SHAUN CONNOLLY: Time Lord Shatter’s novel approach may leave lusty Laura less time in bed

Alan Shatter’s bonk-buster book Laura left him with something of the night about him as the Dáil debated daylight-saving.

The chamber seemed to slip into another dimension as TDs discussed switching time zones, with one reciting poetry while another longed for the days when politicians sang some of their speeches.

Independent Labour TD Tommy Broughan, who was sponsoring a switch to Continental time, praised the debate’s unorthodox tone: “It was good to hear the poetic speech of my colleague, although I would caution him that there was a deputy in the previous Dáil who occasionally used to sing part of his speech. We will be expecting a book of poetry now.”