BREAKING: Footage shows Senator Ronan Mullen laughing, joking and handing out sweets as the Hate Crime Bill, with its sinister new definition of gender, is guillotined through the Seanad.

Senator Lisa Chambers slunk into the chamber just before the session ended. She did not make any contribution.

Despite the grave nature of events, the footage shows a clear sense of camaraderie and celebration among those Senators who claimed to be against the Bill.

There was no vote taken on the Bill as only four Senators requested a division. A minimum of five Senators is required to force a division and thereby a vote.

In March of this year Senator Gerard Craughwell stated “The Hate Speech Bill will soon come to Seanad & it is there it must be amended or stopped.” In August he tweeted “I believe that the Taoiseach Simon Harris would be “insane” to bring back a Hate Speech Bill to the Seanad.”

Despite these words, last night Senator Craughwell did not appear to have even bothered to turn up in the chamber. His absence guaranteed that the Government escaped the accountability of a vote.

The passage of this Bill through the Seanad, with its sinister new definition of gender, was a historic and grave moment for our country. In light of this the behaviour of the Senators mentioned above is of the lowest calibre and reveals how much they really care about these critical issues.

The Hate Crime Bill will now shortly return to the Dáil for a final vote. We urge all viewers to contact your TDs and express your concern as a matter of the utmost urgency.