Fine Gael, who had been drinking, was captured on Dail TV cameras pulling a female party colleague on to his lap at 2.40am was a low point.

In a survey carried out by TV3 in 2013 found a quarter of TDS admitted consuming alcohol before returning to the floor of the Dail.

Another 23% of deputies said they took a drink before handling political business, even if it was just voting.

Not surprisingly more than nine out of 10 of the members asked thought politicians should not ban alcohol in Leinster House.

Even attempts over the years for the Dail bar to keep regular licensing hours have rebuffed instead of staying open into the early hours of the morning have been rebutted.

It is high time our politicians set a good example and banished booze from the business of running the country for once and for all.