The two bars in the Dáil remain closed today as the hunt for a rogue rat continues.
The rodent was seen in both the members and visitors bar on Tuesday- and there have been reports of others.
There are rumours the rat had been caught but all the bars still remain closed.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin first spotted the parliamentary invader while having a cup of tea in the Private Members Bar.
The rodent appeared again in the Visitors Bar, scuttling under a couch before being chased by staff armed with a golf club.
Both bars remain closed as the hunt for the intruder continues.
It is assumed the rat came in through a hole in the floor and was possibly disturbed by renovations.
Fianna Fáil TD Darragh O'Brien has promised to bring his cat to the Dáil to chase it.
I'm bringing in reinforcements! "Ginger" O'Brien en route from #Malahide to catch that dirty rat in #Dail. #ratgate pic.twitter.com/XVMCbpdRLA
— Darragh O'Brien (@DarraghOBrienTD) July 10, 2019
While other TDs have spent their time naming the rodent – with Rat the Cope, Ratty McGrath and Richard Boyd BarrRAT some of the names enjoying cross-party support.
Still closed ! No going away drinks for the boys and girls again today. Party pooper me ! #DailRat pic.twitter.com/fhay746KvV
— Dail Rat (@DailRat) July 11, 2019
The Dáil rat now has it's own Twitter account- it says it hopes to create mischief before TDs break for the summer recess.
