Orange order of business at the Seanad

The shadow of Her Britannic Majesty loomed large over Leinster House yesterday.

In what used to be the Earl of Kildare’s ballroom, Drew Nelson became the first grand secretary of the Orange Order to address the Seanad — and he did not hold back.

Despite the fact the Queen his organisation protests its loyalty to has seen fit to shake hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness, Mr Nelson would only address Sinn Féin senators via the Seanad chair as Gerry Adams looked on from the visitors’ gallery, jacketless and with his shirt sleeves rolled up.