Move over Judge Judy, here comes Judge Mary. The leader of the Seanad, Ms Mary O'Rourke, is to appear on television as a judge on RTÉ's latest reality TV show, The House of Love.
The former Minister for Public Enterprise will form part of a three-person panel in the programme in which eight couples battle it out for the prize of a dream home.
The couples, who are looking to get their foot on the property ladder, are being kept under wraps until they are unveiled on the first episode on Sunday night.
The judges, who have the power to award points to the competing couples, will have to try to pair the 16 contestants into the right couples on the first show.
The winning couple of the eight-part series will be handed the keys to a new three-bedroom house worth €200,000 in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ms O'Rourke's former constituency.
The Seanad leader said yesterday she was looking forward to the programme, although insisted it was not a new career move. "I'm looking forward to it," she said. "I've been on TV for 20 years, and I briefly presented a TV programme on RTÉ at one stage, so I take these things in my stride.
"Whether in the Seanad or on RTÉ, I'm the same personality, be that a blessing or a curse. I never change my airs and graces for anyone."
The politician will join best-selling romantic novelist, Ms Marian Keyes, and psychologist, Mr John Masterson, on the judging panel.
Ms Karen Fitzpatrick, a spokesperson for the show, said the producers wanted a judging panel with a broad base of experience.
"The producers obviously wanted a psychologist and Marian Keyes obviously knows about love because she writes about it and Mary O'Rourke's a very high profile person as leader of the Seanad and is known for her common-sense approach to everything. Marian and Mary have been on the set and they can't wait to get started," she said.
RTÉ has constructed a circular set, surrounded by a studio audience, for the show. The series of hour-long programmes begins this Sunday at 8 p.m. on RTÉ 1 and the finale will take place on December 28th, live from the house in Mullingar.