A QUICK-witted TD delivered a sharp quip after all power went out in the Dail during a debate on the cost of living and rising supermarket prices, saying: “Have you paid the electricity bill Minister?”
Leinster House was thrown into disarray today after the Dail and its surrounding buildings suffered a series of power outages.
Electricity cut off in the buildings around Kildare Street on several occasions with politicians’ offices left without power for the morning.
The first power outage hit Leinster House during a debate on rising food prices and the cost of living.
The Social Democrats had brought forward a bill demanding that supermarkets be forced to disclose their profits in Ireland amid rising prices.
The party wants the five major supermarkets in Ireland to be more transparent about how much they make in Ireland with the grocery sector here worth €15 billion a year.
SocDems TD Jennifer Whitmore was raising the impact of skyrocketing food prices on household bills in the Dail when the power cut.
The sharp Wicklow TD didn’t miss a beat when the electricity went out during her speech as she quipped: “Have you paid the electricity bill Minister?”
After finishing the point she was making the TD asked the chamber if she should continue.
And even with the shut off in the Dail chambe,r business continued with Galway TD Catherine Connolly who was chairing the debate laughing: “The sound is more important than the vision on this occasion.”
The Dail Chamber itself had a back up power to enable business to continue however, all Committee meetings were suspended after the rooms in the nearby LH2000 building were cast into darkness by the outage.
Four Oireachtas committees were sitting at the time with witnesses giving evidence on a range of subjects from drone use to social welfare changes in the upcoming budget.
The Committee on Disability Matters was hearing from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission when they lost power and the room fell into darkness.
Confused politicians and staff in the room at the time questioned: “Will I go out and have a look and see if I can flick a switch?”
The power in Leinster House continued to flick on and off throughout the morning as staff worked to address the issue which was being put down to an ESB network problem.
CONNOLLY STATION POWER CUT
It is understood the power outage impacted the wider Dublin 2 area with electricity lost for over an hour in parts.
Power is being restored across the area sporadically this afternoon.
Connolly Station in Dublin was also hit by a power cut this morning, leaving lights and announcements unavailable.
Irish Rail warned customers: “Passengers are advised there is currently an ESB power outage at Connolly Station. No impact to the running of services.
“However station lights, announcements/monitors and ticket vending machines are out of service until further notice.”
The power to the station was restored just after 7am.
