The Upper House discussed the alcohol Bill yesterday. In keeping with the occasion, one Senator was plastered for the entirety.

Lolling in the back row, leg draped nonchalantly over an armrest, one shoe missing and a multicoloured stripy sock on display for all to see.

When the debate was over, Marie Louise O’Donnell heaved herself from her seat and lurched unsteadily towards the door, refusing all offers of the loan of a crutch.

Nothing to do with drink, it must be stressed. The Taoiseach’s nominee was injured while on duty last week. She tripped on the steps leading from the Seanad Leader’s office and broke at least two bones in her foot.

We don’t know what Jerry Buttimer said for her to exit in a such hurry – although he does tend to talk a lot – but the result is that Marie Louise now sports an impressive plaster cast from her foot to her knee.

The Committee Stage of a Bill in the Seanad does not normally attract a big amount of interest, but there were high hopes of fireworks at the debate on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which includes some measures which have angered shop owners who say their business will suffer if they have to screen off alcohol from public view.

Some politicians in Leinster House are privately referring to the legislation as “the Burqa Bill” and others are calling it “the Beer Curtains Bill.”

Certain Senators who have their seats thanks to support from small businesses are being vigorously lobbied to effect a change the legislation.

Others who might have their eye on a future Dáil seat don’t want to get on the wrong side of the small retailers and the large drinks manufacturers.

Lobbied intensely

Senators from Fine Gael have been particularly targeted as they might influence Minister for Health, Simon Harris and his Minister for State Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, who is stewarding the Bill through the House.

To this end Corcoran-Kennedy has been lobbied intensely by her colleagues. She has come in for intense criticism from colleagues at party meetings and the Senators have been particularly robust in their attitude.

Harris sat in the gallery for the first part of the proceedings. Afterwards, word filtered down that he was there as a gesture of support.

That won’t have pleased the Fine Gael Senators, who want their Ministers to make sure that it will be curtains for the beer curtains by the time the Bill gets to Report Stage.

This legislation is a long time coming. It’s been the talk of governments for years.

“The Bill before the House today is the most far-reaching proposal ever to have been made in this area by an Irish government.

For the first time, alcohol is being addressed legislatively as a public health measure,” Marcella told the Senators.

She said the aim of the Bill was to reduce alcohol consumption in Ireland by 2020 to bring it in line with the OECD average, thus reducing the overall damage associated with alcohol.

But those Senators who are unhappy were not in any mood to let the various amendments through during the hours allocated for debate.

Before it began there were indications the Bill would not make it to a vote and would have to be discussed again in a couple of weeks.

This, no doubt, will do no harm at all to these Senators’ reputation among the lobbying interest groups.

They will also be hoping that their strong response will deliver the legislative tweaks they are demanding. There were whispers of a filibuster. Those whispers came to pass.

Technicalities

“Sure, we’re all in favour of health,” smiled a Senator after their deliberations were adjourned. “It’s the technicalities we have a problem with.”

So they talked and talked about all the little bits in the Bill they aren’t happy about, spending two hours rabbiting on about the first section of amendments.

Friends of the publicans also waded into the fray. Fianna Fáil’s brazenTerry Leyden gave a very large plug to a hostelry in Roscommon in which he holds an interest.

“I have made that declaration in case anyone says I have a vested interest in this matter.”

“What’s the name of your pub again?” asked Fine Gael’s Paudie Coffey.

Leyden is concerned about the blanket advertising by supermarkets of below-cost alcohol.

They are advertising bottles of Jameson Whiskey for €25 when publicans have to pay €29 for the same bottle in a cash and carry.

“It is quite demeaning for those involved in this business to have to go to the local supermarket to buy drink for their pubs.”

The filibuster brigade went about their business with relish. “Segregation” of drink is a dirty word to them. What will the owners of small shops have to do to prevent the public display of drink?

Former minister for Health James Reilly stood up for Minister Corcoran-Kennedy on this question.

“We have before us the different methodologies by which people can hide the product. That is all that is being required. Nobody is asking people to build ten foot high walls” said Dr Reilly, clearly exasperated.

But then there was the whole question of advertising to be explored – from adverts on the internet to slogans on clothing.

Keyring

The long-suffering Minister had to give “the definition of a keyring” while a wider debate erupted over what constitutes a child, with some youngsters looking older than they are and others looking younger.

“What is a child?” harrumphed David Norris, getting so fed up with the deliberate waffle that he passed on an invitation from the chair to contribute.

“No, we must get on,” he insisted, in the first recorded instance of Norris turning down an opportunity to speak.

But there were so many blind alleys still to explore and a lot of time to use up.

Would children’s clothing with alcohol branding be sold at airports? What if a 17-year-old purchases a keyring with “Guinness” on it?

“With regard to keyrings, that will not apply....” began Marcella, wearily.

Norris, meanwhile, was fascinated with the proposal to outlaw the supplying of alcohol “for the use of promoting another service”.

“I’ve never in my life been offered a glass of wine. I obviously go to the wrong barber or dentist.”

Fine Gael’s Paddy Burke, who asked a lot of the niggling questions, looked across at him. “Did it not happen when you were getting your nails done?”

“No. My nails have not been done for quite a long time,” shot back Norris, “apart from my toenails to give you a good kick.”

As expected, the session ended without a vote. There are now rumours that some Senators may find themselves unavoidably absent when one finally comes around.

You’d need a drink after listening to them, and a toenail trim for the next time.