IT’LL TAKE more than a few boxes of fancy chocolates to save Senator Mary White from getting drummed out of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party next week.

Senator White, aka Máire Ban Milseáin, found herself in hot water earlier in the week when she voted against her party and with the Government on a motion calling for the criminalisation of people who pay for sex.

The founder of the Lir Chocolates company said on Tuesday the matter warranted further investigation and a national debate.

So while Fianna Fáil backed the motion tabled by the “Magnificent Seven” group of Independents, Mary voted for the government’s amendment to the motion.

Going against the whip means automatic expulsion, although TDs have been known to argue afterwards that they pressed the wrong button and didn’t realise it.

There can no such excuse for Mary, because when the vote was called, she voted in line with Fianna Fáil.

However, there was a kerfuffle in the chamber when she realised her mistake. With the co-operation of the tellers, her vote was reversed. Her exile seems imminent.

Mary’s thoughtful contribution to the debate sparked a lot of media interest.

“Realistically, this has been going on since the beginning of time. We have to face reality. I am not condoning it, but since the beginning of time sex has been purchased,” she told the Seanad. “There is a case for saying that women are perhaps being protected from rape because in some countries prostitution is legalised.” When contacted for a comment the following morning, Senator White was not so forthcoming with her opinion.

She declined to elaborate when a reporter from the Evening Herald called to ask what research she used to back her claim that outlawing prostitution could lead to attacks on women. Mary said she “didn’t want to be rude” but would not commenting any further.

When the experienced reporter (and mother of adult children) pressed further, Senator White silenced her with a tart: “Don’t be so cheeky!” This would be same Mary White who denied earlier this year telling an official in the Passport Office he was “lucky to have a job” after she had been refused information due to data protection rules.

In the incident, witnessed by a Sunday newspaper journalist, she was reportedly asked to leave the premises and told the security officer he was “lucky” to be getting paid.

Senator White stressed she didn’t remember saying this and stressed she was not somebody who went around insulting people.

Meanwhile, despite the very serious issue under discussion on Thursday, some Senators had to stifle a smile when the acting Cathaoirleach, Fianna Fail’s Terry Leyden, tried to move on the discussion.

Mary White: “Why are men out there daily, from every strata of society, seeking quick sexual satisfaction?”

The Great Terry Leyden (with impeccable timing): “ We have just 12 minutes left so I ask Senators to be as quick as possible.”