The Margin witnessed a wily act of electioneering last Monday evening, when well-known TD and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, Jim Mitchell, was seen to be engaged in an intense discussion in the toilets of a plush pub in central Dublin.

Our man gave a sympathetic hearing to two young gentlemen who appeared to explaining about the difficulties faced by the Algerian community in Dublin.

As the debate concluded, the TD asked his friends where they lived in Dublin, adding: "Do you have a vote?"

"Yes," said one of his friends, alive to the issue.

"We always vote for Fine Gael."