A vote-getter

Labour TD Pat Upton left his mark at a recent sitting of the Dail Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Affairs. A Bill to prevent war criminals from using Ireland as a safe haven was trundling through committee with a number of amendments tabled by Mr Upton. The only one accepted was to increase the fine for interfering with witnesses from £500 to £1,500. Chairman Eoin Ryan (FF) congratulated his Labour colleague on not having wasted his time that morning. "It's the kind of item I'll be putting on my election manifesto," Mr Upton said grinning. "A real vote-getter I'd imagine."