The Government suffered its first embarrassing defeat in the Seanad last night as Labour senators failed to turn up for a vote on proposed changes to upward-only rents.

Frustrated Labour senators have parked a controversial move to oust their party whip in the upper house until after the EU treaty referendum.

LESS Sex And The City, more Lolly And Leinster House, but the online premier of the monthly expense claims of Oireachtas members still drew quite the crowd.