The advice centres on the wording of Article 15.1.3, which provides that the “Houses of the Oireachtas shall sit in or near the City of Dublin or in such other place as they may from time to time determine”.

Legal advice obtained by the Oireachtas states that this provision requires a physical meeting “place”, Virgin Media News political correspondent Gavan Reilly said on Twitter.

This requirement extends to full meetings of the Dáil and Seanad as well as committee meetings, TDs and Senators have been told.