Thirsty TDs and visitors to the Dáil bar drank their way through almost €7,000 worth of stock on the night of the infamous “lapgate” incident as they voted through the abortion legislation.

The Dáil bar does not need a licence — despite selling booze until all hours, Oireachtas officials have insisted.

Booze-loving TDs have been tipped the wink to carry on drinking until all hours despite the public outrage sparked by the Lapgate controversy.

PINTS, pantomime-style villains and political impotence, the Dáil has it all.

The TD at the centre of the Lapgate affair has told the Irish Independent he had a drink before the incident.