UN chief snubbed for minor Dáil vote

POLITICIANS were left red-faced yesterday when a rare opportunity to meet the United Nations Secretary General was cut short to allow TDs attend a minor Dáil vote on procedures in the House.

Ban Ki-moon is on his first visit to Ireland since taking over one of the most powerful jobs in the world, and took time to meet TDs and Senators from all parties at the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He had begun addressing the questions and concerns posed to him by committee members when the Dáil bell rang for a vote and chairman Michael Woods called a halt to the meeting.