‘Like watching car crash in slow motion’

Ten days of unprecedented political drama ended yesterday when the Seanad’s Leas Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke rose from his seat at 7.30pm and declared: “The Bill is hereby passed.”

A Government courier was on standby to deliver a vellum copy of the legislation to the Phoenix Park residence of President Mary McAleese, who is expected to immediately sign The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 and into law.

The president is normally allowed a period of up to seven days to endorse bills but the Oireachtas passed a special early-signing motion to fast-track the process.