Dáil displeasure as ‘smugness of senators’ has the upper hand

And lo the political dead have risen.

Although it was noticeable that fewer than half the 60 senators given a surprise stay-of-execution by voters managed to make it to the chamber on time for its first post-referendum session yesterday — that’s gratitude for you.

A few more trickled in later, prompting speculation as to what the collective noun for such a gathering would be. Traditionally it has been known as an “irrelevance of senators”. Now, clearly, it would be a “smugness of senators”.