A former TD has called for a ban on alcohol in the bars of Leinster House. 

New figures released to the Irish Independent revealed that TD, Senators and former Oireachtas members spent €445,000 in the parliament’s two bars in 2025. 

Guinness was the most in demand drink, with 13,000 pints and 312 half-pints sold in the space of 12 months. 

The Houses of the Oireachtas own-label wine was also popular and accounted for close to 17% of all revenue. 

On Lunchtime Live, former Dublin South-Central TD Bríd Smith said elected representatives need somewhere to eat and drink. 

 However, she felt alcohol should not be served in a place of work. 

“Well, I think it's a good idea to have somewhere to give people a refreshment,” she argued. 

“And as has been said, we have to hang about there for voting and all the rest of it.

“I don't think we should be drinking if we're hanging about. I don't think we should be taking alcohol - many do.” 

Leinster House. 

Leinster House has two bars - one which any member of the public can visit if invited by a TD or Senator. 

There is also a second one which only TDs and Senators can use. 

During her time in Leinster House, Ms Smith only ever used the Visitors’ Bar, which she thought was useful to take her guests. 

“You would take them to the Visitors’ Bar for a toasty and a cup of coffee - or something stronger if they wanted it,” she said. 

“But that's entirely distinct from the Private Members’ Bar.”

Despite serving nearly a decade as a TD, Ms Smith never got over her distaste for the idea of a Private Members’ Bar. 

“The Private Members’ Bar, in my mind, is always associated and forever will be with the stories of brown envelopes and corruption and crime,” she explained. 

“And I've never gone into it - out of principle. 

“Because I always associated with the Old Boys’ Club.”

Main image: Bríd Smith. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/Lazarov