Government under fire for taking six-week holiday
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the public was looking for direction from its political leaders and the Dáil had to provide this.
He said the deepening recession had created an unprecedented situation and work could not be suspended.
“This house has to be seen to be working ... this house has to seen to be putting its shoulder to the wheel,” he said.
Mr Kenny objected to the order of business proposed by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan.
He and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore also attacked the Government for launching its economic briefing at a press conference in Dublin Castle without bringing it into the Dáil for debate.
Mr Gilmore said all national announcements should be made in the Dáil. “The only things that are done in Dublin Castle are public relations stunts,” he said.
He said if the Government had a genuine strategy it would be able to bring it up for debate.
Mr Gilmore said the framework would follow other announcements which fell limp after high-profile releases.
He likened it to Transport 21, the document on public service reform and the National Development Plan.
The Labour leader said the Dáil should remain sitting to debate the plan.
Similarly, Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the Dáil should not be left in recess until January 27 when there were pressing economic concerns which could be dealt with.
However, Ms Coughlan said the Government would be prepared to recall the Dáil in January if it needed to fast-track legislation to rescue the banking sector. Otherwise she said a shorter break was not necessary.
If the Government is to tap the National Pensions Reserve Fund to fund part of the €10 billion recapitalisation project it will have to pass new legislation.
The Tánaiste said if this is required before the end of January the Dáil could return. However, she said it was wrong of the opposition to suggest politicians were not working simply because the Dáil was not sitting.
She defended the decision to launch yesterday’s economic recovery strategy without bringing it before the Oireachtas.
“There will be ample time on the return of this house to discuss it.”
The Dáil is not scheduled to sit again until January 27 although committees will return three weeks earlier.
