Irish lawmaker's remarks interrupted by his own musical Christmas tie

DUBLIN, Ireland, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- An Irish lawmaker's attempt to address the legislature on a serious matter was interrupted by his own poorly-timed musical Christmas tie.

Aengus O Snodaigh, a member of the Oireachtas -- Ireland's parliament -- with the Sinn Fein party, was addressing the body Thursday on the issue of workers being exposed to asbestos in the parliament building when his microphone began to pick up some electronically produced music.

The source of the music, a rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," soon became apparent -- O Snodaigh was wearing a musical Christmas tie that was somehow triggered at the inopportune moment.

Jan O'Sullivan, a Labor party lawmaker, joked after the incident that O Snodaigh should "turn off those ties" because they "might interfere with Santa's flight path."