WE ALWAYS keep an eye on the social goings-on around Leinster House. And when the mood takes us, this column likes to bring news of the occasional Kildare Street knees-up.

Joan Collins (pictured) of People Before Profit had a big crowd in the other week. We reported the set menu that was on offer in the Members’ Restaurant on the night. However, the group went off piste, so to speak, for their vittles.

Meanwhile, Richard Boyd Barrett has been in touch to say he was not in attendance and was none too happy to read he had been dining in the Members’ Restaurant. He says his preference for any social event would be an outside venue.

Sir has received letters from outraged members of the United Left Alliance – one of which we published yesterday.

Another writer sets the record straight: “There was one choice of mains – it was chicken with mushroom sauce (fish was available if you did not eat chicken). There was one dessert option – profiteroles and coffee. The wine on offer was a modest red or white.” We must add, for the sake of completeness, there was a stir-fry available for vegetarians.

The ULA member (name and address with the editor) continues: “The elected members of Fine Gael and Labour eat and drink lavishly every day of the week at taxpayers’ expense while they tell ordinary people that they must take the pain of austerity. But if an elected member of a left-wing organisation which represents ordinary working-class people holds a modest evening as a thank you for the men and women of Dublin South Central for their efforts to get their representative elected, you then allow your journalist to write and print baseless lies with the sole purpose of trying to discredit the left in general and specifically PBP and ULA.”

He also mentions we didn’t protest when two “warmongers” were invited here “to stuff their faces at the expense of the ordinary working men and women – the British Queen and the American president”.

In fairness to Collins, she was more concerned that the idea might have gone out that she and 125 of her supporters were living high on the hog in Leinster House. “It was a great night and everyone had a great time. They are people who have worked with me for 10 years,” she says.

As for who picked up the tab, Joan is anxious to stress it wasn’t the taxpayer. “I footed the bill,” she says.

She got a bit of a land when it arrived – “I nearly died.” We’re not surprised. It came to €5,000.