Toxic fumes lead to the closure of Leinster House’s two main restaurants last week, the Irish Mirror has learned.
The shutdown happened after a roof job involving tar work went wrong.
It saw toxic fumes seep into the kitchen and spoil all the food prepared for the busy lunch trade last Tuesday. All the grub was dumped.
There was confusion in the house of parliament when the visitors’ restaurant (the regular canteen) and the more salubrious Members’ restaurant were shuttered.
On a busy day with the Dail’s new term starting on Wednesday, mysterious notices went up on the doors of the restaurants saying they were closed because of “fumes”. It turned out that the problem was to do with workers laying felt on the roof who were working with melting tar.
The Irish Mirror understands that workers were laying felt and bitumen on the roof in an area directly above the Members’ restaurant.
Inadvertently, smoke and the associated toxic fumes from burning bitumen started to make its way into the Leinster House main kitchen, resulting in an evacuation and quick closure of the restaurants.
It’s believed the work was meant to be carried out over the Christmas break when there were less people in Leinster House.
But apparently Covid staffing problems scuppered this plan.
A spokeswoman for the Houses of the Oireachtas told the Mirror last night: “Work was being carried out on the roof of the Members’ restaurant – repair works.
“As would be expected with the nature of such works, there were fumes.
“Those fumes were sucked through vents into the restaurant and self service.
“As a precautionary measure, the Members restaurant and self service closed.
“The small amount of uncovered food on display in the self-service was disposed of.”
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