THE OIREACHTAS EDUCATION Committee had to delay its hearing on sex ed this afternoon because it didn’t have enough senators present.

The session, which was due to start at 3.30pm today, had only four TDs present out of 15 members: Thomas Byrne (FF), Fiona O’Loughlin (FF), Jan O’Sullivan (Labour) and Kathleen Funchion (SF).

If the quorum is not reached after 15 minutes of waiting a hearing is usually rescheduled for another time, but an obscure rule was used to prolong the wait.

In this time, it’s understood that Senator Paul Daly of Fianna Fáil was contacted and was able to attend the committee hearing.

All members of both Houses are entitled to attend hearings and may take an active part in the meeting, but may not vote or move motions or amendments.

A number of speakers were due to give evidence to the committee including Cliona Sadlier of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland.

Although the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre gave a submission on sex ed to the committee, they were not invited to give evidence today.

There’s been a focus on Ireland’s sex ed curriculum in the context of Ireland’s debate on abortion; particularly around the use of contraception, and the teaching of consent in schools.