New Politics: The Dáil Was 40 Minutes Late Starting Today, As Only 16 TDs Of 158 Showed Up

So this is what ‘New Politics’ looks like.

The Dáil was supposed to begin its business at 10.30am today, but as of 11.10am the Ceann Comhairle hadn’t been able to kick things off – because only 16 TDs of a required 20 had shown up, including a measly three from the Government.

Low attendance rates have long blighted the lower house, with the usual excuses surrounding constituency work, official duties and so on being trotted out. And while these are often legitimate, this is taking things to an awfully piss-takey level.

Things eventually kicked off 40 minutes late

Ceann comhairle describes earlier lack of quorum which delayed proceedings by 40 mins as an unprecedented event @rtenews #dail

— Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) July 8, 2016

But not before a lot of people had time to get very, very annoyed

How in the name of Jaysus can there only be 15 TD’s in the dail? What do we pay these solid lumps for? It’s their job to be there surely?

— em (@LittleMissEmma) July 8, 2016

Dáil is unable to sit today as not enough TDs have shown up for work! Should have started at10:30 but so far only 15 TDs have shown up!

— Hazel A Smith (@smithhazelann) July 8, 2016

This is a disgrace, get in the chamber #dail https://t.co/u2uSieJFfD

— Sean O’ Shea (@SeaniieOShea) July 8, 2016

@gavreilly What an end to Enda’s week! He can’t even get his own TDs to turn up in Dail chamber!

— Kathryn Byrne (@KathrynByrne) July 8, 2016